BCBS Medicare Supplements Are Very Popular

More and more seniors are dropping their Medicare Advantage plans and going back to Medicare with Medicare supplements. Blue Cross Blue Shield has been overwhelmed with BCBS medicare supplements applications. It's caused some timing issues but BCBS is working quickly to resolve any and all issues.

Under normal circumstances BCBS's turnaround time is 2 weeks for a Medicare Supplement application but due to the large number of applicants they got behind. They covered people back from January 1st, but by then applicants had paid a premium for their previous coverage.

People can drop their Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Medicare but in order to do so they need to enroll in Medicare Part D and medicare supplements are important. BCBS Medicare supplements are competitively priced and they offer a variety of benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplemental Insurance Seminars

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida offers Medicare beneficiaries valuable seminars and events to educate BlueMedicare members about Blue Cross Blue Shield supplemental insurance, Senior expos, Medicare Advantage plans and other Medicare information.

There is a special event being held at The Courtyard Fort Lauderdale to educate those interested in Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO, PFFS), medicare supplements, and Medicare Part D plans for 2010 from BCBSFL. Most events are at no cost and they offer valuable information with representatives to answer any questions.

A full calendar of events is available on BCBSFL's website with dates, locations, times, and event overviews. If this is information you would find valuable check to see if a seminar is coming to your area and take advantage of the free information.

BCBS Statement on Health Care Reform

Blue Cross Blue Shield has an official statement on their website supporting health care reform. They support changes to the health insurance industry to ensure everyone has protection, costs are manageable and there is an improvement in quality.

Some other highlights of BCBS's vision for health care reform include covering all Americans, even those with pre-existing conditions. They support government subsidies to encourage personal responsibility to obtain and maintain coverage. They want a simpler process for those shopping for individual health insurance and small businesses to shop around. A greater focus on wellness and an improvement in the management of chronic conditions is on their list of priorities. They want to ensure BCBS Medicare supplements are affordable and have all encompassing coverage.

Blue Cross Blue Shield continues to support the debate as Congress comes together to determine a plan that works best for our nation. They want a health care system that meets the needs of all Americans including our future generations.

BCBS Urging Congress On Medicare and Health Care Reform

Blue Cross Blue Shield companies have been urging Congress to maintain Medicare Advantage plans as well as Medicare Part D plans according to their website. They believe the future of private plan choices in Medicare depends heavily on maintaining stable rules as well as dependable funding for the programs.

The introduction of Medicare Part D, which offers prescription drug coverage, changed business for Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare supplemental insurance. It gave BCBS the opportunity to offer more comprehensive options to eligible members. They have compiled numerous documents for Blue companies, employers and members in regards to the changes in Medicare.

Blue Cross Blue Shield feels it's in their best interest as well as the consumer's, to keep Medicare strong and reliable. With health care reform upon us, it is still to be seen how the changes will affect the many retired citizens.

BCBS Medicare Supplements Changing

According to Blue Cross Blue Shield's website Medicare Advantage Plans through BCBS will not be available in numerous states as of January 1, 2010. This is one of the several changes being implemented through BCBS this year.

These states include Arkansas, Arizona, DC, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas and Vermont. Four regional Medicare Advantage PPO Plans are available through BCBS. Medicare Advantage plans must include prescription coverage in at least 1 of their MA benefits options. Regional PPO's and SNP's must have prescription coverage in all of their offered options.

Blue Cross has numerous BCBS medicare supplements available and it's definitely worth looking into if you are eligible for Medicare. With the changes being put forth with the new health care bill and BCBS it's more important than ever to ensure you have enough coverage with Medicare and Medigap plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplemental Insurance Affected By Health Care Reform

The Senate passed a landmark health reform bill on December 24th which could mean big changes for those receiving Blue Cross Blue Shield supplemental insurance. Medicare is going to be affected by the changes and BCBS as well. The following information was found in the article "Senate Approves Health Care Bill" by Robert Pear on nytimes.com.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of the new bill would be offset by new taxes and fees and savings directly from Medicare. About half a trillion dollars would be taken from Medicare by reducing payments to hospitals, nursing homes, private Medicare Advantage plans as well as other health care providers. Some Republicans believe that the cuts to Medicare will directly take away from benefits which would make more people turn to private insurance companies for supplemental insurance at an extra cost.

It's much too early at this point to determine how the bill will affect the pocketbooks of those on Medicare and using supplemental insurance, but supporters of the bill say Medicare will look different, but not necessarily worse. Medicare would cover more of the cost for prescription drugs and other preventative services under the new plan.

BCBS Medicare Supplements Making Customers Satisfied

According to the Blue News page on BCBS's website about 9 out of 10 senior citizens are happy with their medicare supplement coverage. Medigap policyholders believe they get good value for their money according the the survey recently released by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

This survey was conducted by American Viewpoint, Inc and they found that about 88% of Medigap customers are satisfied with their coverage and 62% are very satisfied. 87% would recommend their coverage to a friend or family member. The survey shows that the number one aspect of their coverage that they like is that they can choose any doctor they wish and that it provides peace of mind. They also find that it's easier to deal with medical bills and medical paperwork.

About 68% of those surveyed would oppose the government taking action to require seniors to pay annual deductibles and other medical expenses that are currently covered by the Medicare program. Many companies offer Medigap policies, including Blue Cross which has BCBS Medicare supplements.