MEDICARE MEMBER NEWSLETTER F A L L EDITION What s in this issue: www.bcidaho.com/medicare Watch your mailbox - Important plan information is arriving soon NEW! Mind Games. Keep your brain sharp. Improved members website is open for business 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? 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. FALL 2015 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. 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. 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. 2 BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO CARE PLUS 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) 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. FALL 2015 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. 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. Please let us know if for any reason you cannot rate your health plan a five-star plan. 4 BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO CARE PLUS MEDICARE MEMBER NEWSLETTER
Mind Games Keep your mind sharp by exercising your brain. ANSWERS ON BACK PAGE. FALL 2015 5
3000 E. Pine Ave. Meridian, ID 83642 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 78 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. IE 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: MACS@bcidaho.com HEALTHY RECIPE 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. Answers to Boggle BrainBusters: BIOLOGY GEOLOGY CHEMISTRY 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.