Group Platinum Blue(SM) (Cost)

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota offers a variety of fully insured Medicare Cost plan options. With Group Platinum Blue, a Medicare-approved Cost plan, you can choose from three plan options. Each option gives your retirees solid, dependable health care coverage and helps your organization control health care expenses.

Plan highlights

When you choose a Group Platinum Blue plan, your retirees enjoy these plan features:

Medical coverage when and where your retirees need it
Members can travel throughout the United States for up to nine months and receive plan benefits from any provider that accepts Medicare. No referrals needed. Members will pay the same cost sharing for medical services that they would normally pay at network providers in Minnesota. Members are also covered for emergency care worldwide.

Annual limits
All plan options provide the protection of an annual out-of-pocket maximum on how much your retirees pay. Expenses members incur under the travel benefit are also applied to this maximum.

Preventive care
All plan options include coverage for various routine services and screenings to help keep your retirees healthy.

24-Hour Nurse Advice Line
Friendly, knowledgeable nurses are available seven days a week.

The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program
Group Platinum Blue members can participate in the SilverSneakers Fitness Program at no additional cost! SilverSneakers members receive free access to amenities such as treadmills, weights, heated pool and fitness classes that are included with a basic fitness membership. Members can also participate in health education seminars and fun social events with others who share their interest in a healthy lifestyle. Plus, once members are enrolled in SilverSneakers, they can use any participating location across the nation.

Additional plan features

Your retirees will receive these additional services and discounts to help support their health:

Stop-Smoking Support
Members can take advantage of this proven, successful program. Trained phone counselors and support materials can help members quit.

Vision and hearing discounts
Members can save on eyewear and hearing aids.

Health Guides
When members have questions about their benefits, finding a provider or choosing the right type of care, our specially trained Health Guides will help.

Online Member Center
The myBlueCross online member center has tools and information to help members manage their health and health plan. By signing in to this secure site, members can search for a doctor, see the status of their recent claims, compare provider cost and quality information, and much more.

Online health and wellness resources
Members will find health calculators, quizzes, exclusive articles and other helpful information online.

The products and services described above are neither offered nor guaranteed under our contract with the Medicare program. In addition, they are not subject to the Medicare appeals process. Any disputes regarding these products and services may be subject to the Group Platinum Blue grievance process.

Add prescription drug coverage for a complete health care offering

Include Group MedicareBlue(SM) Rx (PDP), a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract, with any of the Group Platinum Blue plan options for a complete solution. Or, you can offer Group MedicareBlue Rx as stand-alone prescription drug coverage. Your retirees can live anywhere in the United States and have their prescriptions filled at more than 62,000 participating pharmacies.

How to learn more

To find out more about Group Platinum Blue, talk with your Blue Cross licensed sales representative or ask your agent/broker to contact Blue Cross to discuss your needs.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information, contact your Blue Cross licensed sales representative or agent/broker.

Our contract with CMS is renewed annually. Enrollment in the plan after December 31, 2012 cannot be guaranteed. Either CMS or the plan may choose not to renew the contract, or the plan may choose to change the area it serves. Any such change may result in termination of member’s enrollment. Benefits, plan premiums and cost-sharing (copayments or coinsurance) may change on January 1, 2013.

If you have special needs or need translation of this material into another language, alternative formats are available.

Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the cross and shield symbols are registered trademarks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Platinum Blue and MedicareBlue are service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc. an independent company that provides fitness benefits.

Plans and Services: Groups with over 50 employees