Free First Fill Program may help you save money on prescription drugs.
If you switch to a generic equivalent of certain brand name drugs you may be able to get your first generic prescription filled for free*.
Also, by switching to generic drugs, you can:
Save money on copayments each time you fill a prescription with a generic drug instead of its brand-name counterpart
Make the most of your Medicare Part D benefits by reducing your prescription drug costs, which can help keep you from reaching the coverage gap
Generic drugs are FDA-approved and just as effective as brand-name drugs. And they're often much cheaper.
Talk to your doctor about switching your brand-name drugs to generic equivalents whenever possible.
Switch to generics and save.
*Limited to drugs included in the Free First Fill Program. Refer to the drug formulary for a list of drugs included in this program. First Fill program applies to Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDPSM only.
Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM is a health plan with a Medicare contract. Prescription Blue PDPSM is a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract.
Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B.
A Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plan works differently than a Medicare supplement plan. Your doctor or hospital can continue to treat you if it agrees to accept our terms and conditions of payment, and thus may choose not to treat you, with the exception of emergencies. If your doctor or hospital does not agree to accept our payment terms and conditions, they may choose not to provide health care services to you, except in emergencies. Providers can find the plan's terms and conditions on our Web site at bcbsm.com/ma. You can also read more about how private fee-for-service plans work for you in our downloadable flyer (PDF 160K).
Prescription Blue PDPSM is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B. Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage PFFS plan that includes Medicare prescription drugs or any Medicare Advantage coordinated care (HMO or PPO) plan will be automatically disenrolled from the HMO, PPO or Medicare Advantage PFFS plan if they enroll in a prescription drug plan; and Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a private fee-for-service plan (PFFS) that does not include Medicare prescription drug coverage, a Medicare Advantage Medicare Savings Account (MSA) plan or an 1876 Cost plan may enroll in a prescription drug plan and will not be automatically disenrolled from the PFFS, MSA or 1876 Cost plan.
Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDPSM Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
In Michigan, 86 percent of pharmacies are network pharmacies; nationwide, more than 80 percent of pharmacies are in the network, including the majority of chain pharmacies, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies and Indian/Tribal/Urban (Indian Health Service) pharmacies (Source: 2010 Pharmacy Directory). In general, benefits are only available at contracted network pharmacies. Plan drugs may be covered in special circumstances, for instance, illness while traveling outside of the plan's service area where there is no network pharmacy. You may have to pay more than your normal cost sharing amount if you get your drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy. In addition, you will likely have to pay the pharmacy's full charge for the drug and submit documentation to receive reimbursement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For additional information on network pharmacies, please call Customer Service at 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704. You may also write to: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 600 E. Lafayette Blvd., Mail Code X435, Detroit, MI 48226.
If you decide to have your plan premium withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account, it may take up to three months for the automatic deduction to begin. If your premium amount is currently withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account and you wish to receive a monthly bill instead, the change may also take up to three months to become effective. During this time, you will be responsible for paying your premium.
The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. Additional information about benefits is available to assist you in making a decision about your coverage. This is an advertisement; for more information contact the plan Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network, premium and/or coinsurance may change on Jan. 1, 2011. Please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for details.
In addition to enrolling through this Web site, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Online Enrollment Center, located at medicare.gov. For more information, please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704. You may only enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM or Prescription Blue PDPSM during specific times of the year. To learn more about enrollment periods, please contact Customer Service.
This document is available in alternate formats or languages. For more information, call 1-877-469-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-800-481-8704.
Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDPSM are issued by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which contracts with the federal government. Medicare Plus Blue PFFSSM and Prescription Blue PDP'sSM contracts with CMS are renewed annually and the availability of coverage beyond the end of the contract year is not guaranteed.
You may be able to get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for getting extra help, call:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
The Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call 1-800-325-0778; or