Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) Plan Details for McDowell County, NC
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*CMS rated this Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina plan (H3449-027-2) 4.5 (Good+) out of 5 stars.
Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug benefits. Eligibility applies. Enroll online today.
See more Medicare Advantage Plans in McDowell County, North Carolina.
Blue Medicare Essential Basic Details
Plan Basics | |
---|---|
Plan ID: | H3449-027-2 |
Plan Type: | HMO |
Plan Year: | 2025 |
Premium: | $0.00/mo Plus your Medicare Part B premium. |
Health Plan Deductible: | $0.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Maximum: | 8,300.00 /yr (in-network) |
Part B Reduction: | $0.00/mo |
Drug Plan Benefit: | Enhanced, $590.00 deductible |
Supplemental Benefits: | Vision, Hearing |
Availability: | McDowell County, NC |
Insured By: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina |
Summary of Benefits |
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Out-of-Pocket Costs
This Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Part C plan has cost-sharing. These are costs you pay out-of-pocket when you use approved health services. The following table summarizes the most common in-network out-of-pocket costs in plan H3449-027-2.
NOTE: Certain preventive services are covered 100% by the plan as a Part B benefit.
Doctor's Office Visits
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Primary: | $10 Copay |
Specialist: | $45 Copay |
Emergency, Urgent, and Inpatient Hospital Coverage
Service | Enrollee Cost |
---|---|
Emergency room care: | $100 Copay |
Urgent care: | $45 Copay |
Ground ambulance: | $275 Copay |
Inpatient hospital care: | $335.00 per day for days 1 through 5 $0.00 per day for days 6 and beyond |
Skilled Nursing Facility: | $0.00 per day for days 1 through 20 $214.00 per day for days 21 through 60 $0.00 per day for days 61 and beyond |
Foot Care
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Foot Exams and Treatments (Medicare-covered): | $45 Copay |
Routine Foot Care: | Not Covered |
Chiropractic Care
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Medicare-covered chiropractic: | $15 Copay |
Routine chiropractic: | Not Covered |
Mental Health Services
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Outpatient individual therapy: | $40 Copay |
Outpatient group therapy: | $40 Copay |
Inpatient psychiatric hospital care: | $300.00 per day for days 1 through 5 $0.00 per day for days 6 and beyond |
Rehabilitation Services
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
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Physical therapy and speech and language therapy: | $25 Copay |
Occupational therapy: | $25 Copay |
Medical Equipment and Supplies
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Diabetes supplies: | 20% Coinsurance Prior Authorization Required |
Durable medical equipment: | 20% Coinsurance Prior Authorization Required |
Prosthetics: | 20% Coinsurance |
Diagnostics, Lab Services, and Imaging
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Diagnostic radiology services: | 20% Coinsurance Prior Authorization Required |
Lab services: | $5 Copay Prior Authorization Required |
Outpatient x-rays: | $15 Copay Prior Authorization Required |
Diagnostic tests and procedures: | $25 Copay Prior Authorization Required |
Medicare Part B Drugs
Service | Enrollee Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Chemotherapy: | 20% Coinsurance |
Other Part B drugs (Medicare-covered): | 20% Coinsurance |
Dental Services
Service | Member Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Medicare Covered Preventive Dental | $45 Copay Prior Authorization Required |
Oral exam | $0 Copay |
Dental x-rays | $0 Copay |
Cleaning | $0 Copay |
Periodontics | Not Covered |
Endodontics | Not Covered |
Restorative Services | Not Covered |
Hearing Aids and Services
Service | Member Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Fitting/evaluation | Covered Limits may apply |
Hearing aids | Not Covered |
Hearing exam | Covered Limits may apply |
Vision Services
Service | Member Cost (in-network) |
---|---|
Medicare-covered eye exam | $ to $25 Copay |
Routine eye exam | $0 Copay 1 Every year |
Eyewear benefits | None |
Feel free to download our Blue Medicare Essential Summary of Benefits information.
Prescription Drug Costs & Benefits
Blue Medicare Essential includes an enhanced benefit Medicare Part D plan (PDP). Enhanced plans offer greater coverage than basic plans, typically providing lower cost-sharing, broader drug coverage, and additional benefits, such as covering drugs not included in the standard formulary. These plans usually have higher premiums due to the extra coverage and flexibility they provide, but they cover a larger percentage of overall drug costs.
As of 2023, approximately 75% of people on Medicare are enrolled in enhanced plans.
Part D Prescription Drug Premium
The table below outlines the Part D premium costs for this Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina plan, showing the monthly portion of the total premium dedicated to prescription drug coverage. While the Part D premium is included in the overall plan cost, some plans may have supplemental charges or offer assistance through the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program. Also known as Extra Help, LIS is a Social Security initiative that helps individuals with limited income and resources reduce or eliminate Part D expenses.
Basic Part D Premium: | $(19.50) |
Supplemental Part D Premium: | $19.50 |
Total Part D Premium: | $0.00 |
Low Income Premium Subsidy: | $51.22 |
Low Income Premium Subsidy CMS Pays: | $0.00 |
Low Income Subsidy Premium: | $0.00 |
If you would like more information about the Extra Help program, you can refer to the Social Security Extra Help page.
Prescription Drug Plan Deductible
The Medicare Part D annual deductible with this plan is $590.00. You must pay this amount at the pharmacy before Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina begins paying its share.
Prescription Drug Plan Out-of-Pocket Costs
In addition to the plan's monthly premium and deductible, Blue Medicare Essential has out-of-pocket costs you must pay when you pick up your prescriptions.
Drug Tier | Retail | Mail Order | |
---|---|---|---|
Preferred Generic* | $0.00 | $15.00 | |
Generic* | $6.00 | $20.00 | |
Preferred Brand | $45.00 | $47.00 | |
Non-Preferred Drug | 49.00% | 49.00% | |
Specialty Tier | 25.00% | 25.00% | |
Select Care Drugs* | $0.00 | $3.00 | |
*The Part D deductible does not apply. |
CMS 5-Star Rating Marks
Each year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates health plans (Part C) and drug plans (Part D) in several major categories using a 5-star rating system. These ratings are designed to help you understand the quality of care and service you can expect if you join Blue Medicare Essential .
CMS Measure | Star Rating |
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2025 Overall Rating | |
Staying Healthy: Screenings, Tests, Vaccines | |
Managing Chronic (Long Term) Conditions | |
Member Experience with Health Plan | |
Complaints and Changes in Plans Performance | |
Health Plan Customer Service | |
Drug Plan Customer Service | |
Complaints and Changes in the Drug Plan | |
Member Experience with the Drug Plan | |
Drug Safety and Accuracy of Drug Pricing |
Additional Plan Options
The Medicare Part C program offers a myriad of HMO, PPO, and PFFS plan options, including these plans:
- Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS)
- Blue Medicare Medical Only (HMO-POS)
- Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS)
- Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS)
- Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS)
- Blue Medicare Essential (HMO)
- Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS)
If you are enrolled in a Part C plan with prescription drug coverage, you cannot be enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, regardless of your chosen insurance company.
You cannot be enrolled in a Part C health plan and simultaneously hold Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Medicare Supplement plans are only compatible with Medicare Parts A and B.
Contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Website: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Plan Page |
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Providers: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Providers Page |
Formulary: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Formulary Page |
Pharmacy: | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Pharmacy Page |
New Member Health Plan Help: | (866)760-0823 |
New Member Health Plan TTY: | 711 |
New Member Part D Help: | (866)760-0823 |
New Member Part D TTY Users: | 711 |
If you qualify for Medicare benefits but have not yet enrolled or verified your enrollment status, you can do so on the Social Security Administration website. You can learn more about the Medicare Part C program on www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Citations & References
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, https://www.bluecrossnc.com/medicare, Last Accessed February 20, 2024
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed January 21, 2024
- Medicare.gov, "Your Medicare coverage choices", Last Accessed February 19, 2024
- Medicare.gov, "Medicare & You in Different Formats", Last Accessed February 19, 2024
- Medicare.gov, "Your Medicare Coverage", Last Accessed April 11, 2023
- CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files, Last Accessed February 21, 2024
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance, Last Accessed February 21, 2024
- CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package, Last Accessed February 21, 2024
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Capital Blue Cross, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, Freedom Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, HealthSun, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Medica Central Health Plan, Optimum HealthCare, Premera Blue Cross, SCAN Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare(R), Wellcare, WellPoint.