PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) will begin shifting Medicare-eligible employees to a Medicare Advantage plan through CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Officials say the plan will streamline retirees’ coverage, lower the retirees’ monthly contributions and save CCPS $1.3 million annually.
The updated plan offers several benefits to the retirees in addition to lowering their monthly contributions. One major benefit is that it simplifies access to coverage, because the plan combines Medicare and supplemental coverage. So a retiree would only have to present one card when they go for a doctor’s visit, instead of having to process two insurances and coordinate who pays for coverage.
In addition to simplifying coverage, Director of Human Resources Zach Seawall said the new plan will:
- Provide comparable or enhanced coverage in most areas
- Reduce the cost of hearing aids
- Lower the out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs
- Reduce emergency room copays
- Offer zero-cost primary care visits
Seawall also added that retirees may be eligible and are excited for the “SilverSneakers” program, which provides free or reduced-cost gym memberships at some facilities.
Retirees must be over 65 or have a disability to be eligible for Medicare and for this plan. There are approximately 800 retired employees or dependents who will transition over. Seawall said CareFirst will help them handle the transition and has said they’ll help connect retirees with new resources. The employer-to-CareFirst per-member, per-month cost is $459 and will be paid for through the Human Resources premiums budget account.
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Shame on them. That’s gratitude for ya’. They could at least have grandfathered this in somehow.