MI-SERA

Chair Talk

September 2019

By Bob Kopasz

On August 26th I received the following statement from Employee Benefits Director Bethany Beauchine:

Employee Benefits and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan have information to share about work underway to implement a Medicare Advantage plan for Medicare-eligible members on Jan. 1, 2020.

The plan is called Medicare PLUS Blue Group. Under the Medicare Plus Blue Group, members will have one comprehensive Medicare health plan, one Medicare Plus Blue Group ID card, and one Explanation of Benefits. In addition to the same benefits and wide network currently covered under the SHP PPO supplemental plan, care management, telemedicine and SilverSneakers are enhanced benefits covered under Medicare Advantage.

The Medicare Advantage plan will not include prescription drug, dental or vision coverage. These will continue to be administered separately by Optum Rx, Delta Dental Plan of Michigan and EyeMed, respectively.

Informational meetings will be held throughout the state for all Medicare-eligible retirees to explain the Medicare Advantage plan. SERA representatives will be invited to attend all the informational meetings.

Thanks,
Bethany

The above was the included with the notice I sent to SERA Chapter Presidents to announce:

Special CC meeting to discuss the changes outlined above. The Special meeting was held on Wednesday, September 4th. There were 50 SERA members in attendance. A presentation by Blue Cross about the new plan was made and there were many questions asked and answered.

There will be mailings sent to Medicare eligible retirees in the coming months from Civil Service and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. DO NOT IGNORE OR THROW THESE MAILINGS AWAY!!

NEW MEDICARE PLUS BLUE GROUP CARDS WILL BE MAILED IN DECEMBER. IF YOU ARE A “SNOW BIRD” MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE OF RETIREMENT SERVICES HAS YOUR CORRECT WINTER ADDRESS.

I encourage SERA Chapters to arrange for presentations by BC/BS about these changes.

There will also be regional meetings about this new plan set up that you can attend. Monitor the mi-sera.org website and the Civil Service/Employee Benefits for meeting times and locations.

Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380.


Chair Talk	Home About SERA Join SERA Now SERA Plus Benefits Meeting Dates Chair Talk Capitol News Retirement Matters Insurance Information SERA Council Directories Michigan Government Links Testimony Letters and Press Releases Resources Links
September 2019 By Bob Kopasz On August 26th I received the following statement from Employee Benefits Director Bethany Beauchine: Employee Benefits and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan have information to share about work underway to implement a Medicare Advantage plan for Medicare-eligible members on Jan. 1, 2020. The plan is called Medicare PLUS Blue Group. Under the Medicare Plus Blue Group, members will have one comprehensive Medicare health plan, one Medicare Plus Blue Group ID card, and one Explanation of Benefits. In addition to the same benefits and wide network currently covered under the SHP PPO supplemental plan, care management, telemedicine and SilverSneakers are enhanced benefits covered under Medicare Advantage. The Medicare Advantage plan will not include prescription drug, dental or vision coverage. These will continue to be administered separately by Optum Rx, Delta Dental Plan of Michigan and EyeMed, respectively. Informational meetings will be held throughout the state for all Medicare-eligible retirees to explain the Medicare Advantage plan. SERA representatives will be invited to attend all the informational meetings. Thanks, Bethany The above was the included with the notice I sent to SERA Chapter Presidents to announce: Special CC meeting to discuss the changes outlined above. The Special meeting was held on Wednesday, September 4th. There were 50 SERA members in attendance. A presentation by Blue Cross about the new plan was made and there were many questions asked and answered. There will be mailings sent to Medicare eligible retirees in the coming months from Civil Service and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. DO NOT IGNORE OR THROW THESE MAILINGS AWAY!! NEW MEDICARE PLUS BLUE GROUP CARDS WILL BE MAILED IN DECEMBER. IF YOU ARE A “SNOW BIRD” MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICE OF RETIREMENT SERVICES HAS YOUR CORRECT WINTER ADDRESS. I encourage SERA Chapters to arrange for presentations by BC/BS about these changes. There will also be regional meetings about this new plan set up that you can attend. Monitor the mi-sera.org website and the Civil Service/Employee Benefits for meeting times and locations. Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380.
©2021 Michigan State Employee Retirees Association Council (MI-SERA) Contact SERA Webmaster