During this year’s Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) is offering our first Medicare Advantage (MA) PPO plan. The new plan is the HealthMate for Medicare PPO plan (HealthMate). This plan offers the freedom to choose the providers and pharmacists the patient wants to see. The members who select this plan will have the flexibility of having their health insurance with them when they travel nationwide.

Reimbursement for out-of-area members with a MA PPO plan through their home plan will now be reimbursed at the BCBSRI contractual rates for MA. The HealthMate plan will include:

• No referrals
• An open pharmacy network
• Access to the national Blue Cross & Blue Shield PPO network

As a reminder, your office should log onto our secured provider portal to review members’ benefits and eligibility to verify the type of Medicare plan they chose for January 2020. If you have any questions, feel free to visit the BCBSRI Medicare website at www.bcbsri.com/medicare.