Anthem Freedom Blue
Anthem Freedom Blue has been discontinued for 2012*
*Any plan information on this page is from 2011, and is no longer valid.
Go to the new plan page for Anthem Medicare Preferred Standard PPO!
Anthem has replaced Freedom Blue with local PPOs in select counties in California.
- San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties will have a local PPO with $0 premium.
- Orange, San Francisco, and Sonoma counties will have a local PPO with a $40 premium.
For immediate service or to ask questions, contact us.
You may request new plan benefit summaries which can be obtained immediately via email, as well as enrollment applications for the new PPO for 2012.
Benefits of working with a broker:
- Faster, personalized service at no extra cost to you
- Talk to the same person every time
- Receive a broader understanding of Medicare, because we take the time to educate you
Freedom Blue 2011 Benefits:
$0 Premium Medicare Advantage PPO
Anthem Freedom Blue is a Medicare Advantage Plan that has the benefits of a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization).
This plan allows you the freedom to go directly to a specialist without the need for a referral.
Visit our site’s custom Agent Connect page with Anthem Blue Cross to get quotes and enroll instantly online!
Available throughout all of California.
- $0 additional monthly premium! (You must continue to pay your Part B premium)
- Predictable Doctor Copays
- Includes prescription coverage
- Provider Finder
- Benefit Summary
2011 Benefits at a Glance…
(for Medicare covered services)
- $0 monthly premium
- $300 deductible (see how it works)
- $15 primary doctor visit
- $25 specialist visit (no referral required)
- $35 Urgent care visit
- $50 ER
- Outpatient services/surgery: $25-$250
- Annual out-of-pocket maximum: $3300
- Inpatient Hospital Stay: $850 per stay (unlimited number of days) up to your $3300 annual out of pocket max
Click on the Benefit Summary to see a side-by-side comparison between Original Medicare and Freedom Blue PPO
Enrolling is easy!
Enroll online through our custom Agent Connect page!
Rather fill out a paper application?
Fill out & sign (at the very top of page 6. It’s easy to miss).
Fax 888-520-8683 or
scan & email pamela_cook@mac.com or
mail to Senior Insurance Services of San Diego
1180 Civic Center Dr. B22
Oceanside, CA 92054
*note: Make sure to fax to our toll free number 888-520-8683!
(We have access to the Anthem E-fax submission for brokers, giving us instant confirmation that the fax was received. We make sure you’ve signed and completed all sections before faxing, and track your application through the whole process).
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I qualify, and when can I enroll?
If you are new to medicare, and have enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you may enroll in this plan in the 7 month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65. Your effective date would be the 1st day of your birthday month, or the 1st of the month following enrollment, in the 3 months following your birthday month.
If you are under 65 and enrolled in Medicare due to a disability, you can join this plan during the 3 months before, and the three months after your 25th month of disability.
You must reside in California to enroll in this plan.
If you are enrolled in Medicare, you should have a red, white, and blue Medicare card with your Medicare number, and the effective dates of both Medicare Parts A & B.
If you are outside of your Medicare Initial Election Period, you may join this plan during the Medicare Annual Election Period from October 15th – December 7th, 2011.
(*AEP for 2011 has changed! Again, it is from October 15th – December 7th! For those taking advantage of this time to change plans, your effective date of the new plan will be January 1st, 2012).
This is a big change from last year’s AEP, which didn’t begin until November 15th, and went through December 31st.
What type of plan is Anthem Freedom Blue Regional PPO?
Freedom Blue is a Medicare Advantage Plan. It is not a Medicare Supplement.
Even though it is a PPO plan, it is still managed care.
According to Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, managed care is
a system of providing health care (as by an HMO or a PPO) that is designed to control costs through managed programs in which the physician accepts constraints on the amount charged for medical care and the patient is limited in the choice of a physician.
Unlike HMO Medicare Advantage options, Freedom Blue does not require a referral to see a specialist. Also, the Anthem Network of doctors and hospitals is located throughout the entire state of California.
May I see doctors out of network?
Yes, however your copays may be higher for services that are out of network. Your annual out-of-pocket maximum of $3300 is the same in or out of network.
More about annual out-of-pocket maximums
An annual out-of-pocket maximum, or limit, generally refers to a cap or cut-off point at which your out-of-pocket expenses for medical services is fulfilled within a calendar year. Once you reach this dollar amount in deductibles and copays, you may continue to receive medical benefits at no additional out-of-pocket expense to you for the remainder of that calendar year.
The Freedom Blue Plan includes an annual out-of-pocket maximum of $3300 for Medicare covered medical expenses, and does not include any prescription costs. Prescription out-of-pocket costs under Medicare Part D are figured entirely separate from medical.
When you are enrolled in Original Medicare, Parts A & B, and not in an Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement, there is no cap or limit to your annual out-of-pocket expenses.
Enroll online through our custom Agent Connect page!
Questions? Still not sure what plan is best for you?
Contact Us, Visit our Ask page, or comment below.
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