UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust coverage changing for Medicare members in 2018

Effective Jan. 1, 2018, the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (“the Trust”) will be transitioning coverage for its Medicare primary members in Michigan from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Traditional Care Network plan to the Medicare Plus Blue^SM Group PPO plan. This means that on Jan. 1, 2018, many of your patients who receive coverage through the Trust will be enrolling into a Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage PPO (MA PPO) plan.

You’ll likely continue to see these same retirees who will be Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members beginning Jan. 1, 2018. If you’re part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield MA PPO network, these members will be able to find your practice or facility in our online provider directory.

While most of our health care providers are familiar with our MA PPO product, there are some differences in benefits and care management. Later this year, we’ll publish information about these differences in coverage you might see for Trust members, starting in 2018.

As always, it’s important that you ask your patients about recent changes in insurance carriers and benefits, and also to request a copy of their new ID card when they come for services. You can also check member benefits and eligibility on web-DENIS.