At Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health. As such, we are committed to providing Florida residents with quality and affordable health solutions, and view the Medicare market as an important and growing segment of the health care industry.Medicare eligible beneficiaries will grow to more than 3 million in Florida by 2016. In the state, more than 250,000 people turn 65 each year. By the end of 2014, that number will increase to 300,000.
The Baby Boomer generation is having a significant impact on the Medicare market, both by increasing the number of eligible members and by expressing their desire for a unique selection of products and services.
So insurers interested in providing quality Medicare coverage will not only have to have the capacity to serve a large number of diversified members, but it will also have to provide a benefit package that is attractive.
Florida Blue offers three tiers of BlueMedicare plans – Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Prescription Drug Coverage (Medicare Part D) and Medicare Advantage (Part C or MA).
As a trusted advisor to our members, it is important that Florida providers understand the impacts of reform on Medicare. With the passing of reform, Medicare Advantage plans now have 22 categories of preventive service in 2013 that are included in MA plans.
The main categories of preventive services include annual wellness visits, mammograms, immunizations (flu, pneumonia), and bone mass measurements, among others. It is important to note that Florida Blue does not limit the number of wellness exams available to MA members.
Since all preventive services are provided at no cost to members ($0 copay) when in-network providers are utilized, Florida Blue highly encourage providers to work with members to schedule their wellness exams each year.
To continue our holistic approach to care, Florida Blue provides additional dental, hearing and vision care for routine screening and services not covered by Medicare. These extra services provide an avenue to catch problems early such as glaucoma, gum disease, and other serious issues affecting Medicare members.
Florida Blue also conducts outreach campaigns to diabetic members, encouraging them to get their yearly free routine eye exam and glaucoma screening.
Florida Blue highly encourages extensive dialog between patients and providers so that conditions are understood and all concerns can be addressed.
Florida Blue Embraces Silver Sneakers Program
Last Month, we announced a three-year partnership with well-being improvement leader Healthways to offer the award-winning SilverSneakers® Fitness Program to 50,000 eligible members in Florida.
Effective Jan. 1, 2013, SilverSneakers, will be available to members of the Blue Medicare Regional PPO statewide, and members of the Blue Medicare Regional HMO in Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, and Sumter counties.
At Florida Blue, we believe that regular physical activity is important for good health, and it is even more important as we age. Using proven methodologies based on more than 16 years of science and outcomes, the SilverSneakers Fitness Program increases physical activity in older adults, resulting in higher well-being and lower health care costs.
As a physician, you know the vital benefits of a healthy lifestyle. You also know how hard it can be to get your patients to begin a fitness program. SilverSneakers is proven to work and helps take the challenge out of motivating your patients by making it easy for older adults to get active. The program not only encourages fitness, but also encourages members to have fun and make friends.
At Florida Blue, we believe that reform and the changing health care system are leading to innovative collaborations between providers and insurance carriers. We believe that collaboration will be key to ensuring a viable future for all of us. We look forward to working with our providers not only in the Medicare space, but also as partners in health, helping everyone navigate the complex system in front of us.
