Fall 2015 - Blue Cross of Idaho

F
A
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EDITION
MEDICARE MEMBER NEWSLETTER
What’s in this issue:
• Watch your mailbox - Important plan
information is arriving soon
• NEW! Mind Games. Keep your brain sharp.
• Improved members website is open
for business
www.bcidaho.com/medicare
Y0010_MK15240 Accepted 08/22/2015
Welcome
Fall is upon us and it’s a great time for getting out of the house, taking short trips to the local
mountains and streams, and hosting a dinner with friends. We hope you are experiencing
everything Idaho has to offer in the Fall.
If you haven’t had a chance to travel much, then tackle the little journeys. Step outside and
go for a walk around the block with your friends. Try attending a local concert, or volunteering
your time to your favorite local charity. Whatever it is, commit yourself to increased activity.
If you haven’t taken advantage of your Silver&Fit© gym membership, there’s no time like the
present to start using it.
Fall is also a time to prepare for change that’s ahead. In September, we’ll be sending you
important information about any changes to your health plan in 2016. Read more about
what to look for in your mailbox on page two.
In this new edition of the member newsletter, we’re also introducing a fun new feature called
“Mind Games.” Turn to page five to play some classic Sunday paper puzzlers, like SCRABBLE®
GRAMS™ and Boggle® BrainBusters.™ Keep your mind sharp by exercising your brain.
We’ve also included information you can use to get the most out of your health plan. Since
it’s Fall, you’ll want to make sure you are up to date on your annual vaccines. See page one to
learn more.
Lastly, we recently launched an all new Medicare Advantage online member portal that’s
filled with tools and resources designed to help you get the most value out of your health
plan. Visit www.bcidaho.com/RegisterNow to get started, or see page four to learn more!
Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus is a PPO, HMO or HMO POS health plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in
Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary,
not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. You must continue to pay your
Medicare Part B premium. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy
network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. Plans are offered by
Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus, Inc. When this document says Blue Cross of Idaho, it means Blue Cross of Idaho is
providing services for Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus, Inc. plans.
Vaccinate Yourself Against the Flu
Here are the simple facts on the flu according to CDC:
• Influenza is a serious disease that
can lead to hospitalization and
sometimes even death. Every flu
season is different, and influenza
infection can affect people
differently. Even healthy people
can get very sick.
• An annual seasonal flu vaccine
is the best way to reduce the
chances that you will get seasonal
flu and spread it to others. When
more people get vaccinated
against the flu, less flu can spread
through that community. The
flu vaccine is available as a nasal
spray or flu shot, whichever you
prefer.
• Flu vaccines cause antibodies to
develop in the body about two
weeks after vaccination. These
antibodies provide protection
against infection with the viruses
that are in the vaccine.
• Make sure to ask your doctor
about a High-Dose trivalent shot,
designed and approved for people
over 65. The High-Dose shot has
more antigen and is intended
to create a stronger immune
response in those that receive it.
For more information from
Centers for Disease Control, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/
keyfacts.htm.
Calling all members with diabetes…
have you had your annual eye exam?
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24/7 Nurse
Advice Line
If you are not sure if you need to see a
doctor, call the 24-hour Nurse Advice
Line. You can also call if you have
questions about your medications.
The Nurse Advice Line provides helpful
information when you need it, but it
is not a substitute in an emergency
situation. If you believe you have an
emergency, call 911 immediately.
Give the Nurse Advice Line a try
the next time you have a need. It’s
included as part of your health plan,
and the call is free any time of day.
Call 1-800-704-0727 to get started.
1
SEPT
2015
Watch for Important
Information in the Mail!
In September, we’ll send you important
plan information that needs to be read
so you know if there are any changes
to your plan in 2016. Here’s what to
look for:
• Annual Notice of Change (ANOC):
This annual notice provides a
summary of any costs or coverage
changes to your plan that go into
effect on January 1, 2016. The
ANOC provides a simple table
format allowing you to quickly see
if there is a change to prepare for.
2
• Evidence of Coverage (EOC):
This booklet lists benefits and
plan costs that will take effect on
January 1, 2016. It also explains
what services may not be covered
by your plan. Many simply refer
to the EOC as the plan contract.
Keep your EOC handy and refer to
it throughout the year when you
have benefit questions. Chances
are good that the answer you
need is in your EOC.
BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO CARE PLUS
• Formulary (List of Covered
Drugs) Directory and Pharmacy
Directory: Quite simply, these
two items are just what they
sound like. In these booklets,
you will find drugs covered by
your plan and what in-network
pharmacies you can use to fill
your prescriptions in 2016.
What is your blood
pressure? Work on keeping
systolic below 139 and
diastolic below 89.
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MEDICARE MEMBER NEWSLETTER
Did You Receive Your Free
Preventive Services this Year?
It’s not too late to do so
before the year is over.
Call your doctor and ask for an
appointment. Let them know which
preventive services and screenings you
want to take advantage of. Remember,
you’ll have a $0 copay for any of
these services:
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
screening
• Alcohol misuse counseling
• Bone mass measurement
• Breast cancer screening
(mammogram)
• Cardiovascular disease
(behavioral therapy)
• Cardiovascular screenings
• Cervical and vaginal cancer
screening
• Colorectal cancer screenings
(Colonoscopy, Fecal occult blood
test, Flexible sigmoidoscopy)
• Depression screening
• Diabetes screenings
• HIV screening
• Medical nutrition therapy services
• Obesity screening and counseling
• Prostate cancer screenings (PSA)
• Sexually transmitted infections
screening and counseling
• Tobacco use cessation counseling
(counseling for people with no
sign of tobacco-related disease)
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• Vaccines, including Flu shots,
Hepatitis B shots, Pneumococcal
shots
• “Welcome to Medicare”
preventive visit (one-time)
• Yearly “Wellness” visit
Arthritis medication
can prevent joint
damage. Take your
mediation daily.
3
New Member Portal is Open
for Business
Get more out of your membership online.
Our goal is to provide you with an exceptional customer
experience. One way we can accomplish this is by providing
you access to tools and resources you can use to make the
most informed healthcare decisions. We are pleased to
announce the launch of our new online Medicare Advantage
member portal. It’s a brand new experience that requires
you to enroll online.
Please take a moment to enroll online now. It’s fast and easy:
1. From your computer, visit
www.bcidaho.com/RegisterNow
2. Provide your name and email address, then choose a
new user name and password to get started.
Once enrolled, you can immediately start enjoying the new
online member experience!
You can review your claims, read-up on your plan’s benefits,
access health and wellness tools, or even start an online
chat using the Nurse Advice Line.
4
BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO CARE PLUS
If you need help enrolling online, please call customer
service at 1-888-494-2583 (TTY users call 1-800-377-1363).
We are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
★
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Please let us know if for any
reason you cannot rate your
health plan a five-star plan.
MEDICARE MEMBER NEWSLETTER
Mind Games
Keep your mind sharp by
exercising your brain.
ANSWERS ON BACK PAGE.
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5
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PA I D
PERMIT 78
3000 E. Pine Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
IE
Published by Blue Cross of Idaho. © 2015 by Blue Cross of Idaho, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the
publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement – not take the place of – the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or healthcare regimen. Blue Cross of Idaho makes no
endorsements or warranties regarding any of the products and services included in this publication or its articles.
Contact Us
Moved recently?
Don’t forget to change your contact information with Blue Cross of Idaho so continue receiving important information
about your health insurance coverage. Simply log on to your account at members.bcidaho.com or call customer service
at the number on the back of your member ID card.
Have a Question?
Website: https://members.bcidaho.com
Email: [email protected]
HEALTHY RECIPE
Answers to Boggle BrainBusters:
BIOLOGY GEOLOGY CHEMISTRY
Call our Customer Service line at 1-888-494-2583
(TTY 1-888-377-1363). We are available from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Chicken Apple Sliders
• 1 apple, sliced into rounds
• 2-3 scallions, dark green tops only, thinly sliced
• 1 can of premium white chicken 99 percent fat free
• 1/2 Tbsp. stone-ground mustard
• 3-4 Tbsp. olive oil mayo
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
• Pecan halves
Thinly slice apple into rounds. In a small bowl, combine chicken, mayo, mustard,
onion, salt and pepper. Using a spoon, portion out the chicken salad and neatly
place a dollop onto each apple round. Garnish with a pecan half.