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Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Plans
Medicare Drugs and Insurance
Highlights
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic
and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced
This is benefit information for coverage beginning January 1, 2009.
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced include affordable Part D prescription drug coverage you need for your current medications, as well as security in case your needs change.
- Copays as low as $4 per prescription for Tier 1 generic medications
- Formulary includes all Medicare-approved Part D prescription drugs
- Over 50,000 pharmacies nationwide, plus convenient mail-order service
- Coverage area includes: Clallam, Columbia, Cowlitz, Island, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lewis, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom and Yakima counties.
Coverage at-a-glance
| Type of Plan: | Medicare Advantage Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plus Part D prescription drug coverage (MAPD) | Deductible for Prescription Drugs: | $0 - Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced $295 - Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic |
Copay: | As low as $4 copay per prescription for Tier 1 generic medications |
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Deductible and Copay Overview |
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| Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core |
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic |
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced |
|
| Deductible | $0 | $295 | $0 |
| Tier 1: Copay for generics | $4 | $4 | $4 |
| Tier 2: Copay for preferred brand-names | $25 | $20 | $25 |
| Tier 3: Copay for non-preferred brand-names | $50 | $40 | $50 |
| Tier 4*: Coinsurance for miscellaneous injectables | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Tier 5*: Coinsurance for specialty medications | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Coverage during the "coverage gap" | You pay 100% of discounted drug costs until the total out-of-pocket costs for the year reach $4,350 | You pay 100% of discounted drug costs until the total out-of-pocket costs for the year reach $4,350. | You pay $4 copay per prescription for Tier 1 generics, or 100% of discounted drug costs for all other Medicare-covered drugs until the total out-of-pocket costs for the year reach $4,350. |
| Catastrophic Coverage | You pay the greater of 5% coinsurance or $2.40/$6.00 copay, depending upon the tier. | ||
*Tiers 4 and 5 products are limited to a 30-day supply and may contain generic products.
Deductibles, copays and coinsurance are based on a 30-day supply of medications (31-day supply for long-term care) and are effective January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.
You must go to a network pharmacy to receive coverage.
Benefit Information
Information Brochure
This brochure is an overview of Medicare, this plan, benefits at-a-glance, advantages, and more.
(669k PDF) Information Brochure
Summary of Benefits
This brochure provides a detailed description of the product, benefits at-a-glance, advantages and more.
(512k PDF) Summary of Benefits
Evidence of Coverage
This is the 2009 Evidence of Coverage Brochure.
(485k PDF) 2009 Evidence of Coverage
This booklet is sent to members after they enroll. It explains the health plan coverage including:
- Service area
- Applicable conditions and limitations
- Premiums
- Cost sharing (e.g., copayments, coinsurance and deductibles), including a description of how an individual may obtain additional information on the plan's tiered or copayment level applicable to each drug
- Any conditions associated with receipt or use of benefits
- 60-day notice regarding removal or change in the preferred or tiered cost-sharing status of a Part D drug
- Out-of-network coverage
- Quality assurance policies and procedures, including medication therapy management, and drug and/or utilization management
- Potential for contract termination
- How to obtain an aggregate number of grievances, appeals and exceptions
Regence Advantages Value-Added Programs
Regence Advantages is a set of value-added programs that offer great savings to Regence BlueShield members. They are offered by a number of leading health-related companies. These programs include vision and hearing care services, and discounts at fitness centers. These programs are not insurance, but are offered in addition to your medical or prescription drug plan to help you take charge of your health.
Find a Pharmacy or Search for Covered Prescription Drugs
Network Pharmacies
Search for participating pharmacies including pharmacy address and type.
(333k PDF) Pharmacy Directory
We have contracts with pharmacies that equal or exceed CMS requirements for pharmacy access in your area.
(98k PDF) 90-Day Pharmacy Listing
Listing of pharmacies that are able to dispense up to a 90-day supply of most medications.
Formulary
Online Search » Search an online list of prescription medications to determine your copay/coinsurance amounts.
(606k PDF) Comprehensive Formulary
(52k PDF) Notice of Formulary Changes
(104k PDF) Our Transition Policy
Information for new enrollees on our Part D prescription drug plans.
(70k PDF) Prior Authorization Requirements
Listing of Prior Authorization requirements for consideration of coverage for specific drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. | What is Medicare? How does it work? |
| A. | Medicare is a federal health care program, managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which provides health insurance to retired individuals regardless of medical condition and to certain people with disabilities. Original Medicare is a fee-for-service plan with two components, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospital bills (inpatient hospital care, hospice care, and home health care). This is financed by payroll taxes, with no premium to beneficiaries who have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The beneficiary pays a $1,068 deductible for hospital stays up to 60 days, with additional copays required for each stay longer than 60 days. Medicare Part B provides coverage for doctor bills (physician care as an inpatient at a hospital, at a doctor's office, or as an outpatient at a hospital or other health care facility) laboratory tests, physical therapy, and ambulance service. The 2009 Medicare Part B beneficiary premium is $96.40 per month. Medicare Part B has a $135 annual deductible, with 20% coinsurance after deductible is met. |
| Q. | What is a Medicare Advantage Plan? |
| A. | Medicare Advantage is the name for a few different types of plans that contract with the federal government. Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Managed Care Plan (HMO), Medicare Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Medicare Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) and Medicare Cost and other specialty plans. Essentially, these plans reduce out-of-pocket expenses and provide greater coverage than traditional Medicare alone, providing all the benefits of Medicare Parts A and B, plus additional benefits. The beneficiary continues to pay the Medicare Part B premium as well as any additional premium charged by the Medicare Advantage plan. Regence MedAdvantage is a PPO with a Medicare Advantage contract. |
| Q. | Who is eligible? |
| A. | Potential members need to be at least 65 years old or qualified by Medicare. They must have Medicare Parts A and B, live within the plan's service area, and not have end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. |
| Q. | Why should you consider a Regence MedAdvantage plan as compared to an HMO plan or a Medicare Supplement? |
| A. | There are three types of health care plans that help protect you from unexpected costs. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are managed care plans that require the member to use only contracted doctors and hospitals and typically referrals are required to see specialists. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) also have a contracted network of providers, but members can still see any provider that accepts Medicare patients and receive coverage. The plan pays more if you receive your care and services in-network.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans help reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses for unexpected medical costs associated with Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This coverage can include the Part A and Part B deductibles and coinsurance, the skilled nursing facility coinsurance, as well as other benefits.
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| Q. | What providers can I see? |
| A. | With a Regence MedAdvantage plan, members are free to see any contracted provider accepting Medicare patients. Our provider networks offer many qualified providers to choose from. When a member chooses to see a provider that is not in our network, the member's share of the costs will be greater. Members are encouraged to see in-network providers to receive the best benefit from the plan and lower out-of-pocket costs. The opportunity for members to choose who provides their care is one of the advantages of our Regence MedAdvantage plans. |
| Q. | How do you find in-network providers? |
| A. | Your sales packets and member welcome packets will include a provider directory. Provider directories are also available online in the Find a Provider section. |
| Q. | What dental coverage is included? |
| A. | A member can go to any dentist and is covered up to $500 annually for routine preventive dental services such as cleanings, x-rays and exams. This coverage is not available with Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core. See the (512k PDF) Summary of Benefits for limitations. |
| Q. | What vision coverage is included? |
| A. | With Regence MedAdvantage, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced, members are eligible for routine vision exams once every two years. There is a $10 copay per visit for in-network services. Vision hardware is covered up to $100 every two years. This coverage is not available with Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core. |
| Q. | What about hearing services? |
| A. | With Regence MedAdvantage, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced, for Medicare-covered hearing exams (diagnostic hearing exams), there is a $10 copay per visit for in-network services. A $25 copay applies to Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core. |
| Q. | Are prescription drugs covered? |
| A. | Yes, if you choose Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic and Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced. You pay a share of your prescription medication costs (copays or coinsurance), and your plan pays a share. |
| Q. | What if I don't want prescription drug coverage? |
| A. | If you don't want or need prescription drug coverage, you can choose just the Regence MedAdvantage plan. Please note that if you were Medicare eligible, do not have creditable prescription drug coverage and didn't choose a Medicare Part D plan by May 15, 2006, there is a 1% premium penalty for every month you could have enrolled but didn't. |
| Q. | What other services does Regence MedAdvantage provide? |
| A. | Access to discount programs such as vision care services, hearing care services, discounts at fitness clubs and discounts on prescription medications. |
| Q. | Are members locked into Regence MedAdvantage for a specific length of time? |
| A. | Yes, most people will be required to stay with the same plan for one year. For people currently on Medicare, the Annual Election Period (AEP) is November 15 to December 31. During this time, enroll in a Regence MedAdvantage plan and your coverage will start January 1. If you are already on a Medicare Advantage PPO, HMO or PFFS plan you can still switch to a Regence MedAdvantage plan, or cancel your plan, during this time. If you are currently on Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan you also have an Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from January 1 to March 31. During this time you can switch Medicare Advantage plans or cancel your plan and go back to Original Medicare Part A and B. Once you enroll in our plan it is effective until January 1 of the following year. Your next opportunity to change or enroll comes on November 15 each year for a January 1 effective date. |
| Q. | What help is available for people with limited income? |
| A. | Individuals on limited income, applying for prescription drug plans (such as Regence MedAdvantage + Rx), may qualify for reduced premiums and/or copayments. (124k PDF) I Have Limited Income What Should I Do? We follow the Best Available Evidence guidelines that are outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. For more information regarding these guidelines, please see: www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/17_Best_Available_Evidence_Policy.asp. |
Payment Information
Planning to Enroll Later? It Could Cost You Extra
To avoid paying extra for your Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Core, Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Classic or Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Enhanced prescription drug plan, you'll need to enroll as soon as you're eligible. How much more depends on how long you wait to enroll.
To calculate your penalty, Medicare uses the following information:
- The monthly Part D base premium established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For 2009, that base premium is $30.36. The number of months you waited to enroll after you became eligible.
- A 1% late enrollment penalty percentage.
Medicare multiplies the number of months you waited to enroll after you became eligible by the 1% of premium late enrollment penalty percentage. The resulting percentage amount is added to your monthly rate.
For example, if you waited 12 months to enroll, you'll pay an extra $3.64 each month for your coverage [$30.36 x 12% = $3.64] Keep in mind that the base prescription premium can increase each year, so your penalty amount can increase with it. You must pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Grievances and Appeals
Members have several options for expressing dissatisfaction with our services or with those of a pharmacy or other provider.
| Contact: | Government Programs MS S6D Attention: Appeal/Grievance Coordinator PO Box 12625 Salem, OR 97309-0625 Fax number for written appeals and grievances: 1 (503) 588-4350 |
Grievances
A grievance is any complaint you make about us or one of our plan providers. This does not involve payment or coverage disputes.
Examples of grievances include:
- Dissatisfaction with the customer service you receive.
- Dissatisfaction with the length of time spent waiting on the phone or in the pharmacy.
- Dissatisfaction with the length of time required to fill a prescription or the accuracy of filling a prescription.
Grievances must be filed within 60 days of the event or incident. You may send a complaint to us in writing or by calling customer service at 1 (800) 541-8981, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY users should call 1 (800) 382-1003. You may also fill out a Complaint form and return it to us. If you wish to appoint someone to act on your behalf, you must fill out an Appointment of Representative form and return it to us, along with your complaint form.
Coverage Determinations
| Contact: | Government Programs MS 2P Attention: Prior Authorization 100 SW Market Street Portland, OR 97207-1271 Fax number for written coverage determinations: 1 (888) 335-3016 |
A coverage determination is made when we make a decision about the prescription drug benefits you can receive under the plan, and the amount you may pay for a drug.
Examples of coverage determinations include:
- Formulary exceptions*
- Copayment tiering exceptions*
Coverage determinations will be responded to within 72 hours for standard requests and 24 hours for expedited requests.** Coverage determinations can be submitted by you or your prescribing physician by filling out the Coverage Determination form in its entirety and returning it to us. If you wish to appoint someone to act on your behalf, you must fill out an Appointment of Representative form and return it to us, along with your coverage determination form.
*If you are asking for a formulary or tiering exception, your PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN must provide a statement to support your request. You cannot ask for a tiering exception for a drug in our Specialty Tier. In addition, you cannot obtain a brand name drug at the copayment that applies to the generic drugs.
**If you, or your prescribing physician, believe that waiting for a standard decision (which will be provided within 72 hours) could seriously harm your life, health or ability to regain maximum function, you can ask for an expedited (fast) decision. If your prescribing physician asks for a faster decision for you, or supports you in asking for one by stating (in writing or in a telephone call to us) that he or she agrees that waiting 72 hours could seriously harm your life, health or ability to regain maximum function, we will give you a decision within 24 hours. If you do not obtain your physician's support, we will decide if your health condition requires a fast decision.
Appeals
An appeal is any complaint you make when you want us to reconsider a decision we have made about your Part D prescription drug benefits.
Examples of appeals include:
- Our decision not to cover a drug, vaccine or other Part D benefit.
- Our decision not to reimburse you for a Part D drug that you paid for.
- Our denial of a coverage determination.
Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the payment or coverage denial. You may send an appeal to us in writing or by using our appeal form. If you wish to appoint someone to act on your behalf, you must fill out an Appointment of Representative form and return it to us, along with your appeal form.
We must notify you of the outcome of your appeal within 7 calendar days after receiving your appeal.
Additional information may be found by referring to the Evidence of Coverage in the section titled "Appeals and Grievances: what to do if you have complaints."
We must notify you of our decision about your grievance within 30 calendar days after receiving your complaint.
For more information, you may contact Customer Service seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at 1-800-541-8981. TTY users should call 711.
Quality Improvement and Medication Therapy Management
Quality Improvement
Regence works hard to provide quality programs for our members. We're here to help ensure that medication options for our members are appropriate, safe and effective. We have concurrent drug utilization review and safety initiatives geared to give our members the best possible health benefits from their medications, while lowering risks for adverse events, medication errors, drug interactions or therapy duplications.
Our medication policies and procedures are based on careful review of scientific information and input from practicing physicians. Our ultimate goal is to enhance health outcomes with improved medication use for our members.
Medication Therapy Management
Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a program offered to members of our Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. MTM is a voluntary program that is offered to our members, with limited eligibility requirements, to assist with controlling chronic disease. The MTM program is not actually a plan benefit, it is an educational program offered to members.
The MTM program is currently available to assist members in controlling the following conditions:
- Asthma and Diabetes
- Asthma and High Cholesterol
- Diabetes and High Cholesterol
- Asthma, Diabetes and High Cholesterol
For additional information about the program and eligibility, members should contact us at 1 (800) 541-8981.
Rights and Responsibilities
Your rights and responsibilities upon disenrollment
- You must continue to use network pharmacies until you are disenrolled from our plan.
- You may only disenroll or switch prescription drug plans under certain circumstances.
- You have the right to make a complaint if we ask you to leave our plan.
Our rights and responsibilities upon your disenrollment
We will let you know, in writing, the date your coverage ends. We have the right to disenroll you for the following reasons:
- You are no longer eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
- If we are no longer contracting with Medicare or we leave your service area.
- When you move out of our service area.
- You materially misrepresent third-party reimbursement.
- You fail to pay your plan premium.
- You provide fraudulent information when you enroll or abuse your enrollment card.
Notification in the event of Medicare contract termination
We have a contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is the government agency that runs Medicare. This contract may be renewed each year. However, we or CMS can decide to end the contract at any time. You will generally be notified 90 days in advance if this situation occurs. However, your advance notice may be 30 days or less if CMS ends our contract in the middle of the year.
General Information
| Contact: | Regence BlueShield MedAdvantage Plans PO Box 12625 Salem, OR 97309-0625 |
Additional Information
In- and Out-of-network Coverage
Coverage is provided for all covered benefits regardless of whether they are received in-network, as long as they are medically necessary. Members may see out-of-network providers, but may pay more, with the exception of emergency or urgently-needed care.
Annual Renewal of Contract
Regence BlueShield MedAdvantage is a PPO with a Medicare Advantage contract. CMS renews this contract annually and availability of this coverage beyond the end of the 2009 contract year is not guaranteed.
Part D Enrollment
Regence MedAdvantage + Rx Part D prescription drug coverage is only available to members of Regence MedAdvantage + Rx. If a beneficiary is already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, the beneficiary must receive their Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit through that plan.
Medicare Premium Payment
Regence MedAdvantage members must continue to pay their Medicare Part B premium if not otherwise paid for under Medicaid or by another third-party.
Last updated 12/01/2008
M0016 2009 WEB MEDADVANTAGE RX 2 12/2008
Take Action
| Need Coverage? Contact Us! We're available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Pacific time. Call us: 1 (888) REGENCE 1 (888) 734-3623 TTY users should call 711 |
| Already a member? Call customer service. We're available seven days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Call us: 1 (800) 541-8981 TTY users should call 711 |
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Eligibility and Enrollment Dates For Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Plans |
© 2009 Regence BlueShield. All rights reserved. Regence BlueShield serves much of the state of Washington and is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
