The older we get, the more we need healthcare services. And Rhode Island ranks #1 in the nation for people age 85 or older. Our median age is 8th highest at 39.8 years. These important factors are deeply understood by providers, as they come into play in our day-to-day work caring for patients. But many providers may not have as deep an understanding of how different health insurance plans can also influence patient behavior.

October is a month to consider this influence, as the Annual Election Period (AEP) for Medicare begins on 15 de octubre. Between 15 de octubre and 7 de diciembre de 2018, eligible seniors can enroll or make changes to their Medicare plans, which go into effect on 1 de enero de 2019.

This year, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is offering a suite of plans that reflect feedback we received from real Rhode Island seniors, who were only too happy to tell us what they were looking for from their health insurer.

Providers should feel good about how seniors responded to our company’s inquiries. Seniors wanted benefits that helped them to get and stay fit and healthy. They wanted coverage for high quality dental care, which is so important to overall health. And didn’t want to pay a lot for routine services like hearing and vision office visits. It’s gratifying to know that our messages about wellness, well-being, and the importance of receiving high value care are getting through to our senior patients.

But coverage for needed services is only part of the equation for seniors. It should come as no surprise that the personal touch means a great deal, especially to this population, who may sometimes feel overlooked in a culture that prizes youth. At BCBSRI, we make sure seniors know they matter. Our Medicare Concierge team is available to answer any and all questions about Medicare Advantage plans. Three Your Blue StoreSM locations offer free health screenings, nutrition and fitness classes, including dance and yoga, as well as in-person consultations. We even offer BlueCHiP for Medicare members the opportunity to be matched with organizations looking for volunteers, demonstrating how much we continue to value their contributions to our state. That kind of affirmation is critical to overall well-being, which is such a key factor to staying healthy.

I invite you to check out the Medicare portion of our website, so you can see exactly how your patients learn about what is available to them through their hometown insurer. Or, direct your patients to our Rhode Ahead newsletter just for Medicare members. You can also learn more about our AEP offerings at one of the upcoming Provider Relations seminars on page 3 of this issue of Provider Update. I also invite you to reach out to me with any questions you have about AEP and our plan offerings.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Gus Manocchia, M.D.
Vicepresidente y Director médico

20 de octubre18