Ending your membership

Compare our plans
Enroll now

This page focuses on ending your membership in our plan

Ending your membership may be voluntary (your own choice) or involuntary (not your own choice).

You might leave our plan because you have decided that you want to leave.

There are also limited situations where you do not choose to leave, but we are required to end your membership. The information below tells you about situations when we must end your membership.

If you are leaving our plan, you must continue to get your medical care and prescription drugs through our plan until your membership ends.

When can you end your membership in our plan?

You may end your membership in our plan only during certain times of the year, known as enrollment periods. All members have the opportunity to leave the plan during the Annual Enrollment Period and during the Medicare Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period. In certain situations, you may also be eligible to leave the plan at other times of the year.

You can end your membership during the Annual Enrollment Period

You can end your membership during the Annual Enrollment Period (also known as the "Annual Coordinated Election Period"). This is the time when you should review your health and drug coverage and make a decision about your coverage for the upcoming year.

When is the Annual Enrollment Period?

This happens from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

What type of plan can you switch to during the Annual Enrollment Period?

During this time, you can review your health coverage and your prescription drug coverage. You can choose to keep your current coverage or make changes to your coverage for the upcoming year. If you decide to change to a new plan, you can choose any of the following types of plans:

Note: If you disenroll from a Medicare prescription drug plan and go without creditable prescription drug coverage, you may need to pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a Medicare drug plan later. ("Creditable" coverage means the coverage is at least as good as Medicare's standard prescription drug coverage.)

When will your membership end?

Your membership will end when your new plan's coverage begins on Jan. 1.

You can end your membership during the Medicare Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period, but your plan choices are more limited

You have the opportunity to make one change to your health coverage during the Medicare Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period.

When is the Medicare Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period?

This happens every year from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14.

What type of plan can you switch to during the Medicare Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period?

During this time, you can cancel your Medicare Advantage enrollment and switch to Original Medicare. If you choose to switch to Original Medicare, you may also choose a separate Medicare prescription drug plan at the same time.

When will your membership end?

Your membership will end on the first day of the month after we get your request to switch to Original Medicare. If you also choose to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, your membership in the drug plan will begin at the same time.

In certain situations, you can end your membership during a Special Enrollment Period

In certain situations, members may be eligible to end their membership at other times of the year. This is known as a Special Enrollment Period.

Who is eligible for a Special Enrollment Period?

If any of the following situations apply to you, you are eligible to end your membership during a Special Enrollment Period. These are just examples. For the full list you can contact the plan, call Medicare, or visit the Medicare website.

When are Special Enrollment Periods?

The enrollment periods vary depending on your situation.

What can you do?

If you are eligible to end your membership because of a special situation, you can choose to change both your Medicare health coverage and prescription drug coverage. This means you can choose any of the following types of plans:

Note: If you disenroll from a Medicare prescription drug plan and go without creditable prescription drug coverage, you may need to pay a late enrollment penalty if you join a Medicare drug plan later. ("Creditable" coverage means the coverage is at least as good as Medicare's standard prescription drug coverage.)

When will your membership end?

Your membership will usually end on the first day of the month after we receive your request to change your plan.

Where can you get more information about when you can end your membership?

If you have any questions or would like more information on when you can end your membership, you can:

Everyone with Medicare receives a copy of Medicare & You each fall. Those new to Medicare receive it within a month after first signing up.

You can also download a copy from the Medicare website. Or, you can order a printed copy by calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.

How do you end your membership in our plan?

Usually, to end your membership in our plan, you simply enroll in another health plan during one of the enrollment periods. One exception is when you want to switch from our plan to Original Medicare without a Medicare prescription drug plan. In this situation, you must call Member Services and ask to be disenrolled from our plan.

The table below explains how you should end your membership in our plan.

If you would like to switch from our plan to: This is what you should do:

Another Medicare Advantage plan.

Enroll in the new Medicare Advantage plan.

You will automatically be disenrolled when your new plan's coverage begins.

Original Medicare with a separate Medicare prescription drug plan.

Enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug plan.

You will automatically be disenrolled when your new plan's coverage begins.

Original Medicare without a separate Medicare prescription drug plan.

Call Member Services and ask to be disenrolled from the plan.

You can also contact Medicare, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and ask to be disenrolled. TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.

You will be disenrolled when your coverage in Original Medicare begins.

Until your membership ends, you must keep getting your medical services and drugs through our plan

If you leave the plan, it may take time before your membership ends and your new Medicare coverage goes into effect. During this time, you must continue to get your medical care and prescription drugs through our plan.

We must end your membership in the plan in certain situations

We must end your membership in the plan if any of the following happen:

Where can you get more information?

If you have questions or would like more information on when we can end your membership:

We cannot ask you to leave our plan for any reason related to your health

What should you do if this happens?

If you feel that you are being asked to leave our plan because of a health-related reason, you should call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users call 1-877-486-2048. You may call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You have the right to make a complaint if we end your membership in our plan

If we end your membership in our plan, we must tell you our reasons in writing for ending your membership. We must also explain how you can make a complaint about our decision to end your membership. You can also look in your Evidence of Coverage for information about how to make a complaint.

H9572 S5584_W_Apr13BCBSMAdvWeb CMS Approved 04292013

Important information about these plans

Medicare Plus Blue PPOSM, BCN Advantage HMO-POSSM and BCN Advantage HMO FocusSM are health plans with Medicare contracts. Prescription Blue PDPSM is a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract.

Medicare Plus Blue PPO

Medicare Plus Blue PPO is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents and are entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B.

With the exception of emergency or urgent care, it will cost more to get care from non-plan or non-preferred providers. Your responsibility will be greater out-of-network when the out-of-network coinsurance is based on the Medicare-allowed amount and the contracted amount is lower. You may receive services from any provider who accepts Original Medicare. Your out-of-pocket costs will be lower if you choose a network provider. To find a network provider, visit www.bcbsm.com/medicare/provdirectory.shtml.

Prescription Blue PDP

Prescription Blue PDP is available to all Medicare beneficiaries who are Michigan residents entitled to receive services under Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Part B.

Medicare Plus Blue PPO and Prescription Blue PDP

Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply.

Our network includes approximately 2,300 Michigan retail pharmacies, of which an estimated 86 percent are network pharmacies. Nationwide, most chain pharmacies are in our network, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies and Indian/Tribal/Urban (Indian Health Service) pharmacies.

In general, benefits are only available at contracted network pharmacies. Plan drugs may be covered in special circumstances; for instance, illness while traveling outside of the plan's service area where there is no network pharmacy. You may have to pay more than your normal cost-sharing amount if you get your drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy. Quantity limitation and restrictions may apply. In addition, you will likely have to pay the pharmacy's full charge for the drug and submit documentation to receive reimbursement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For additional information on network pharmacies, please call Member Services at 1-877-241-2583, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, with weekend hours Oct. 1 through Feb. 14. TTY users call 711. Certain services available 24/7 through our automated telephone response system. TTY users call 711. You may also write to: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 600 E. Lafayette Blvd., Mail Code X510, Detroit, MI 48226.

If you decide to have your plan premium withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account, it may take up to three months for the automatic deduction to begin. If your premium amount is currently withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account and you wish to receive a monthly bill instead, the change may also take up to three months to become effective. During this time, you will be responsible for paying your premium.

The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and or copayments/coinsurance may change on Jan. 1 of each year.

Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PPO, BCN Advantage HMO-POS, BCN Advantage HMO or Prescription Blue PDP through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at http://www.medicare.gov. BCBSM does not control Medicare's website and is not responsible for its content.

For more information, please contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-877-469-2583. TTY users call 711. Hours are: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, with weekend hours Oct. 1 through Feb. 14. TTY users call 711. Certain services available 24/7 through our automated telephone response system.

You may only enroll in Medicare Plus Blue PPO or Prescription Blue PDP during specific times of the year. To learn more about enrollment periods, contact Member Services.

BCN Advantage HMO-POS

BCN Advantage HMO-POS is available in these counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne. Premiums vary by county. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

You must use plan providers except in emergency or urgent care situations or for out-of-area renal dialysis. If you obtain routine care from out-of-network providers, neither Medicare nor BCN Advantage will be responsible for the costs. Out-of-network services authorized by BCN Advantage will be covered. Our point-of-service benefit allows you to get care from providers not in our network under certain conditions. If you're traveling outside of Michigan, you're covered under our point-of-service BlueCard benefit and can access out-of-network doctors, specialists or hospitals that participate with Blues plans. You may receive most plan-covered services at in-network out-of-pocket cost sharing. You may need to pay higher cost-sharing for routine care from non-network providers.

If you are enrolled in BCN Advantage ClassicSM or PrestigeSM plans, you must use a network pharmacy to access your prescription drug benefit, except under non-routine circumstances when you cannot reasonably use a network pharmacy. Our pharmacy network includes the majority of chain pharmacies, mail order through Medco Pharmacy® (now a part of the Express Scripts family of pharmacies) or Walgreens, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies. For additional information on network pharmacies, call Customer Service at 1-800-450-3680, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY users call 711. You may also write to: BCN Advantage, 2311 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

BCN Advantage HMO Focus

BCN Advantage HMO Focus is available only to residents of Wayne County. You must use BCN Advantage Focus plan providers except in emergency or urgent care situations or for out-of-area renal dialysis. If you obtain routine care from out-of-network providers, neither Medicare nor BCN Advantage will be responsible for the costs. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Medicare beneficiaries may also enroll in BCN Advantage through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at http://www.medicare.gov. BCN Advantage's contract with CMS is renewed annually and the availability of coverage beyond the end of the contract year is not guaranteed. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network, premium and/or coinsurance may change on Jan. 1 of each year.

BCN Advantage HMO Focus plan members must use a network pharmacy to access their prescription drug benefit, except under non-routine circumstances when they cannot reasonably use a network pharmacy. Our pharmacy network includes the majority of chain pharmacies, mail order through Medco Pharmacy® (now a part of the Express Scripts family of pharmacies) or Walgreens, as well as long-term care and home infusion pharmacies. For more information call the Customer Service number on the back of your ID card from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, with weekend hours October 1 through February 14. TTY users should call 711. Certain services are available 24/7 through our automated telephone response system. You may also write to: BCN Advantage, 2311 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

The BCN Advantage benefit information provided on this website is not complete. Additional information should be requested before making a decision about your coverage. For full information on BCN Advantage benefits, current members should call our Customer Service department at 1-800-450-3680, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. TTY users call 711. Prospective members should call 1-877-469-2583. TTY users call 711. Hours are: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, Feb. 15 through Sept. 30; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week, Oct. 1 to Feb. 14.

Benefits, formulary, pharmacy, network, premium and/or coinsurance may change on Jan. 1 of each year. Contact BCN Advantage for details.

If you decide to have your BCN Advantage premium withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account, it may take up to three months for the automatic deduction to begin. If your premium amount is currently withheld from your Social Security check or deducted from your checking or savings account and you wish to receive a monthly bill instead, the change may also take up to three months to become effective. During this time, you will be responsible for paying your premium. Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in BCN Advantage through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Online Enrollment Center, located at medicare.gov. For more information, contact BCN Advantage at 1-877-469-2583. TTY users call 711. Hours are: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, Feb. 15 through Sept. 30; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week, Oct. 1 to Feb 14.

Legacy Medigap

Legacy Medigap offers access to any hospital, doctor or other health care provider in the U.S. or its territories that accepts Medicare assignment. The plan does not require members to use a specified provider network. Legacy Medigap is a Medigap health insurance policy administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Neither Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan nor agents authorized to sell Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan policies are connected with Medicare.