Anthem Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
At a glance
- $0 premium plans available in some areas
- Many plans offer prescription drug coverage and vision and dental benefits
- Over 1.5 million people are enrolled in an Anthem Medicare Advantage Plan1
Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) offers several types of Medicare Advantage Plans, including Medicare Advantage PPO Plans.
With an Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO, you have the flexibility to choose any doctor or specialist in your plan network without having to get a referral. You can also see doctors outside of your plan network, though you may pay more out-of-pocket for your services.
What is Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage Plans – such as the ones offered by Anthem Blue Cross – combine the benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B (called Original Medicare) into one convenient plan.
Many Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans also offer benefits not offered by Original Medicare, such as prescription drug coverage and hearing, vision and dental benefits.
What is an Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO?
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization.
Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO plans come with several features and benefits:
- With an Anthem Blue Cross PPO plan, you do not need to obtain a referral to seek health care from a specialist in your plan network. You are free to schedule appointments with various types of in-network doctors as you please.
- You can select a primary care physician (PCP) who provides personalized care and gets to know your whole health needs.
- Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO plans offer a large network of doctors, hospitals and facilities.
- An Anthem Blue Cross PPO plan allows you to visit health care providers outside of your plan network, though services may cost more. Some other types of insurance plans do not provide coverage for any care that is received outside of the plan’s network.
- Anthem Blue Cross offers Medicare Advantage PPO plans with premiums as low as $0. Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plans also include an out-of-pocket spending limit, which Original Medicare does not offer.
Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plan benefits, costs and availability can vary based on your location.
Anthem Blue Cross MediBlue PPO vs. HMO
Anthem Blue Cross MediBlue PPO Medicare Advantage plans differ slightly from the company’s MediBlue HMO Medicare Advantage plans.
- HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans use a coordination of care model. That means you’ll select a primary care physician who you will visit for any initial injury, illness or condition, as well as for routine preventive care.
Your primary care physician will treat you or refer you to a specialist in the plan network if further tests or treatment is needed. Your primary care doctor will coordinate with other providers in the network to communicate your needs and oversee your care. - A MediBlue PPO plan does not require you to get a referral to see a specialist. And unlike an HMO plan, a MediBlue PPO plan allows you to receive care outside of the plan network and still receive at least partial coverage in many instances. You typically pay lower out-of-pocket costs if you receive in-network care, however.
While MediBlue PPO plans offer more freedom of choice, a MediBlue HMO plan can offer a more team-oriented approach to your care.
Why Choose MediBlue?
There’s a lot to like about Anthem Blue Cross . For starters, the company has a proven track record among customers, receiving a score of 797 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2021 customer satisfaction rankings.2
Anthem has partnered with Kroger to provide stipends for healthy food and over-the-counter health products. Kroger pharmacies are within the Anthem network, making for a seamless customer experience. Anthem plans with Kroger partnerships are only available in Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and Virginia in 2022, but there are plans to expand into other states.
Some Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These extra benefits can include, but aren’t limited to:
- SilverSneakers membership
- 24/7 telehealth visits
- Dental and vision coverage
Learn more about your Anthem Blue Cross Medicare PPO coverage options by speaking with a licensed insurance agent today. To speak with an agent, call us at 1-855-863-8034 TTY users: 711 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
