After You Enroll

Now that you’re enrolled in your Blue Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, find out what’s covered, how we stay in touch with you, how to check your member ID card, and how to make a payment.

Your Outline of Coverage details benefits of your plan. It shows you what you pay for your plan, what Medicare pays for, and what your plan covers that Medicare does not. Your Outline of Coverage also provides details on renewing your policy, what benefits are excluded and coverage limitations.

During the year, we’ll send updates about your plan. Be sure to review these letters since they impact how much you pay for the plan, how much Medicare covers, and how much your plan covers.

• Rate Change Mailing: If Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) changes your monthly premium, we’ll let you know in advance with a letter showing your new premium.
• CMS Deductible Change Benefit Mailings: Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changes coinsurance, copayment, and deductible amounts that Medicare covers. We’ll let you know what those changes are.
• Creditable Cover Letter: Creditable coverage means that you have a health care plan that meets a minimum set of criteria. Each year, you’ll receive a letter confirming that your plan meets the criteria. If you want to change your plan, you’ll need to show this letter when selecting a new plan.
• Explanation of Benefits (EOB): You will receive an Explanation of Benefits statement that details what you have paid and indicates the level of benefits you've used. This statement is not a bill. Review the statement to be sure it is correct. If you think there are errors, call Customer Service. If you think you are the victim of fraud, report it immediately.

Please note: You can start using your benefits on your effective date, even if your member ID card has not yet arrived in the mail. When it arrives, make sure the information on the card is correct. If there's a problem with your ID card or you need to order a new one, please call Blue Medicare Supplement Insurance Customer Service at 1-800-624-1723. We’re open from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.

We offer four ways to pay your premium. Depending on which method you choose, you may or may not receive a printed bill.

• Direct Billing: You will receive a premium bill in the mail, and you may pay by check. Notices are usually mailed approximately 18 days prior to the due date. For example, your premium due July 1 will be mailed around June 12.
• By Phone: If you prefer to not mail a check, you can call us at the number on the back of your member ID card to pay by telephone.
• Automatic Premium Payment Program: Your premium is withdrawn automatically from your checking or savings account on the assigned draft date. Choose this payment option on the agreement form. Print and complete the agreement form, then mail it as instructed.
• Pay Online One-Time Payment Method: Visit our online payment portal to make a quick and easy one-time payment for your premium. Make a Payment.

OR

Pay Online Through BAM^TM: Log into your Blue Access for Members (BAM) account to schedule your premium payments online. Make payments or schedule payments through BAM by:

1. Logging in to BAM.
2. Click “Make a Payment” to Single Sign On (SSO) into the Member Payment Portal and make payments using your saved bank accounts.
3. You can set up and save wallets as well through the Member Payment Portal for easier one-time payments.

You can change your billing option at any time. Call Blue Medicare Supplement Insurance Customer Service at 1-800-624-1723. We are open 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday.

Premium Discounts

A BCBSIL Medicare Supplement premium discount may be available. Eligibility criteria are described below. If you are eligible for a discount, the discount will be applied to your next bill and remain in effect as long as you are enrolled in your BCBSIL Medicare Supplement plan. Discounts cannot be combined; only one type of discount per member permitted.

You may be eligible for a Continue with Blue Discount if you were enrolled in a Blue Cross and Blue Shield commercial group or individual health insurance coverage plan and that coverage was within one year of your BCBSIL Medicare Supplement policy becoming effective. Applies to BCBSIL Medicare Supplement policies issued with an effective date on or after April 1, 2022. There cannot be a gap in coverage greater than 12 months from the date of when your commercial or individual membership ended to when your Medicare Supplement policy started. The discount is 7%.

You may be eligible for a household discount if you enrolled in a BCBSIL Medicare Supplement policy issued with an effective date on or after May 1, 2019. The discount is 10%. You must either:

• Reside with a spouse or civil union/domestic partner; or
• Have resided with as many as three adults age 60 or older for the last 12 months.

You may be eligible for a Blue Family Discount if you enrolled in a BCBSIL Medicare Supplement policy issued with an effective date on or after April 1, 2024 and you meet the criteria for both the Household Discount AND the Continue with Blue Discount. The discount is 12%.

Some Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans have a money saving option called Medicare Select. With this option, the Medicare Part A deductible is covered for non-emergency care at Medicare Select hospitals. If it's an emergency, the Part A deductible is covered at any hospital.

Medicare Select is not an HMO. You can choose your own doctors and specialists. To avoid paying the Part A deductible, you must agree to use a Medicare Select hospital for non-emergency care.

You're eligible if you live within 30 miles of any Medicare Select hospital. Find a list of Medicare Select hospitals. Plans F, G, and N have Medicare Select options in Illinois.

Only certain hospitals are network providers under this policy. Check with your doctor to find out if he or she has admitting privileges at the network hospital. If he or she does not, you may be required to use another doctor at the time of hospitalization or, if you still use a non-network hospital, you must pay the Part A deductible and any non-covered charges.

Below are additional Medicare Supplement forms you may need to fill out while you're a member.

• Automatic Premium Payment Program Authorization Agreement
• Appointment of Representative
• Protected Health Information (PHI)

Health care fraud can be reduced or even prevented through awareness. BCBSIL is committed to finding and stopping health care fraud, waste and abuse through its Special Investigations Department. This department is there to protect you and your plan. However, BCBSIL needs your help to find and prevent health care fraud.

There are a number of things you can do to help find and prevent health care fraud. Review our Tips to Prevent Health Care Fraud checklist.