MCHC left out of 2019 Blue Cross Blue Shield MN Medicare Advantage Plan

Patients can change plans until March 31st

The Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic (MCHC) was not invited by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Minnesota to participate in the Medicare Blue Plus Southern MN Network Advantage plan for 2019. Despite attempts by MCHC administrators to reach out to BCBS of Minnesota, the insurer has denied requests from MCHC and several other area hospitals to be an in-network facility.

Although MCHC is an out-of-network facility for the BCBS Medicare Advantage PPO program for Southern Minnesota, people who wish to continue to use our services can still do so with the understanding that out-of-pocket costs may be higher with this Advantage plan. If you would like to come to MCHC in-network, you may want to choose a different insurance company that offers a Medicare Advantage plan. You have the option to change your plan through March 31, 2019.

While not an in-network provider for this BCBS Medicare Advantage Plan, MCHC is an innetwork provider for all other BCBS Medicare supplement plans and BCBS commercial plans. To find out if your medical providers are in-network, contact your insurance provider.

MCHC also recommends calling the Senior LinkAge Line for assistance at 1-800-333-2433. Before you call, have your Medicare card out and prepare a complete list of your prescription drugs and dosages. This will allow them to better assist you. The Senior LinkAge Line hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please be patient, as wait times may still be long.