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Medicare & You

2007

Medicare &
You

PUBLICATION
CONTENTS:

Introduction

What Is
Medicare?

Medicare's
Gaps

Medicare
Part A Gaps

Medicare
Part B Gaps

Medicare
Part B And
Medicare
Advantage

Who Pays
First

Making A
Wise Choice

Preferred
Providers

Submitting
Claims

Prescription
Drugs

Preventive
Care

FEP BlueVision

Fraud And
Abuse

Terms And
Definitions

If You Have
Questions

How The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Fills Part A Gaps

If You Have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Medicare Pays:   What You Have To Pay:

First 60 days of a hospital stay each benefit period


The first $992 of the hospital bill - known as the Medicare Part A deductible


61st through 90th day each benefit period


$248 per day during this time


60 Lifetime Reserve days


$496 per day during this time


Up to 210 days of hospice care


$5 for outpatient drugs and 5% of the cost for inpatient respite care up to the amount of the inpatient hospital deductible


Nothing for inpatient hospital care outside the U.S. (with rare exceptions)


All charges


For up to 190 days (lifetime limit) of inpatient mental health/substance abuse care


The $992 hospital deductible and the charges after you've used up the 190 lifetime days


For up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care following a hospital stay


$124 per day for the 21st through the 100th day of care


When You Have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) And Medicare Pays Primary Benefits, This Is What You Pay When You Also Have Service Benefit Plan Coverage:

    What You Have To Pay:
Medicare Gaps:   Standard Option:   Basic Option: *

The inpatient hospital deductible of $992 for the first 60 inpatient days


Nothing for covered services


Nothing for covered services


Your $248 daily share of the inpatient hospital bill from the 61st day through 90th day


Nothing for covered services


Nothing for covered services


After the 90th day:

If you use your 60 lifetime reserve days, you pay $496 of the daily cost


Nothing for covered services


Nothing for covered services


If you elect to save your 60 lifetime reserve days


Nothing for covered services


Nothing for covered services


After you have used all of your Medicare Part A benefits,** including your 60 lifetime reserve days, Medicare benefits end.


When all your inpatient Medicare benefits end,** nothing for covered services in Preferred network and Member hospitals. In Non-member hospitals, you are usually responsible for the difference between the facility's Billed charge and our allowance.***


When your inpatient Medicare benefits end,** $100 per day copayment up to $500


5% coinsurance for inpatient respite hospice care costs and copayments of $5 for prescription drugs


When Prior Approval is obtained, nothing for covered services applied to the Medicare coinsurance and prescription drug copayment/
coinsurance amounts when billed by the home health care agency


When Prior Approval is obtained, nothing for covered services applied to the Medicare coinsurance and prescription drug copayment/
coinsurance amounts when billed by the home health care agency


All charges for inpatient hospital care outside the U.S.


Nothing for covered services


Nothing for covered services


The inpatient hospital deductible of $992 and your share of the hospital bill for inpatient mental health/substance abuse care


Nothing for covered services for inpatient hospital expenses


Nothing for covered services for inpatient hospital expenses


Your $124 daily share of the bill for skilled nursing facility care from the 21st day through the 100th day


Nothing for the 21st through the 30th day of your confinement. You are responsible for the daily share after the 30th day.


This is not a benefit. You pay all charges.


* Basic Option benefits are only available for care performed by Preferred network providers except in certain situations such as emergency care.

** Per Medicare benefit period.

*** Our Standard Option allowance for inpatient hospital care after Medicare benefits end is based on a per diem amount for your type of admission developed from the average amount paid for our members nationally to contracting and non-contracting facilities. For inpatient stays resulting from medical emergencies or accidental injuries, our allowance is the amount billed. A Non-member facility is not required to accept our payment as payment in full. When Medicare is the primary payer, we will limit our payment to an amount that supplements the benefits that would be paid by Medicare, regardless of whether or not Medicare benefits are paid. However, we will pay regular benefits for emergency services to a facility, such as a hospital, that does not participate with Medicare and is not reimbursed by Medicare. See Section 9 of the 2007 Service Benefit Plan brochure (RI-71-005) brochure for more information.


If You Have Medicare Part A Only (Hospital Insurance), You Have No Medical Coverage And You Are Responsible For All Outpatient Hospital And Physician Charges. If You Add Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Coverage, You Do Have Coverage For These Services. Here's What You Pay For Care Rendered By Preferred Network Providers:

    What You Have To Pay:
Medicare Gaps:   Standard Option:   Basic Option: *

Hospital/Facility charges for:

Outpatient surgery


10% of the Plan Allowance***


$40 copayment per day


Hospital/Facility charges for:

Outpatient physical speech, and occupational therapy (visit maximums apply)


$15 copayment per visit


$20 copayment per visit


Hospital charges for:

Diagnostic tests**


10% of the Plan Allowance*** and the $250 annual deductible


Nothing for covered services


Emergency room charges for accidental injury care


Nothing for covered services within 72 hours of the injury


$50 copayment for emergency room care


Physicians' charges for:

Hospital inpatient visits

Inpatient and outpatient surgery

Outpatient laboratory services**

Outpatient X-rays**


10% of the Preferred Provider Allowance (PPA)***, after you meet the $250 annual deductible


Hospital inpatient visits:
Nothing for covered services

Inpatient and outpatient surgery:
$100 copayment per surgeon

Outpatient laboratory services and X-rays:
Nothing when billed by your doctor


Durable medical equipment (DME)


10% of the Plan allowance after you meet the $250 annual deductible


30% of the Plan allowance for DME

$50 copayment for ambulance services


Ambulance services


$50 copayment


$50 copayment


Physician home and office visits, and outpatient physical, speech and occupational therapy (visit maximums apply)


$15 per visit


$20 copayment per visit for primary care physician, $30 copayment per visit for specialists


Prescription drugs**** including:

Insulin

Disposable syringes

Diabetic diagnostic supplies


Mail Service
Pharmacy:
$10 for generic
drugs and $35 for
brand name drugs
for each
prescription
or refill

Retail Pharmacy Program:
You pay 25% of the Preferred Provider Allowance (PPA)****


Mail Service
Pharmacy:
Not a benefit






Retail Pharmacy Program:
$10 copayment for generic drugs, $30 copayment for formulary brand name drugs, and 50% ($35 minimum) for non-formulary Non-preferred brand name drugs


Routine or preventive dental care*****


You are responsible for the difference between the dental fee schedule allowance and the Maximum Allowable Charge (MAC)


$20 copayment for each evaluation, 2 exams and cleanings per year, annual X-rays

* Basic Option benefits are only available for care performed by Preferred network providers except in certain situations such as emergency care.

** Certain diagnostic cancer tests are paid differently. See Section 5(a) of the 2007 Service Benefit Plan brochure (RI-71-005) brochure.

*** Our Plan allowance for physician's charges and care in the outpatient department of a hospital is the amount we use to determine our payment and your coinsurance for covered services. Under Standard Option, charges from Preferred network professionals and pharmacies are based on the Preferred Provider Allowance (PPA), while charges from Participating professional providers are based on the Participating Provider Allowance (PAR). Preferred and Participating providers have agreed to accept our covered allowance as payment in full. For Preferred facilities, we sometimes refer to our allowance as the "Preferred rate". Non-participating providers are under no obligation to accept our allowance as payment in full. Your out-of-pocket expenses will be higher when you use Non-participating providers. Consult your 2007 Service Benefit Plan brochure (RI-71-005) brochure for complete details on payment levels for Preferred network and out-of-network providers. Please call the local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan to verify the status of all providers.

**** For important information about prescription drug benefits see the Prescription Drugs chapter of this publication.

***** For Standard Option members, we pay the dental fee schedule amounts listed in Section 5(h) of the 2007 Service Benefit Plan brochure (RI-71-005) brochure. When you use Preferred network dentists, your out-of-pocket costs are limited to the Maximum Allowable Charge (MAC) that applies in your area. Out-of-network dentists may bill you for the balance, up to their charge. Contact your local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan for a list of your local Preferred dentists and the MACs that apply in your area. Please refer to Section 5(h) of the 2007 Service Benefit Plan brochure (RI-71-005) brochure for a list of specific covered services under Basic Option.

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