Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield: Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Maine provides various Medicare supplemental insurance plans for senior residents. These plans, also called 'Medigap' plans, are designed to make up the difference in the coverage 'gaps' left by the Original Medicare Plan. They can also pay for other out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles and coinsurance.

Through Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, you have a choice of seven of the eleven Medigap plans available throughout Maine: Medigap Plans A, B, C, D, F, J, and high-deductible Plan F.

The benefits offered in a Medicare supplemental insurance plan depends on the plan letter. Medigap Plan A consists of the most basic insurance benefits, with each subsequent letter containing one or more additional benefits. High-deductible Plan F offers the same benefits as regular Plan F, but has a substantially higher annual deductible ($1900 in 2008) in exchange for having a lower monthly premium.

You are eligible to enrol in a Medigap policy through Anthem if you are a senior aged 65 or better and you're already enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You may also be eligible if you are under age 65, but have certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. In both cases, you must already be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.

Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield offers ways to save on your monthly Medigap premium. You can save $2 per month by enrolling in Anthem's CrossCheck electronic transfer program, which enables automatic payment of your monthly premium from your checking account. If you are a Maine resident and senior aged 65 or better, you may also be eligible for a discount during your first three years of your coverage with Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. To be eligible, you must enrol in a Medicare supplemental insurance plan during the month that your Medicare Part B coverage begins, or within three months after the Part B coverage begins.