Starting in 2018, consumers enrolled in specific Medicare Advantage plans from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia can receive home-delivered meals after they are discharged from the hospital. With this service, BCBSGa is working with GA Foods to ensure individuals heal faster, improve their strength, and lower their risk of health complications once home.

“Weight loss and poor nutrition are common causes of people not recovering fully from being sick or, even worse, can lead them back into the hospital,” said David McNichols, president of the company’s Medicare central region. “This home-delivered meal service is part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia’s commitment to ensuring our members receive high-quality, affordable and comprehensive health care.”

This health plan benefit is available for consumers enrolled in BCBSHP MediBlue Essential, BCBSHP MediBlue Plus, and BCBSHP MediBlue Dual Advantage.

Individuals who are interested in joining one of these plans can enroll during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. The AEP begins October 15, 2017, and continues through December 7, 2017 and gives Georgians eligible for Medicare the opportunity to enroll in BCBSGa’s 2018 Medicare Advantage plans.

Enrollees in the Medicare Advantage plans mentioned above are eligible to receive up to 20 SunMeadow meals from GA Foods after leaving the hospital. GA Foods delivers meals to members’ homes, unpacks them, and puts them in the freezer. These meals can then be reheated in the oven or microwave at a convenient time. GA Foods also offers meals that are ready to eat (i.e. no reheating needed) for anyone who wants that option.

Nutritionally balanced and restaurant inspired, GA Foods’ meals include choices such as Country Egg Skillet, Meatloaf with Sofrito Sauce, Pulled Pork with Moko Sauce, Huevos Rancheros, Pollo Tropicale, and Rib Beef Patty with Mexican-Style Sauce.

The home-delivered meals benefit is available with the following three BCBSGa insurance plans. These plans are available for 2018 enrollment in the listed counties:

• BCBSHP MediBlue Essential (HMO): Bryan, Burke, Chatham, Clayton, Columbia, DeKalb, Effingham, Forsyth, Fulton, Glascock, Gwinnett, Harris, Jefferson, McDuffie, Muscogee, Richmond, Rockdale, Talbot, and Warren counties.

• BCBSHP MediBlue Plus (HMO): Clayton, DeKalb, and Fulton counties.

• BCBSHP MediBlue Dual Advantage (HMO SNP): Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bryan, Burke, Butts, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Effingham, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Glascock, Gwinnett, Harris, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Jones, Liberty, McDuffie, Meriwether, Monroe, Muscogee, Newton, Paulding, Peach, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Talbot, Toombs, Troup, Twiggs, Walton, and Warren counties.

In addition to Medicare Advantage plans, BCBSGa offers standalone prescription drug plans (known as Part D plans) in all Georgia counties for people who enroll in Original Medicare, a government-sponsored program. Both the MA Prescription Drug and Part D drug plans utilize a preferred pharmacy network to help members save costs. This preferred cost-sharing pharmacy network will continue to be offered in 2018. MAPD will also add more hypertension medications for a $0 copay to the existing list of $0 copay medications that treat hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and osteoporosis - some of Medicare’s most common conditions and utilized prescription drugs.

BCBSGa also offers Medicare Supplement plans to Original Medicare enrollees all across the state. These plans help cover costs Original Medicare does not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles at any doctor or medical facility that accepts Medicare. These Supplement plans are generally paired with a prescription drug plan.