$0 HMO Available during Annual Election Period
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield Launches Medicare Plan in St. Louis Area
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Residents of the St. Louis area will have a new, no-premium HMO option when selecting their Medicare plans during the 2013 Annual Election Period (AEP), which begins Oct. 15 and concludes Dec. 7.
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield has launched a Medicare Advantage (MA) HMO plan for residents of St. Louis City, St. Louis and St. Charles counties under the name Anthem MediBlue Select (HMO). The plan offers no monthly premium for those who are willing to utilize a primary care physician (PCP) and get referrals to certain specialists within the HMO network.
“The purpose of this plan is to provide members with better care by increasing communication between their PCP and other care providers, which is where gaps in care are most likely to occur,” said Rob Lonardo, vice president and general manager of Anthem Medicare Programs.
MA plans incorporate Medicare Parts A (hospital) and B (medical) into one convenient product that may include additional benefits. This plan also incorporates drug coverage under Medicare Part D. Millions of people have chosen these plans, which offer certain preventive health care services at no extra cost to help keep beneficiaries healthy, detect diseases at an early stage and avoid preventable illnesses.
Although enrolling during AEP, the plan will be effective Jan. 1, 2014.
In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri is available at . Also, follow us on Twitter at , on Facebook at , or visit our YouTube channel at .