Medicare Advantage options from Wellmark Advantage Health Plan currently available in more counties Blue Medicare Advantage PPO and Blue Medicare Advantage PPO | Avera plans now available to more South Dakotans and Iowans
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota — Wellmark Advantage Health PlanSM is now offering Medicare Advantage plans for even more Medicare-eligible individuals across South Dakota and Iowa. Blue Medicare AdvantageSM PPO plans from Wellmark Advantage Health Plan are now available in additional South Dakota counties during the annual enrollment period that occurs now through Dec. 7, for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2024.
Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, an affiliate of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, continues to offer Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, combining traditional Medicare — parts A and B — into one easy-to-manage plan along with additional health-enhancing benefits.
Coverage for more South Dakotans
Previously available in 34 counties across South Dakota, Blue Medicare Advantage PPO plans are now also available for residents of the following counties: Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Edmunds, Harding, McPherson, Perkins, Walworth and Ziebach.
“As Wellmark works to improve the health of all Iowans and South Dakotans, we are thrilled to be able to provide even more residents with innovative, high-value Medicare Advantage options,” said Dr. Naim Munir, Wellmark vice president and chief medical officer.
Blue Medicare Advantage PPOSM
For individuals who want out-of-network coverage and the security of defined maximum out-of-pocket cost, with a $19 monthly premium and added benefits, Blue Medicare Advantage PPO offers medical and prescription drug coverage and comes with a $0 medical deductible and copays for prescription drugs as low as $0.
Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPOSM
The Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced PPO plan includes all the same great benefits as Blue Medicare Advantage PPO and more, with a $64 monthly premium. This plan also offers additional benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs. The premium includes higher allowances for dental, vision and hearing, and a personal emergency response service at no additional cost.
Both plans are available in 43 of South Dakota’s 66 counties.
Plan expands to Iowans and more South Dakotans
Launched in partnership with Avera Health in 2023 and previously available in 15 South Dakota counties, the Blue Medicare Advantage PPO | Avera plan is now available in 19 counties that include Aurora, Charles Mix, Douglas and Jerauld counties. And new for 2024, Blue Medicare Advantage PPO | Avera is also available to Iowans in Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien and Osceola counties.
Blue Medicare Advantage PPO | Avera
Blue Medicare Advantage PPO | Avera offers individuals a $0 monthly premium, medical and prescription drug coverage that comes with $0 medical and prescription deductibles, and copays for medical services and prescription drugs as low as $0. These benefits are complemented by lower cost shares when using Avera’s health care provider network and defined maximum out-of-pocket costs.*
Benefits you can trust
In addition, Blue Medicare Advantage plans include routine vision and eyewear coverage, dental coverage from Delta Dental of South Dakota, chiropractic care, hearing aids, fitness center memberships with SilverSneakers®, over-the-counter medications/supplies, travel coverage, and clinical support.
Interested individuals can get personalized support and walk through the options by contacting their authorized independent agent or by calling Wellmark at 800-782-3930 (TTY users call 711) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday with weekend hours Oct. 1 through March 31. To learn more, visit Wellmark.com/MAPlansSD.
About Wellmark Advantage Health Plan
Wellmark Advantage Health Plan is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Wellmark Advantage Health Plan depends on contract renewal. Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat Wellmark Advantage Health Plan members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost-sharing that applies to out-of-network services. *Other providers are available in our network.
SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Tivity Health, Inc., an independent company that provides health and fitness programming on behalf of Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc. © 2023 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Delta Dental® of South Dakota is an independent company providing dental services on behalf of Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc.
About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Wellmark, Inc. (Wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., and Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., and Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
H5900_24NwCntyPrsRls_M CMS Accepted 11082023
