An ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure.
How can you apply that
old maxim to your health
insurance? By taking
advantage of your BlueCare
HMO plan’s emphasis on
prevention and early
detection of serious
illnesses and diseases.
Your comprehensive plan includes
coverage for a wide range of preventive
services. And you pay no deductible!
We want you to stay healthy. That’s
why we’ve designed your plan to
encourage you to use these benefits.
Dependent children covered under
your plan are entitled to coverage
for regular pediatric office visits and
immunizations (through age 16). You
are responsible only for your regular
office visit copayment or applicable
coinsurance, depending on your plan.
Once every 12 months, you are
covered for a routine physical. Your
primary care physician will ensure
you get all the necessary tests. There
is no charge for laboratory tests or
X-rays. You pay only your applicable
office visit copayment or coinsurance,
depending on your plan.
If you have a family history of colon
cancer or are age 50 or older, ask
your doctor about colon cancer
screening. If determined by your
physician to be medically necessary
and your plan includes a wellness
benefit, it is covered. (See related story.)
Adults also are covered for certain
immunizations, such as a tetanus
booster every 10 years. And if you
have a chronic medical condition or
are age 50 or older, don’t forget a flu
shot. You are particularly at risk for
seasonal influenza and its complications.
When you receive the shot from
your primary care physician, you pay
only your regular office visit copayment
or applicable coinsurance.
Schedule an annual gynecological
exam. It’s the best way to detect
problems early. You also are fully
covered for regular screening
mammograms, a Pap test every three
years beginning at age 18 (if sexually
active) and chlamydia screening
(recommended annually through
age 25 for young women who are
sexually active).
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of
cancer death among men. It can be
cured if caught early. For members
with a preventive health benefit, the
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is
covered for diagnostic or monitoring
purposes.
The For Your Information
(PDF)
guide
inserted in this issue includes a
breakdown of recommended preventive
services by age as established by
the U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force. If you have any questions about
coverage for wellness services, feel
free to call the telephone number
on your BlueCare ID card.
You also can take advantage of the
special programs we offer members—
at no additional charge—like Healthy
Addition®. This voluntary program is
designed to help educate expectant
women who have risk factors that
may cause a complicated pregnancy.
If you become pregnant, see your
doctor for prenatal care and call us
at (800) 955-7635, option 6.
Members with chronic conditions,
such as asthma, congestive heart
failure or diabetes, can get help, too.
Through Health Dialog® we offer
programs to help improve both your
understanding and self-management
of your condition, in accordance with
your physician’s plan of treatment.
Call (800) 877-789-2583, day or night,
365 days a year to speak privately
with an experienced Health Dialog
health coach who can answer your
questions and provide educational
material. Or visit the Dialog Center®
on our website, Health Dialog’s
online information resource. It’s
chock-full of useful information
about hundreds of medical topics.
www.bcbsfl.gov
Click on Members, then Health
and Wellness
