If you have a received a decision from Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM that indicates we will not pay for a drug or service you believe you are entitled to or you believe we have not paid for the drug or service as you anticipated you may ask us to reconsider or appeal our coverage decision.
The first step is to call Customer Service at the number printed on the back of your ID card.
Our representatives may be able to:
Provide information about why a drug or service is being denied prior to receiving it
Help you to understand how your drug or service was processed.
If, after speaking with a Customer Service representative, you still wish to file an appeal for a drug, you may advise the representative verbally, and he or she will document your request and forward it to the Grievance and Appeals Department.
If, after speaking with a Customer Service representative, you still wish to file an appeal for a service or item, you may only do so in writing using the address or fax number indicated below.
If you are unable to file your own appeal, you may appoint someone like your spouse, child, neighbor or friend to act on your behalf.
If you do not want to call, or if your appeal is a request for a service or item that must be filed in writing, you should complete these steps to initiate your appeal:
Describe what you would like to appeal, and, if possible include a copy of the denial that you received.
Include your name, member ID, a daytime telephone number and signature.
Send the information to us:
By mail:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Grievance and Appeals Department
600 E. Lafayette Blvd., Mail Code X509
Detroit, MI 48226-2998
By fax:
1-877-348-2251
We will generally use the standard timelines for responding. This means we will generate a response to you:
Within seven days of receipt if you are appealing a decision for a drug
Within 30 days of receipt if you are appealing a decision for a service you have not yet received
Within 60 days of receipt for a service or drug you have received.
Certain situations allow you to request a "fast decision" about whether or not Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM will pay for the service. You can only ask for a "fast decision" when:
You are asking about a service or drug you have not yet received, and
Using the standard timelines could cause serious harm to your health or hurt your ability to function.
The information above is a brief summary. Refer to your Evidence of Coverage for complete information about your rights, benefits and responsibilities (Chapter 9 for Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM and Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM members; Chapter 7 for Prescription Blue PDPSM members).
For expedited requests ("fast decisions") only, you may call 1-877-241-2583, 8 a.m to 8 p.m, 7 days a week. TTY users may call 1-800-579-0235. You may also fax to 1-877-348-2251.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM and Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM are health plans with Medicare contracts. Prescription Blue PDPSM is a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents who reside within the plan's 75-county service area and are entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM is available in these counties: Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford.
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 your Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM ID card. Your out-of-pocket costs will be lower if you choose a network provider. To find a network provider, visit bcbsm.com/medicare/search.shtml.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM provides reimbursement for all covered benefits regardless of whether they are received in-network, as long as they are medically necessary.
Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B.
A Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plan works differently than a Medicare supplement plan. Your doctor or hospital can continue to treat you if it agrees to accept our terms and conditions of payment, and thus may choose not to treat you, with the exception of emergencies. If your doctor or hospital does not agree to accept our payment terms and conditions, they may choose not to provide health care services to you, except in emergencies. Providers can find the plan's terms and conditions on our Web site at bcbsm.com/ma. You can also read more about how private fee-for-service plans work for you in our downloadable flyer (PDF 160K).
Prescription Blue PDPSM Prescription Blue PDPSM is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B.
Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage PFFS plan that includes Medicare prescription drugs or any Medicare Advantage coordinated care (HMO or PPO) plan will be automatically disenrolled from the HMO, PPO or Medicare Advantage PFFS plan if they enroll in a prescription drug plan; and Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a private fee-for-service plan (PFFS) that does not include Medicare prescription drug coverage, a Medicare Advantage Medicare Savings Account (MSA) plan or an 1876 Cost plan may enroll in a prescription drug plan and will not be automatically disenrolled from the PFFS, MSA or 1876 Cost plan.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDPSM
Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
In Michigan, 86 percent of pharmacies are network pharmacies; nationwide, more than 80 percent of pharmacies are in the network, including the majority of chain pharmacies, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies and Indian/Tribal/Urban (Indian Health Service) pharmacies (Source: 2010 Pharmacy Directory). 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. 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 Customer Service 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, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. Additional information about benefits is available to assist you in making a decision about your coverage. This is an advertisement; for more information contact the plan Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network, premium and/or coinsurance may change on Jan. 1, 2011. Please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for details.
In addition to enrolling through this Web site, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Online Enrollment Center, located at 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. You may only enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM during specific times of the year. To learn more about enrollment periods, please contact Customer Service.
This document is available in alternate formats or languages. For more information, call 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704.
Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDPSM are issued by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which contracts with the federal government. Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDP'sSM contracts with CMS are renewed annually and the availability of coverage beyond the end of the contract year is not guaranteed.
You may be able to get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for getting extra help, call:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
The Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call 1-800-325-0778; or
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