Highmark announces 2020 Medicare Advantage and Medigap products in Western Pennsylvania

• $0 Community Blue Medicare HMO Signature and PPO Distinct plans will improve in 2020, with additional supplemental benefits and lower copays for many services
• Security Blue HMO-POS and Freedom Blue PPO plans will have lower premiums, improved benefits and in- network access to all local providers including AHN, UPMC and other community providers

PITTSBURGH (Oct. 1, 2019) — The annual election period for 2020 Medicare coverage begins October 15 and runs through December 7, and today Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield announced a wide range of Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplement products for the upcoming year.

"Consumers have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting the right Medicare coverage," said Alexis Miller, senior vice president of Senior Markets at Highmark. "Whether it's a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap supplements, Highmark has a plan for everyone that includes affordable monthly premiums, robust benefits and low out-of-pocket costs."

For the third year in a row, Highmark Freedom Blue PPO and Security Blue HMO-POS members will see lower premiums and improved plan benefits. Enhancements include a lower annual out of pocket maximum, $0 routine hearing co-pays and an increased allowance for eyewear. These plans also offer access to AHN, UPMC, and other local hospitals.

These improvements to Highmark Freedom Blue PPO and Security Blue HMO-POS plans are expected to prompt many former Highmark members to come back to the plans they loved in the past.

Additional 2020 Highmark product offerings for Medicare-eligible individuals include:

Community Blue Medicare HMO Signature, Highmark's most popular Medicare Advantage plan where coverage has been improved to cover new over the counter drug benefits as well as comprehensive dental coverage while members pay:

• $0 monthly premiums
• $0 co-pays for primary care visits
• $0 co-pays for tier one preferred generic drugs at preferred pharmacies
• No deductibles

"Highmark has over twenty thousand members enrolled in zero dollar premiums plans," Miller noted. "Members enjoy the peace of mind of knowing they don't have to pay an additional monthly premium and have low out-of-pocket costs with no deductibles and limited co-pays."

Highmark has enhanced its Community Blue Medicare PPO Distinct plans with a series of improvements to its medical, prescriptions, and supplemental benefits. Members will see a lower inpatient hospital stay, along with a reduced annul out-of-pocket maximum. Primary care visits have a $0 copay, and specialist and physical therapy copays have been reduced. Community Blue Medicare PPO Distinct offers a wide array of upplemental benefits, which includes a $750 comprehensive dental allowance, vision, hearing and fitness benefits and an allowance for Over the Counter items. Members will have access to both in-network and out-of-network providers at home or while traveling elsewhere in the United States.

In an effort to expand consumer choice and help control the rising cost of prescription drugs, Highmark has added new pharmacies and lowered the prices of many prescription drugs within its preferred pharmacy network. Highmark's preferred network includes over 1,700 locations across PA and close to 25,000 across the United States.

Highmark offers a wide range of Medigap Blue supplemental products that help fill in the gaps of Original Medicare by providing assistance paying for your share (i.e. deductibles, coinsurance and copayments) of the costs for Medicare-covered services. Medigap Blue also provides the freedom and flexibility to see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare. Additionally, members of Highmark Medigap Blue plans have exclusive access to the exciting new Whole Health Balance program, which provides extra coverage for routine hearing, vision, dental and fitness services, all of which are not covered by Original Medicare.

Highmark also offers standalone Blue Rx PDP prescription drug plans.

Detailed descriptions of all Highmark Medicare Advantage plans, including network and pricing are available at Shop.Highmark.com/Medicare.