Blue Cross of California Introduces New Easier-To-Read Explanation of Medicare Benefits.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 16, 1997--

BCC Is First California Health Plan To Introduce New Senior-Friendly

Medicare Forms

Understanding Medicare just became simpler for senior beneficiaries in California.

Beginning this month, Blue Cross of California is introducing a whole new look for its Explanation of Medicare Benefits (EOMB) forms. Blue Cross is the first Medicare fiscal intermediary in California to introduce the new forms, mandated by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the federal government agency which oversees Medicare.

The new EOMB design, in the form of uniform, easier-to-read and understand Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs), replaces the old EOMBs for all claims except hospice, which will be implemented early next year. Available in English, or, by request, in Spanish, the new MSNs will be mailed to beneficiaries once per month, providing detailed information about all claims processed for that month.

To help Medicare beneficiaries better understand their benefits, new features offered by the reconfigured MSN forms include deductible information; provision for referring physician name, to help the beneficiary recognize services, such as X-ray and laboratory services; and a special appeals section, for use if the beneficiary disagrees with a determination.

"We know that understanding Medicare can be very complicated for seniors, and we wanted to introduce HCFA's new MSN forms as soon as possible to make beneficiaries more comfortable with their Medicare benefits," said Jacqueline Anderson, general manager, Blue Cross of California Medicare. "We strive to be customer focused in everything we do, and we're confident having all notices of claims determination in one format will prove helpful to our beneficiaries."

According to Anderson, the new Medicare Summary Notices are not bills, but simply statements of Medicare claims information. "Yes, there is a new form, but it's important that Medicare beneficiaries recognize that their Medicare benefits have not changed. We've made the forms easier to follow."

A new brochure, "How to Read Your Medicare Summary Notice," is available to help beneficiaries understand the new MSNs. It will be included in every MSN mailed through December. Anderson said Blue Cross of California Medicare beneficiaries who are concerned or have questions about the new forms can call Blue Cross, at 818/593-2006.

Blue Cross of California, with nearly 3.6 million medical members, is the California operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed care companies. Based in Woodland Hills, WellPoint serves the health care needs of approximately 6.5 million medical and nearly 22 million specialty members nationally.

WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality health plans provided through health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and specialty managed care networks. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, Medicare supplements, and 24-hour integrated, network-based workers' compensation coverage.

CONTACT: Blue Cross of California, Woodland Hills

Rhonda Seaton, 818/703-2566