- Retirees Eligible for Medicare
- Retirees Not Eligible for Medicare
Effective January 1, 2008, all Penn State retiree health plans will be administered by Highmark Blue Shield. As Highmark
plan members, you will have access to the Blue Shield network, which is the nation’s largest. As in the past, your
eligibility for Medicare will determine in which Penn State retiree medical plan you are enrolled.
- You will transition to Highmark’s FreedomBlue Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plan.
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No action is required on your part. You should expect to receive your Highmark FreedomBlue
ID card around the middle of December. Your coverage will automatically begin on January 1,
2008. Begin using your new ID card at your doctor’s office and at the pharmacy after that date.
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FreedomBlue replaces the University Medicare Supplement, Advantra Freedom and HealthAmerica’s Advantra HMO.
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You must continue your enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B. Since FreedomBlue provides prescription drug
coverage, there is no need to enroll in Medicare Part D prescription coverage.
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The FreedomBlue PFFS does not require a primary care physician, although it is important to keep your
family doctor informed of your medical conditions and treatments.
- Use your Highmark ID card for access to all services, including doctor visits and pharmacies.
- Your FreedomBlue PFFS plan provides a fixed dollar co-payment for doctor office visits and for prescription drugs.
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Prescription coverage will be available at local pharmacies. While a 30-day supply of a maintenance drug is
available from your local pharmacy, a 90-day supply of a maintenance drug is available by mail order the University
Health Service Pharmacy or from Medco by Mail.
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Highmark has a prescription drug formulary. New prescriptions from your doctor are required if you currently
are using the Caremark Mail Order maintenance plan.
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Detailed information is available from the FreedomBlue PFFS coverage grid.
- If you are a retire WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE and you have questions regarding your health plan, please contact Highmark Blue Shield at the dedicated toll-free number for Penn State at 1-866-918-5285.
- You will transition to the Highmark PPOBlue plan.
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No action is required on your part. You should expect to receive your Highmark PPOBlue ID card around the middle of December.
Your coverage will automatically begin on January 1, 2008. . Begin using your new ID card at your doctor’s office and at the
pharmacy after that date.
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Highmark PPOBlue replaces all health plans previously available to active faculty and staff and to Penn State retirees who are
not eligible for Medicare.
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The Highmark PPOBlue plan does not require a primary care physician, although it is important to keep your family doctor
informed of your medical conditions and treatments.
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Since the Highmark PPOBlue plan covers services provided both in and out of the Blue Shield network, you will not need to change doctors.
- Fixed dollar co-payments apply for visits to doctors within the Blue Shield network.
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Prescription coverage will be available at local pharmacies; a 50/50 co-payment applies. While a 30-day supply of a maintenance drug
is available from your local pharmacy, a 90-day supply of a maintenance drug is available by mail order from the University Health
Service Pharmacy or from Medco by Mail. Your co-payment for maintenance drugs is 20%.
- Highmark has a prescription drug formulary.
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If you are a retiree who is NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE and you have a question about your health plan, please call Highmark Blue Shield at 1-800-914-4384. This is a dedicated toll free number for Penn State members.
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