Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plans in California
Turning 65, new to Medicare, or comparing Blue Shield 65 Plus, Inspire, Trio, or Choice?
Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans are different from Original Medicare. With Original Medicare, many people can use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you must pay close attention to the plan’s own provider network, medical groups, hospitals, drug formulary, referral rules, and service area.
That is why I do not suggest choosing a Medicare Advantage plan based only on premium, TV advertising, extra benefits, or a quick online quote. The practical question is: will this specific plan work with your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, and county?
Send Steve Your Medicare Details
Blue Shield Plan Details & ONLINE Enrollment Steve will be your broker
Licensed California insurance agent since 1975 — independent Medicare plan help, not a call center.
Before enrolling in Blue Shield Medicare Advantage, send me: your ZIP code, county, doctors, medical groups, preferred hospitals, prescriptions, and whether you are turning 65, already on Medicare, or losing employer coverage.
Provider networks are one of the biggest differences between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare. A plan may have attractive benefits, but if your doctor, medical group, hospital, or prescription drug is not a good fit, the plan may not be the right choice.
Blue Shield may be a good fit for some people, but it is not automatic. I can help compare Blue Shield Medicare Advantage with other Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement options, and Part D prescription drug coverage.
Important: I do not offer every Medicare plan available in every area. Any information I provide is limited to the plans I offer. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Note though, that I have access to the same information they have!
Blue Shield Videos On Medicare
“Medicare Enlightenment” video series out now!
- Medicare Enlightenment – Entire Video 18 minutes
- Different Parts of Medicare
- Original Medicare Parts A& B: What’s Not Covered
- When can I enroll in Medicare
- Your Medicare Coverage Choices at a Glance
- Medicare Advantage Plans – Part C
- Medicare Supplement Plans
- Prescription Drug Plans
- Our Blue Shield Web Pages on Medicare
- Blue Shield 65 Plus – Inspire HMO 2021
- Blue Shield – Medi-Gap – Any Medicare Provider
Provider Finder
Blue Shield of California
Provider #Finder -
Dentists, Doctors & Hospitals
All Plans - Medicare Advantage, Employer Group, Individual & Family - Covered CA
Find a doctor near you
#Contact Us - Ask Questions - Get More Information - Schedule a Zoom Meeting
By submitting the information below , you are agreeing to be contacted by Steve Shorr a Licensed Sales Agent by email, texting or Zoom to discuss Medicare or other Insurance Plans as relevant to your inquiry. This is a solicitation for Insurance
#Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans (PDF) #12026
- Set a Zoom Meeting
- We can now do SOC Scope of Appointment, before the Meeting via a 3 minute recorded meeting 2 days before. AHIP Training Module 4 Page 14 *
- #Intake Form - Please email us [email protected] for the form - That way we can better analyze your situation to give you the answers to your needs and questions.
- Get Quotes, Full Information and Enroll
- MANDATED wording!: Think Advisor * ‘‘We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800–MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.’’
- We disagree with the above wording, as we can use the same tools on Medicare.gov as they do!
- Visit our general webpage on Medicare Advantage for much more detail and information.
Forms & Resources
#Formularies & Rx Prescription Drug Resources
Formularies
- Email us [email protected] for the formularies & Pharmacy directory
- You can also get it though our Blue Shield affiliate website
Pharmacy Directory
Forms – Application Status
- Email us [email protected] for any forms you need
- You can also get it though our Blue Shield affiliate website
- Check your application status?
FAQ Over the Counter Items
- On your Inspire program, what are considered “over-the-counter” items?
- Does it include vitamins?
- Do you have to have a doctors note to buy the vitamins?
- Where can I find the on-line catalog for over-the-counter meds, supplements, etc?
- And how do I place an order?
- Does it include vitamins?
- Yes, Vitamins & Minerals are included
- Page 83 of evidence of coverage
- FDA’s definition:
- Over-the-counter medicine is also known as OTC or nonprescription medicine. All these terms refer to medicine that you can buy without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you follow the directions on the label and as directed by your health care professional.
- How about appointing us as your agent, no extra charge whenever you might make a change to your program?
Blue Shield Medicare
Resources & Links
- Member Services 800.766.4466
- Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) Plan Customer Care: (800) 776-4466 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, year-round -Effective 10/01/2021
- Blue Shield Balance: (888) 802-4423 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, year round
- Individual Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP): 888) 239-6469 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, year round
- Blue Shield Financial Strength
- More on financials & Mission Statement on our Individual Site
- Silver Sneakers.com
- Blue Shield Fraud Hotline
- Broker ONLY Forms Requires LOG In
- Go deeper into your plan to get more Think your plan is just about health coverage? It offers so much more. Take a closer look and see what else you could be getting from us. Seriously, we want you to.
- Mental Health
- Diabetes Management
Evidence of Coverage
- Email us [email protected] for the full evidence of coverage
- You can also get it though our Blue Shield affiliate website
- Visit our webpage on Evidence of Coverage aka the full policy and how to read and interpret them.
Dental
Add #Dental to your coverage
Blue Shield of California Medicare Advantage plan members can add dental benefits to their program. You can choose between:
- Dental HMO* plan and a
- Dental PPO** plan.
- These plans offer a wide range of dental benefits, including many diagnostic and preventive services at no charge to you.
- Be Sure to email your completed application to us [email protected] so that we are coded as your broker. No extra charge.
- See the EOC’s Evidences of Coverage for details & pricing
Brother – Sister – Sibling Side Pages Subpages
View our website with your Desktop or Tablet for the most information
Broker ONLY
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- Mandates
- Medi Gap Reinstatement rules
- Broker Training & Resources
- No more commission on PPO Plans in Alameda, Orange & San Diego
- February 2025 Newsletter
- Broker News 2.2025
- April 2025 Medi Sup Plan Changes Rates
- View this email as a web page
- Tips for a strong AEP finish: Maximize your self-service tools
- Earn $100 for each completed HRA with new D-SNP enrollments!
- Spotlight on Wellvolution: Support your clients’ wellness with Fitbit® and WW (Weight Watchers® reimagined)
- New Medicare dental buy-up feature now on Broker Connection
- Don’t forget: Complete your 2025 Product Certification
- Now is the time to book your 1st Quarter 2025 Activities
- Explore our 2025 Broker Training and Resource page on Broker Connection
- blue shield ca.com/broker/resources
- blue shield ca.com advertising/online-program
- Elevate mental well-being: Looking beyond Mental Health Awareness Month
- Connecting with Broker Services- Live chat and real time notification
- Tentative Agreement Reached: Providence Health & Services and Blue Shield of California
- Transition from DocuSign to the Connecture Online Enrollment Tool
- Discontinued benefit: AAA Roadwise Rx
- 2024 Broker training dates: Selling Medicare Supplements
- Blue Shield of California: Leading the way in Medicare Supplement Plans
- Rate Changes to Open Medicare Supplement Plans Effective July 1, 2024
- Streamline your day-to-day with Broker Connection Self-Service tools
- New application forms following the closure of Medicare Supplement Plan G Inspire
- Helping your clients transition to Medicare: New FAQs
- 2024 Broker training dates: Selling Medicare Supplements
- 2024 Medicare Toolbox
- New Client List features – autopay and cancellation identifiers
- Exciting updates coming to Broker Connection
- Medicare Supplement Closed Plan Cycle Changes- Effective April 1, 2024
- No new Plan G Inspire applications will be accepted after March 31, 2024
- What to know about GLP-1 weight loss drugs
- 2024 Broker training dates: Selling Medicare Supplements
- berwick insurance.com/agent
-
BROKER ONLY
- Why choose Medi Gap Plan?
- Broker Website - updated forms...Access our Broker Connection site for more resources and tools:
- No new Plan G Inspire applications will be accepted after March 31, 2024
- Shield On Demand offers a wide variety of customizable flyers, including benefit highlights, PowerPoint presentations and social media templates. From Broker Connection, go to the Medicare tab and look for “Sales & Marketing Materials,” and start utilizing these branded tools for your sales and marketing efforts.
- Our updated 2024 Medicare Toolbox highlights comprehensive product offerings and provides a blueprint for your success.
It includes our product portfolio, commissions and bonuses, marketing support, and more! - 2024 HRA incentive program details
- Blue Shield and Adventist Health reach new in-network agreement
- Tools and resources to help your clients with their new 2024 plans
- Elevate your social media marketing in 2024
- The Redetermination process will continue in 2024
- 2024 Broker training dates and job aids
- Tools at Your Fingertips- Price Check My Rx tool
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Medicare website updates:
- Medicare Member - Helpful member link agents can use for quick access to resources
- Med Supp Summary of Benefits - 2024 cost sharing amounts posted
- Med Supp Evidence of Coverages - 2024 cost sharing amounts posted
- Med Supp Dental PPO Evidence of Coverages 2024 updates
Broker Connection web page updates:
- Help Current MA-PD clients
- Help current PDP clients
- Help Current Med Supp clients – Find 2024 updates!
Additional Links and contacts:
- Access Broker Connection site for more resources such as enrollment materials and customized marketing through Shield On Demand
- Medicare Supplement Applications:
Email: [email protected]
- MAPD/PDP Applications:
Email: [email protected]
- Producer Services Support
Tel: 800-559-5905 | Email: [email protected]
Appointment inquiries: [email protected]
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Medicare Supplement Plan Changes for April 1, 2024
With current market evaluation, we have made the decision to discontinue Medicare Supplement Plan G Inspire effective 4/1/24.
Plan G Inspire has been in the market for 3 years and was only offered in select Northern CA counties. Agents and members will find Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra to be the same benefits and equal or less cost, without the AAA Roadside Driver program.
To help you navigate this change, we sent out a Producer Alert, and attached are PDF documents for Plan G Inspire FAQ, Plan G Extra, and Medicare Supplement Plan Comparisons (G, G Extra, F Extra). All marketing materials with Plan G Inspire will be updated by 4/1/24, including new enrollment, transfer, enrollment kits, marketing flyers, online references. It is highly recommended you read the FAQ and your Producer Alert link .
Current Plan G Inspire members will be notified October 1, 2024 and will be given a Special Enrollment Period to move to another supplement plan with no underwriting.
Plan G Extra is sold statewide and offers these same extra benefits as Plan G Inspire:
Additionally, Plan G Extra offers our popular Welcome to Medicare rate savings of $25 for the first year, Auto-payment savings, Household Savings, and Dental discount. |