Medicare Advantage Plan - Anthem Blue Cross Launches New Zero-Premium Plan

Beginning January 1st 2011, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) will introduce what they call a “Zero, Zero, Zero” Medicare Advantage Local Preferred Provider Organization (LPPO) plan. The plan will be on offer in twelve Missouri counties and in effect will offer $0 premiums, $0 co-payments for primary doctors in a designated network, $0 prevention care services, and $0 co-payments for generic drug purchases.

The “Zero, Zero, Zero” plan – sold under the name Anthem Medicare Preferred Core – is being offered to Medicare eligible individuals in the St. Louis and Springfield areas, including St. Louis, St. Louis City, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Christian and Webster counties.

“We are committed to helping members of the Medicare population enjoy better health at a reasonable price, including the many Baby Boomers who are entering the system for the first time,” said Krista Bowers, senior vice president of the senior division of Anthem. “They shouldn’t have to skip important doctor’s visits or medications because they can’t afford to pay for them.”

Dennis Matheis, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri, added, “Zero, Zero, Zero plans provide financial relief and peace of mind for our Medicare Advantage members during these difficult economic times.”

Another feature of the new offering is that individuals that qualify for Medicare can buy a Medicare Advantage add-on during the “annual enrollment period,” which is scheduled from November 15 to December 31, 2011.