PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- When enrollment opens for Medicare Part D on Nov. 15, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Asuris Northwest Health, a Regence affiliate, will offer two of the prescription drug options available in Oregon. Approximately 14 percent of Oregon residents are eligible for the new plans.
The new Medicare Part D plans are expected to help alleviate the pressure of high prescription drug costs on people who are eligible for Medicare and typically living on fixed incomes. The plans are effective Jan. 1, 2006.
"Through our award-winning pharmacy program, Regence has proven that consumers can receive safe and effective medications at a reasonable cost," said David Clark, vice president of Pharmacy Services. "Medicare Part D brings these savings to those in our communities who often have the greatest need for pharmacy services."
Regence members who enroll in the new prescription drug plan will receive all the benefits mandated by the federal legislation, plus several features unique to the Regence plan. These include access to special network prices and low co-pays for generic and preferred brand-name drugs available at 2,500 contracted Medicare pharmacies across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah.
In addition, members have direct access to hospital ratings, doctors' profiles and cost breakdowns as well as health-related news and details on community events through the Regence Engine, a members-only Web site (www.myregence.com). And, they are eligible for discounts on health club memberships, vision and hearing aids through the Regence Advantages program.
"For years, pharmacy coverage has been at the top of the wish list for our Medicare members," said Dr. Bart McMullan, Jr., Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon president. "We are very pleased to bring even more value to our members by participating in the new Part D program. We encourage Medicare- eligible consumers to learn more about the new pharmacy coverage by attending one of our educational seminars or reading about the options online."
Both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and health plans are offering seminars and have posted information on their Web sites. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is offering seminars in communities around Oregon in October and November. Details are available at www.or.regence.com/needCoverage/medicare/medAdvantage.html.
In Oregon, Regence is offering a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) and two Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PD).
-- Stand-alone PDP: Asuris Medicare Script TM
- Monthly premium: $24.38 - Annual deductible: $250 - $5 co-pay for generic medications - $18 co-pay for preferred brand-name medications - The plan is offered through Asuris Northwest Health, a Regence affiliate, and is available to Oregon and Washington residents.
-- MA-PD (PPO): Regence MedAdvantage + Rx
- The plan adds prescription drug coverage to Regence MedAdvantage, a Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon PPO plan for Medicare-eligible consumers. - Monthly premium: $89* - Annual pharmacy deductible: $250 - $5 co-pay for generic medications - $18 co-pay for preferred brand-name medications - $5 co-pay for most in-network medical services - Available in the following counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon, as well as Clark County, Wash.
-- MA-PD (HMO): Regence First Choice Sixty-Five + Rx
- The plan adds prescription drug coverage to Regence First Choice Sixty-Five, a Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon HMO plan for Medicare-eligible consumers. - Monthly premium: $87** - Annual pharmacy deductible: $250 - $5 co-pay for generic medications - $18 co-pay for preferred brand-name medications - $5 co-pay for most in-network medical services - Available in the following counties: Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah, Polk and Washington counties in Oregon, as well as Clark County, Wash.
Along with Medicare Part D, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon offers a suite of other Medicare supplement plans. For detailed information on these plans, please visit www.or.regence.com/needCoverage/medicare/index.html or call 1-800-452-2909.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon provides medical, dental and related coverage for about one million members in Oregon and in Clark County, Washington. It's part of the Regence Group, the largest affiliation of health plans in the northwest and intermountain states, collectively covering nearly three million people. The Regence Group and its affiliates are not-for-profit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nearly one in three Americans has coverage from the Blues. For more information, visit www.or.regence.com.
*Compared to $72 for Regence MedAdvantage without pharmacy coverage.
**Compared to $69 for Regence First Choice Sixty-Five without pharmacy coverage.
The Regence GroupCONTACT: Angela Hult of The Regence Group, +1-503-412-7902, oraehult@regence.com
