All drug plans will have to provide, at the least, a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Costs, prescription drugs covered and participating pharmacies will vary depending on which drug plan you choose, however. Some plans might choose to offer more coverage and additional drugs for a higher monthly premium. Be sure that you choose a drug plan that meets all of your needs.

You must have Medicare Parts A and B in order to join a Medicare prescription drug plan. (If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare supplement product, you have Medicare Parts A and B.) Enrollment begins Nov. 15, 2005, and ends May 15, 2006. If you join by Dec. 31, 2005, your coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2006. Even if you currently don’t use many prescription drugs, you should still consider joining a plan. If you don’t join a plan by May 15, 2006, you will have to pay a higher monthly premium to join later.

As soon as additional information becomes available, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida will provide you with more details. Watch for information about this new program later this year.

Until Medicare Part D begins, continue using your Medicareapproved drug discount card, BlueSaver Premier. Don’t have one? Call us to learn what savings you could currently realize for your prescription drugs.

You also may qualify for up to a $600 credit if your 2005 annual income is no more than $12,919 for a single individual, or $17,320 for a couple. If you qualify, you also would pay a coinsurance amount of either 5 percent or 10 percent (depending on your income) for each prescription drug, until your credit is used up.

• If you qualified for the full-year $600 credit during 2004, you automatically qualify for the same amount this year. You don’t have to reapply.
• If you qualified for the assistance last year and did not use all of your credit, any unused balance is rolled over to 2005.
• If you didn’t apply or qualify for the assistance last year, but think you’ll qualify this year, apply as soon as possible. The amount of your credit depends on when you apply, based on the following prorated schedule:

  Jan. 1–March 31, 2005: $600
  April 1–June 30, 2005: $450
  July 1–Sept. 30, 2005: $300
  Oct. 1–Dec. 31, 2005: $150

To apply for the BlueSaver Premier discount card, or to apply for the credit if you already have our Medicareapproved drug discount card, call our member services toll-free phone number, 866-895-1652. TTY users, call 711.

800-MEDICARE
TTY users, call 877-486-2048
www.Medicare.gov

If you receive a bill directly from your doctor for services for which you never received a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), ask your doctor’s office staff if they filed a claim with Medicare. If not, ask them to do so. If your doctor’s office staff indicates they did file a claim, call the customer service number on your BCBSF Medicare supplement ID card. Also, call us if you received an MSN but still received a bill from your doctor. Either way, we’ll be glad to straighten things out for you.

What’s New?

2004 Annual Report

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