Welcome
Blue Medicare Supplement℠ Insurance
As a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Medicare Supplement member, you can find the answers to all your plan questions here. 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.
Welcome to Your Blue Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan
Feeling a little nervous about your new plan? We understand. Whether you're new to Medicare or just to your plan, here are some tips to make the transition smooth. Your Medicare plan may be new to you now, but soon you'll get to know it and be comfortable with it. You may even like it better than your previous health care plan. We hope to answer your basic questions here.
If you need more information or just want a little help understanding your benefits or the Medicare rules, call the number listed on the back of your member ID card or Contact Us.
Medicare Supplement Coverage with BCBSTX
We're here to help you understand your coverage, stay informed, and take advantage of available discounts.
What’s Covered
Your Outline of Coverage details your plan benefits. The Outline of Coverage includes:
- Benefits of your plan
- Policy renewal information
- Excluded benefits and coverage limitations
Payment Details
The Outline of Coverage also explains:
- Your payment responsibilities
- Medicare’s payment contributions
- Additional coverage provided by your plan beyond Medicare
Staying Informed
We keep you updated with important letters throughout the year. Here's what you can expect.
Rate Change Mailing
If Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas changes your monthly premium, we’ll let you know in advance with a letter showing your new premium amount.
CMS Deductible Change Benefit Mailings
Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updates coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles covered by Medicare. We’ll let you know what those changes are.
Creditable Coverage Letter
Creditable coverage means you have a health care plan that meets a minimum set of standards. Every year, this letter confirms your plan meets the minimum standards for health coverage. If you want to change your plan, you should show this letter when choosing a new plan.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
This statement simply details what you have paid and describes the level of benefits you've used. It is not a bill. Review your EOB to make sure it is right. If you think there are mistakes, contact Customer Service. If you think you are the victim of fraud, report it immediately.
Medicare Supplement Forms
Below are some forms you may have to fill out while you're a member.
- Automatic Premium Payment Program Authorization Agreement
- Appointment of Representative
- Protected Health Information (PHI)
Preventing Fraud
Health care fraud can be reduced or even prevented through awareness. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas 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, BCBSTX needs your help to find and prevent health care fraud.
To learn what you can do to help find and prevent health care fraud, review our fighting fraud checklist .
Member Discounts
Saving on Premiums
A BCBSTX Individual Medicare Supplement premium discount may be available. Qualifications are described below. If you qualify for a discount, it will be applied to your next bill and will remain in effect as long as you are enrolled in your BCBSTX Medicare Supplement plan. Discounts cannot be combined; only one type of discount per member is allowed.
Continue with Blue℠ Discount
You may qualify for a discount if you enrolled in a BCBSTX Medicare Supplement policy issued with an effective date on or after May 1, 2022 and 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 BCBSTX Medicare Supplement policy becoming effective. The discount is 7%.
Household Discount
You may qualify for a household discount if you enrolled in a BCBSTX Medicare Supplement policy issued with an effective date on or after January 1, 2020. The discount is 10%. You can either:
- Reside with a spouse or civil union/domestic partner; or
- Have resided with as many as three adults aged 60 or older for the last 12 months.
Blue Family Discount℠
You may qualify for a Blue Family Discount if you enrolled in a BCBSTX Medicare Supplement policy issued with an effective date on or after January 1, 2020 and you meet the criteria for both the Household Discount AND the Continue with Blue Discount. The discount is 12%.
Apply for the Blue Family Discount, Continue With Blue, or Household Discount
Call the number on the back of your member ID card to speak to a Customer Advocate. Once your eligibility is confirmed, the discount will show up on the next billing cycle.
- The discount will not be retroactive.
- For the Blue Family Discount and Continue with Blue Discount, be prepared to provide your previous commercial or individual member ID.
Medicare Select Plans
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 need to 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 Texas.
Only certain hospitals are network providers under this policy. Check with your doctor to find out if they have admitting privileges at the network hospital. If they do not, you may be required to use another doctor at the time of hospitalization or, if you still use a non-network hospital, you need to pay the Part A deductible and any non-covered charges.