Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible?
You’re eligible for Medicare Advantage PPO if the following conditions are met:
1. You and your covered dependents are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B
2. Your permanent residence is in any of 15 states where the plan is offered through the Trust: Alabama,
California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia
You can only be enrolled in one Medicare Advantage plan at a time.
What if I don’t choose the Medicare Advantage PPO plan at this time?
You can call to enroll anytime throughout the year. The sooner you enroll, the sooner you can start enjoying
simplified paperwork, one explanation of benefits statement, one ID card, lower costs and value‑added extras.
The schedule below provides the effective dates of your coverage based on when you enroll. If you are
becoming Medicare eligible soon, you can enroll in the plan two months prior to the first of the month in
which you turn Medicare eligible.
If you enroll during
Your coverage takes effect
October 2014
January 1, 2015
November 2014
January 1, 2015
December 2014
February 1, 2015
January 2015
March 1, 2015
February 2015
April 1, 2015
March 2015
May 1, 2015
April 2015
June 1, 2015
May 2015
July 1, 2015
June 2015
August 1, 2015
July 2015
September 1, 2015
August 2015
October 1, 2015
September 2015
November 1, 2015
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If you’re a Traditional Care Network member
and you transfer to the Medicare Advantage
PPO plan with an effective date after January
2015, you’ll get credit for what you’ve already
paid toward your in‑network deductible and
out‑of‑pocket maximum for the months in
which you were enrolled in TCN during 2015:
We will transfer:
Deductible up to $245 per person for
in‑network services
Out‑of‑pocket up to $630 per person for
in‑network services
For more information about our Medicare Advantage plan, call 1-877-336-0377
8:30 am to 8 pm. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Or visit us online at www.bcbsm.com/UAWTrust
Do I still pay the premium for
Medicare Part B?
Yes, You must continue to pay your Medicare
Part B premium.
What should I do with my
Medicare card?
Keep it in a safe place and do NOT destroy it. You
will not need the Medicare card for as long as you
are enrolled in the Medicare Advantage PPO plan.
You should retain it for future use. We will issue
you a new Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
ID card which is the only card you will need when
you obtain medical services.
What’s the difference between the
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
Advantage PPO plan and the
Traditional Care Network plan?
Both Traditional Care Network, also called TCN,
and Medicare Advantage PPO are plans backed
by the recognition and reputation of Blue Cross
Blue Shield. Each plan uses a different provider
network. They both offer comprehensive medical
coverage and help cover more than what Original
Medicare pays for. TCN supplements your Original
Medicare coverage while Medicare Advantage
PPO packages all of your Original Medicare and
extra benefits into one plan.
Our Medicare Advantage plan is approved by
Medicare under a contract with the federal
government, and includes a fitness benefit, among
other extras. If you enroll in Medicare Plus Blue
Group PPO, you’re still a Blues member. You’ll also
find it simpler: You use only your Medicare Plus
Blue ID card, instead of using both a Medicare
and a Blues card. Medicare Advantage plans
focus on health, not just health care, and can help
you attain and maintain better health through
coverage for preventive services and care and
disease management programs.
Will I have to switch doctors?
No. As long as your doctor accepts Medicare and
your Medicare Plus Blue Group PPO card, you’re
covered under the plan — even if your doctor is
not part of the plan’s provider network. If your
doctor is not part of the network, you may pay a
higher cost‑share for covered services.
Do I give up my Medicare benefits to
join a Medicare Advantage PPO plan?
No. Medicare Advantage PPO plans must, by law,
provide the same benefits as Original Medicare.
You get all your Original Medicare benefits plus
many that Medicare doesn’t offer, such as routine
vision, hearing exam and SilverSneakers fitness
membership.
Am I locked into a plan?
No. You have the option to try the plan. If it
doesn’t work for you, you have the option to
switch back to the Traditional Care Network plan
at any time.
Enroll by calling Retiree Health Care Connect 1-866-637-7555,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. TTY users call 711.
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How does my coverage work when I travel in the United States?
Your benefits travel with you. You should seek services from health care providers in the local Blue Cross
Blue Shield Medicare Advantage PPO network (where available). If there is not a Medicare Advantage
network available where you are traveling, you pay the same cost‑share for covered services as if you
received them from a network provider. Be sure to show your new ID card when you visit a doctor’s office
or hospital. The card contains important information about your coverage and how to file claims.
Does the Medicare Advantage PPO plan cover services outside the U.S.?
Yes, your plan covers urgent and emergency care outside the U.S.
Do I have to enroll in a Medicare Advantage PPO for my health care coverage?
No, you may remain in your current plan or enroll in the Medicare Advantage PPO plan – the choice is yours.
Whether or not you enroll in the Medicare Advantage PPO plan, you always have Original Medicare benefits.
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For more information about our Medicare Advantage plan, call 1-877-336-0377
8:30 am to 8 pm. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Or visit us online at www.bcbsm.com/UAWTrust