2012 Medicare plans (Switch plan year)

Monthly premium table for Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM plans

The premiums vary by the county in which you permanently reside. Rates are based on the use and cost of health care services in each region.

  1. Locate the region/county in which you permanently reside.
  2. Look at the Premium Rate Per Month column to find your monthly premium.
Regions with counties Medicare Plus Blue premium rates per month
Vitality Signature Assure
Region 1 Southwest Michigan
Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo and Ottawa counties
$38 $83 $139
Region 2 Mid-Michigan
Barry, Berrien, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties
$43 $118 $172
Region 3 Upper Michigan
Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Antrim, Baraga, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Iron, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Leelanau, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Montmorency, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Schoolcraft counties
$78 $128 $231
Region 4 South Michigan
Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, St. Joseph and Washtenaw counties
$63 $143 $204
Region 5 North/East Michigan
Arenac, Bay, Clare, Genesee, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Iosco, Isabella, Lake, Lapeer, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola and Wexford counties
$73 $163 $238
Region 6 Southeast Michigan
Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties
$78 $118 $222

In addition, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

H9572 S5584_W_12BCBSMAdvantageWebR2 CMS Approved 04262012

People with limited incomes may qualify for Extra Help to pay for their prescription drug costs. If eligible, Medicare could pay for up to seventy-five (75) percent of drug costs including monthly prescription drug premiums, annual deductibles, and co-insurance. Additionally, those who qualify will not be subject to the coverage gap or a late enrollment penalty. Many people are eligible for these savings and don't even know it. For more information about the Extra Help program, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days per week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Important information about these plans

Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM is a health plan with a Medicare contract.

Medicare Plus Blue PPO is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents and are entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B.

With the exception of emergency or urgent care, it will cost more to get care from non-plan or non-preferred providers. Your responsibility will be greater out-of-network when the out-of-network coinsurance is based on the Medicare allowed amount and the contracted amount is lower. You may receive services from any provider who accepts Original Medicare. Your out-of-pocket costs will be lower if you choose a network provider. To find a network provider, visit www.bcbsm.com/medicare/provdirectory.shtml.

Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply.

Our network includes approximately 2,300 Michigan retail pharmacies, of which 86 percent are network pharmacies. Nationwide, most chain pharmacies are in our network, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies and Indian/Tribal/Urban (Indian Health Service) pharmacies.

In general, benefits are only available at contracted network pharmacies. Plan drugs may be covered in special circumstances, for instance, illness while traveling outside of the plan's service area where there is no network pharmacy. You may have to pay more than your normal cost sharing amount if you get your drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy. Quantity limitation and restrictions may apply. In addition, you will likely have to pay the pharmacy's full charge for the drug and submit documentation to receive reimbursement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For additional information on network pharmacies, please call Member Services at 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704. You may also write to: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 600 E. Lafayette Blvd., Mail Code X435, Detroit, MI 48226.

If you decide to have your plan premium withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account, it may take up to three months for the automatic deduction to begin. If your premium amount is currently withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account and you wish to receive a monthly bill instead, the change may also take up to three months to become effective. During this time, you will be responsible for paying your premium.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on Jan. 1, 2013.

Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PPO through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at http://www.medicare.gov. For more information, please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704. To learn more about enrollment periods, please contact Member Services.