Blue Cross/Blue Shield Advantage Plans

JustBonee

JustBonee

Happy July 4th
Location
Texas Gulf Coast
I’ve had Blue Cross as my Medicare Advantage Plan for 3-4 years now. (Still waiting for their card for 2025 though. They claim it’s in the mail.)

But anyway, in the mail yesterday, I received a Debit card from them …. ????? …. said it’s good at many pharmacies, Walmart, etc.
It’s called a Wellness Benefit Card.

Just where does the money come from if a person was to use this debit card? ….


I don’t care for debit cards in general, and I doubt I would ever use it, but I’m curious as to where the funds are that back up a card like this?

Anyone have one? Use it?
 

My BCBS MA plan doesn't have this feature, but reading about it suggests that the card balance is a kind of "kick back" of premiums usable for a variety of health products. Your plan probably has a web page describing the details.
 
I know funds need to be backed up with a debit card. I’ll see if I can find something on it.

I just find it strange.
 

My husband and I each got one of those cards a couple of years ago. It is part of your benefit. You do NOT put your own money on it but it does have limitations.

Turned out you can only use it to buy stuff from their catalog, only use it at certain pharmacies and only for certain items that they deem "important." There was nothing that I needed or used on their list so I never activated mine. Husband bought a couple of things from the catalog and never used it again. We never got another one. So, check it out and use it for things you can use!
 
JustBonee said:
I’ve had Blue Cross as my Medicare Advantage Plan for 3-4 years now. (Still waiting for their card for 2025 though. They claim it’s in the mail.)

But anyway, in the mail yesterday, I received a Debit card from them …. ????? …. said it’s good at many pharmacies, Walmart, etc.
It’s called a Wellness Benefit Card.

Just where does the money come from if a person was to use this debit card? ….


I don’t care for debit cards in general, and I doubt I would ever use it, but I’m curious as to where the funds are that back up a card like this?

Anyone have one? Use it?
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I have UHC (United Healthcare) and the regular insurance ID card also serves like a payment card to buy OTC medical items such as pain relievers, eye drops, etc. The merchant has to accept the card. In my case, Walmart does, and I use it there to pay for vitamins and the like.

Every 3 months, UHC "loads" $50 more onto the card. I have to use it up within the 3 months, or lose it. They do not allow it to accumulate or carry over.

If you're not sure how the one you have works, be sure to get more details from your provider. Otherwise, it's like throwing away cash to not use the card.
 
Advantage plans can offer perks because their catastrophic coverage isn’t great. A friend’s family member was in a car crash a few weeks ago and sustained fractures in both legs, both wrists, ribs, shoulder. His Advantage plan has only approved 20 physical therapy sessions. Traditional Medicare has no limit. Hell of a time to find this out.

Not only is he not going to need more PT than is covered, but he’s running into the issue that few intensive rehab facilities in the area accept Advantage plans for this very reason. The nearest that will take him is an hour away and his wife is in poor health.
 
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When I see those Advantage plan commercials on TV (or anywhere else), my first thought is, "This sounds too good to be true." The "cash" on the debit card (I have heard $1,000) is nothing compared to what just one not-covered (denied) treatment would cost.

Are their lives at risk?
 
GoodEnuff said:
When I see those Advantage plan commercials on TV (or anywhere else), my first thought is, "This sounds too good to be true." The "cash" on the debit card (I have heard $1,000) is nothing compared to what just one not-covered (denied) treatment would cost.

Are their lives at risk?
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$1000 .. o_O .. Insurance companies being nice scare me!

.. I’ll pass on their debit card offer. I've seen the catalog that @Myquest55 is mentioning. Didn’t interest me either.
 
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I had Medicare and Medigap. It provides wider coverage with less restrictions than an Advantage plan. I agree with all the previous posts about that part of what has evolved in here so far, so I'm not here to argue the good points that were made by several posters.

But I dropped Medicare and a supplement, as I've posted in other forums, because the cost of keeping that kind of insurance became unmanageable on my budget. Other people I know have done the same. One friend was paying approximately $400 a month for the supplement.

But since Bonee had indicated in her very first post (when she started this thread) that she's already on an Advantage plan through Blue Cross, and has been "for 3-4 years now," the virtues of traditional Medicare and a Supplement over Advantage plans weren't the issue.

That's the reason in my post I attempted to explain (earlier) how my plan card (ID card) works to cover some of my OTC health purchases (for a total of $200 per year in 2024).

What BCBS is offering her in the way of a "debit" card may be different than what my UHC plan provides for me - but then it may well be the same or similar. It's just that UHC does not send out a separate debit card, nor a catalog. Their standard health ID card serves a dual purpose for me and pays for certain eligible medically necessary needs at Walmart.

I hope she will at least call and talk to BCBS to clear up any uncertainties about that card. Getting information never costs anything; failing to do so could mean leaving money on the table.
 
That Lady in PA said:
So, you are refusing to use benefits that your plan offers to you?!?!
That doesn't make sense at all.
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I agree, if the money is there use it.

I have BCBS Advantage plan and also get the debit card. It's hard for me to spend that much on OTC things so I let my kids go thru the catalog and get what they need, band aids, first aid kits, vitamins, etc.

Another benefit that's part of my card is a yearly $500 allowance for dental, vision or hearing care. Again, if I can use it I'm going to.
 
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C50 said:
I agree, if the money is there use it.

I have BCBS Advantage plan and also get the debit card. It's hard for me to spend that much on OTC things so let me kids go thru the catalog and get what they need, band aids, first aid kits, vitamins, etc.

Another benefit that's part of my card is a yearly $500 allowance for dental, vision or hearing care. Again, if I can use it I'm going to.
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Exactly!
You chose a plan with benefits, so USE those benefits!

We also get things for the kids/grandkids.
 

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