Health coverage options expand

With group health coverage renewing on July 1, now is a good time to revisit your health benefits and consider whether there may be a way to meet your health, dental and vision benefit needs more effectively.

MRA can provide any Blue Cross health plan, including individual plans and Medicare. And when Blue Care adds new options, such as the ones described below, MRA’s health insurance expert, Linda Pollock, can help you decide whether the options make sense for you.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan now offers two new health plan options members may wish to consider.

First, a mammogram rider to group coverage plans is now available at an affordable price. The new Community Blue Mammogram Rider, effective April 2008, covers one mammogram per member per calendar year at 100 percent.

Currently, mammo-grams are covered under the medical portion of the certificate; therefore, they have a copay and deductible requirement for in-network services. With the new rider, the current deductible and copay requirements would be eliminated.

“I urge anyone interested in this rider to add it, as the cost averages 30 cents per person per month, an incredible value,” said Pollock.

Also, Community Blue Plans 12, 14 and 16 now offer the option of having a deductible but no copay. This option eliminates the in-network copay requirement after the deductible has been met. The out-of-network copay still applies.

If you are considering a change in your health coverage or are dissatisfied with your current health plan, please call Pollock. She can discuss all your options, answer your questions about various plans and help you find the plan that best meets your budget and your coverage needs.

Pollock reminds you to consider dental and vision benefits as well. If you have questions about any benefit options, call her at 800.366.3699.