California Health Insurance News 
Articles / Seniors Breathe Sigh of Relief as New Medical Plan is Announced
02/01/2006
With confusion over Medicare Part D still causing upset amongst our senior citizens who up until now, have had to cope with too many contradictions and misleading data, Blue Cross seem to have found the happy medium and are offering a service that will set many minds at rest.
This is a PPO service or Preferred Provider Organization service that is defined as a health care organization composed of physicians, hospitals, or other providers that provide health care services at a reduced fee but care is paid for as it is received instead of in advance in the form of a scheduled fee. It is similar to an HMO, (defined as a Health Maintenance Organization, a form of health insurance combining a range of coverage in a group basis) however, only visits to professionals within the HMO network are covered by the policy. The HMO must clear all visits, prescriptions and other care in order to be covered. A primary physician within the HMO handles referrals.
"Unlike an HMO, Freedom Blue is a PPO plan that allows you the freedom to see any physician or specialist from their large network of participating providers without a referral," explained David Thau, a well-known insurance advisor and CEO of 'Keep It Simple Insurance' in Los Angeles. "Monthly plan premiums for Plan I are only $7. Plan II features a lower deductible, with monthly plan premiums of just $32. (You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums no matter which plan you choose.) The most important factor is, if you need prescription drug coverage, Freedom Blue Plan I, and Plan II both include Medicare Part D coverage for all brand and generic prescription drug needs, for no additional cost! So this headache is handled for our seniors with more benefits," he added.
Californians are fortunate that a solution to all the confusion surrounding Medicare Part D has been found with Blue Cross's New Freedom PPO plan and it would not be surprising if other states followed suit in the very near future.
