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Wellcare OTC catalog 2024

If you are considering a Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan, you should take a look at the Wellcare OTC catalog 2024. In 2024,  Wellcare is providing beneficiaries of participating plans have access to Wellcare Spendables dollars.  Members of Wellcare plans can use this benefit purchase OTC items such as pain medication, vitamins or toothpaste.  Use the healthy foods benefit to purchase fruits and vegetables or bottled water just to name a few choices.

Use one of the catalogs below to search for some of the options available.  You will find more choices either online or in participating stores.

Wellcare OTC Healthy Foods 2024 – Click here to download

Download a copy of the Wellcare OTC 2024

When your Wellcare Spendables card arrives, you need to activate your benefit.  Do this either online at member.wellcare.com or by calling 1-855-256-4620 (TTY 711) there is someone there to answer your call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  You can also access your benefit by downloading the Healthy Benefits+ mobile app for apple devices at the app store or for Google devices at googleplay.

Once you download the app, you can easily scan your card from your phone when you go to the checkout to purchase eligible items. Use the app to scan items and verify eligibility.  You can also use your app to shop online and place your order as well as check your available balance.

Find a participating store such as; Walmart, CVS or Kroger with the app or by checking your online account.

This catalog has many great options for members

The Wellcare OTC catalog 2024 includes several sections dedicated to specific conditions including a section for diabetes supplies.

Daily living aids, such as blood pressure monitors, scales and thermometers are also included.  There are also feminine health items as well as eye and ear care products.

Health Food benefits – Wellcare OTC catalog 2024

The store finder app can help members find more than 55 thousand retailers who participate with the Healthy benefits nearby.
There are many choices of different food categories to choose from such as meals & sides, protein drinks and even condiments.

A few more details

Online and in-store prices may vary from the prices listed in the catalog.  If this happens, the store price will be applied at the checkout.

Sales tax is applied to all orders.

If the cost of your order is more than the balance on your card, you can use another payment method to make up the difference.

To replace a lost card; just visit member.wellcare.com or call 1-855-744-8550 (TTY 711) between the hours of 8am and 8pm local time 7 days a week from October through March, the hours to reach customer service are 8am until 8pm Monday – Friday from April through September.

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Anthem MediBlue Plus HMO

Anthem MediBlue Plus HMO is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MAPD). This plan is offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in 4 counties in the state of Connecticut.  Clients can purchase in either Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven as well as Windham counties.  Given the plan is an HMO plan, participants must use in network providers.  In fact, if you use out of network providers  anthem will not cover your claims. An exception to this would be when getting urgent or emergency care which allows of of network services.

The plan has a monthly premium of $37 a month. This would be in addition to the part B premium of $121.80.  This plan does not require a referral. Copays for a primary doctor are $15 and $40 for a specialist.  The plan has an annual out of pocket max of $6,700 per year. Annual max indicates the most the insured would need to pay in medical claims for  the year. It does not include prescription drug out of pocket costs. You can add dental coverage to this plan for an additional premium. They include Silver Sneakers  in the $37 monthly premium and they pay a local gym membership monthly fee for members. Diabetic supplies are covered at 100% when using approved diabetic supply vendors.

A Medicare Advantage plan should not be confused with a Medicare Supplement plan (also called Medigap).  MAPD plans offered medical and drug benefits combined with the insurance company as the primary insurance. With a Medicare Supplement, Original Medicare is primary.  The insurance company would be the secondary insurance. As a result, a Medicare Supplement plan does not have a network.  In fact, members may see any provider that participates with Original Medicare.  This is not the case with an Advantage plan.

 MediBlue Plus HMO Anthem summary of benefits

Anthem Mediblue Plus HMO application

Click here to request a personal Medicare review.

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 1 Connecticut

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 1 Connecticut is a Medicare Advantage plan with Prescription Drugs (MAPD).  Medicare Complete Plan 1 is an HMO plan.  This plan is available in all eight Connecticut counties.   The plan has a $99 monthly premium.  The annual out of pocket limit for medical expenses is $4,850.  Primary doctor visit co-pays are $10.   The specialist visit co-pay is $30.   In fact, this plan does not require PCP referrals for specialist visits.    Additional benefits are provided for podiatry care, hearing aids, SilverSneakers fitness program and also the NurseLine.  This plan features contributions for vision exams.  These plans include preventative dental coverage.

The drug plan has a  co-pay plan with 5 tiers as well as a $130 deductible that applies to tiers 3,4 and 5 only.  Like all other part D and MAPD drug plans in CT,  a Coverage Gap (formerly called donut-hole) applies to this RX benefit.  Although it is an HMO plan, the Medicare Complete Plan 1 does have the 2016 UHC Passport Program which provides access to doctors in other states on an in-network basis.  Passport is not available in all states, but they do include it in the Connecticut plan.   A dental benefit is also offered for an additional premium.

Please note:

A Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drugs (MAPD) is NOT a Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap). With an MAPD plan, Medicare is not the primary or secondary insurance.  The company offering the MAPD is your primary insurance and services must be obtained through participating providers in most cases.   A Medicare Supplement plan is secondary to Original Medicare and does not include Part D prescription drug coverage.   With a Medicare Supplement, there is not a network but instead, the insured would go to any provider that accepts or participates with Original Medicare.

A 2016 Summary of benefits as well as a 2016 application are available in the links below.   You can send applications back to us either by email at Admin@croweandassociates.com or by fax at 203-567-6235.

Click here to download the UHC Complet Plan 1 Summary of Benefits – Connecticut

Click here to download the UHC Complete Plan 1 Application – Connecticut

Looking for a lower monthly premium?  Click here to learn more about the United Healthcare Complete Plan 2.

Click here for a no-obligation Medicare quote.

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

This post is about Medicare Advantage Plans Explained.  Are you confused about Medicare Advantage plans and how they work? If so, the following post should help clear up any confusion.

Medicare Advantage Plans are insurance plans  offered by private insurance companies.  They are used as an alternative to Original Medicare A and B and/or a Medicare supplement plan.  When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, the doctors/hospitals and other medical providers will bill your Medicare Advantage plan instead of original Medicare.  Medicare Advantage plans are offered by a number of companies such as Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare, Aetna, Connecticare, Etc….  These plans are often offered as $0 premium plans.  This means that you pay nothing per month to enroll in them.

Medicare Advantage plans also include your Medicare Part D drug benefit. (There are some plans that come without the Part D benefit but they usually include it.)  When you enroll in the advantage plan, you use one insurance card for all you care.   You can not enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and a separate stand alone part D plan.  You also can not enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement at the same time.

Pros and Cons of a Medicare Advantage plan   (CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING FOR AN APPLICATION)

Pros

• The Plan includes your part D drug benefit.
• Many Advantage plans have no monthly premium (You will still pay your Part B premium to Medicare)
• You only need to use one insurance card
• They often have additional benefits such as optional dental,  Full annual physicals, limited eye care, Podiatry and foreign travel benefits.

Cons

• The insurance  company is primary which means the providers need to participate with that company in order to receive care.
• There are co-pays for the medical services you receive.
• The out of pocket limits on the co-pays can be as high as $6,700 per person per year.
• Plan benefits change every January.

Medicare Advantage plans change every January which and the insured needs to be aware of the changes.  What may have been the best Medicare Advantage plan on the market one year may suddenly be the worst choice the next due to benefit changes.   If you enroll in an Advantage plan, you will have the option to change out of one every January.

In general, I suggest Advantage plans to clients that are of relatively sound health and see doctors that participate with this type of plan.  If clients are of poor health or have a number of chronic conditions, I will usually suggest a Medicare Supplement and stand along part D  plan as an alternative.

Here are some quick points regarding Medicare Advantage plans

• They are not medically underwritten which means they can not decline you due to health
• Original Medicare does NOT act as a secondary coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan
• They have networks but the majority of doctors do participate with them.  There are more that do than don’t.
• Medicare Advantage plans are separate from VA coverage.  You can have both a Medicare Advantage plan and still utilize you VA benefits.
• In fact, You can change plans every year.
• You do not need to use a participating doctor or hospital if you have an emergency.

Questions?  Send me an email at Edward@croweandassociates.com  CLICK HERE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE APPLICATIONS

What is a Medicare Advantage Plan

What is a Medicare Advantage Plan?  A Medicare Advantage plan is an insurance plan that insurance companies offer that have benefits similar to a group health insurance plan. (There are some differences however). Because these plans are referred to by different names, there is often confusion about what Medicare Advantage plans are.

Read more

There are a limited number of Medicare Advantage plans available in Connecticut for 2012.  The list includes plans from Connecticare, AARP/United, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield and Wellcare.   Our agency has clients with all companies and plan types in Connecticut and we are happy to share the good and bad of them with you.

Please click the link below to view the comparison.   Call or email with any questions or requests.  Email: Edward@Croweandassociates.com or phone at 203-796-5403   Review our BBB rating here   Click for BBB Rating

Medicare Advantage comparison 2012 CT