Highmark Insurance executives have rolled out some new insurance plans for 2019 after Uniontown Hospital announced recently that they will no longer accept some plans under Highmark Medicare.
Officials at Uniontown Hospital said that beginning Jan. 1, 2019, those individuals who use Advantage Plans, HMOs and PPOs under Highmark Medicare will no longer serve as an in-network facility for those plans.
As a result, Ellen Galardy, vice president of senior markets for Highmark, said there are now several options they have revamped in the Medicare options to focus on out-of-network benefits.
Galardy said that overall, across the plans they offer, most premiums have either remained the same or have been lowered and include benefit improvements.
“Our Freedom Blue PPO products have always had an out-of-network plan where individuals can still receive care whether the provider is in network or out of network,” Galardy said. “It offers the exact same out-of-pocket costs for doctors visits and outpatient services.”
Another Highmark Medicare plan is Security Blue HMO. Galardy said they’ve expanded the out-of-network benefits for this plan.
“You may pay a little bit more for an out-of-network surgery and there are slightly higher premiums — like $10 more for general doctors visit,” she added.
The third option under the Highmark Medicare plans is Community Blue, which has an HMO and PPO option.
Galardy said these plans are the most affordable, with premiums costing anywhere from nothing to $13 a month.
“We find that generally this is a popular option whether you’re new to Medicare or maybe you’re just not used to a lot of service,” she said. “You may pay a little more for a specialist, but if you’re not anticipating a lot of surgeries throughout the year, this is a good option.”
The Community Blue HMO option does not have access to out-of-network benefits, other than visits to the emergency room.
“We tried to design products this upcoming year that have something for everyone,” Galardy said. “There are six or seven plans they can choose from and still have out-of-network benefits.”
She added that they already had one informational meeting last week and will have a second meeting 9 a.m. Oct. 9 at the Park Inn Radisson on W. Main St. in Uniontown.
To sign up to attend the informational meeting, visit reservations.highmark.com or call the number on the back of your insurance card.
“We encourage people to come out and ask questions,” Galardy said. “We promiseour members that Highmark will be there to pay their claims, whether they’re looking in network or out of network.”
Date: October 11, 2018
Source: Herald Standard