Southcoast Hospitals Now Accept Medicare Advantage Plans
If you are a senior, you now have more options to access
the great care at Southcoast Hospitals because Southcoast
now accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Medicare Advantage plans.
Formerly known as Blue Care 65, the plans now go by the names of Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue.
“Patients with Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO Blue can now visit any Southcoast location,” said William Grigg, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Southcoast Health System. “This includes the three Southcoast Hospitals — Charlton Memorial, St. Luke’s and Tobey hospitals.”
Members of these plans can receive services at other Southcoast sites throughout southeastern Massachusetts and in the east bay region of R.I., including The Center for Women’s Health, The Oncology Center, and radiology, laboratory and physical rehabilitation locations.
Medicare Advantage: The Benefits
Medicare HMO Blue and Medicare PPO Blue cover types of care that traditional Medicare does not. In particular, these plans pay for more services that prevent future health problems. These include:- Preventive dental care.
- Routine physicals.
- Routine hearing exams.
- Eye exams.
- Allowances toward hearing aids and eyewear.
- Prescription drug coverage, if you choose.
Are You Eligible?
If you are interested in signing up for Medicare HMO or Medicare PPO Blue, there are just a few points you need to know. To be eligible, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B and live in the service plan area. Once you’re on the plan, you’ll continue to pay the Medicare Part B premium.If you enroll in Medicare HMO Blue, you’ll select a primary care physician (PCP) who is part of your network. He or she will help you take charge of your care. If you need to see a specialist, your PCP will refer you to other doctors in the network.
Medicare PPO Blue is a preferred provider organization plan. You will choose a physician of choice (POC) instead of a PCP to help guide your care. An advantage of this plan is that you can visit doctors outside the network and still receive coverage.
You may have to pay more in the Medicare PPO Blue plan than the Medicare HMO Blue plan. But whichever plan you choose, visiting a Southcoast location — where all your care is covered — will save you money.
