Freedom Blue PPO
Eligibility and Restrictions
Anyone who is entitled to Medicare Part A benefits and enrolled in Medicare Part B is eligible to
enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. However, if you are already enrolled in a Medicare
Advantage plan such as an HMO or PPO and then enroll in a Freedom Blue PPO plan, you will
be disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage plan. You must also live in the Freedom Blue
PPO service area and not be enrolled in any other Medicare approved prescription drug plan.
Individuals with Medicare may enroll in a prescription drug plan during specific times of the
year.
As a member of our plan, you can choose to receive care from out-of-network providers. Our
plan will cover services from either in-network or out-of-network providers, as long as the
services are covered benefits and medically necessary. However, if you use an out-of-network
provider, your share of the costs for your covered services may be higher. You may be able to
get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for
getting extra help, contact:
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY/TDD
users call 1-877-486- 2048, www.medicare.gov on the Web.
• The Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY/TDD users call 1-800-325-
0778), between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, www.socialsecurity.gov on
the Web.
• Your state Medicaid office
Potential for Contract Termination
All Medicare Advantage Plan Sponsors agree to offer the program for a full year at a time. Each
year, the plans decide whether to continue for another year. Even if a Medicare Advantage Plan
leaves the program, you will not lose Medicare coverage. If a sponsor decides not to continue, it
must send you a letter at least 60 days before your coverage will end. The letter will explain your
options for choosing other Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage in your
area.
Disenrollment Rights and Instructions
Voluntary Disenrollment
During the Annual Election Period (October 15 through December 7), anyone with Medicare
will have an opportunity to switch from one way of getting Medicare to another.
You have the opportunity to make one change to your health coverage during the Medicare
Advantage Annual Disenrollment Period. This happens every year from January 1 to February
14. During this time, you can cancel your Medicare Advantage enrollment and switch to Original
Medicare. If you choose to switch to Original Medicare, you may also choose a separate
Medicare prescription drug plan at the same time. Your membership will end on the first day of
the month after we get your request to switch to Original Medicare. If you also choose to enroll
in a Medicare prescription drug plan, your membership in the drug plan will begin at the same
time.
Generally, you cannot make any other changes during the year unless you qualify for a Special
Election Period. If you wish to leave Freedom Blue PPO, you will need to submit a written and
signed disenrollment request to Freedom Blue PPO. You may also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Medicare Customer Service Representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048. Until your disenrollment is effective, you must
continue getting your health care through Freedom Blue PPO.
Involuntary Disenrollment
Freedom Blue PPO may end your coverage for any of the following reasons:
• You lose your entitlement to Medicare Part A hospital insurance and / or fail to pay your
Medicare Part B medical insurance
• Freedom Blue PPO is no longer contracting with Medicare or leaves your service area
You permanently move out of the Freedom Blue PPO service area and do not voluntarily
disenroll
• You fail to pay your Freedom Blue PPO premium
• You engage in disruptive behavior, provided fraudulent information when you enrolled or
knowingly permitted abuse or misuse of your enrollment card
• Please consult the Freedom Blue PPO Evidence of Coverage for complete information on
disenrollment rights.
Organization Determination, Coverage Determination, Appeals and Grievances
Organization Determination
As a member of Freedom Blue PPO, you have the right to request an organization determination,
which includes the right to file an appeal if we deny coverage for an item or service, and the right
to file a grievance. You have the right to request an organization determination if you want us to
provide or pay for an item or service that you believe should be covered. If we deny coverage for
your requested item or service, you have the right to appeal and ask us to review our decision.
You may ask us for an expedited (fast) coverage determination or appeal if you believe that
waiting for a decision could seriously put your life or health at risk, or affect your ability to
regain maximum function. If your doctor makes or supports the expedited request, we must
expedite our decision. Finally, you have the right to file a grievance with us if you have any type
of problem with us or one of our network providers that does not involve coverage for an item or
service. If your problem involves quality of care, you also have the right to file a grievance with
the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for your state. Please refer to the Evidence of
Coverage (EOC) for the QIO contact information.
Coverage Determination
As a member of Freedom Blue PPO, you have the right to request a coverage determination,
which includes the right to request an exception, the right to file an appeal if we deny coverage
for a prescription drug, and the right to file a grievance. You have the right to request a coverage
determination if you want us to cover a Part D drug that you believe should be covered. An
exception is a type of coverage determination. You may ask us for an exception if you believe
you need a drug that is not on our list of covered drugs or believe you should get a non-preferred
drug at a lower out-of-pocket cost. You can also ask for an exception to cost utilization rules,
such as a limit on the quantity of a drug. If you think you need an exception, you should contact
us before you try to fill your prescription at a pharmacy. Your doctor must provide a statement to
support your exception request. If we deny coverage for your prescription drug(s), you have the
right to appeal and ask us to review our decision. Finally, you have the right to file a grievance if
you have any type of problem with us or one of our network pharmacies that does not involve
coverage for a prescription drug. If your problem involves quality of care, you also have the right
to file a grievance with the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for your state. Please refer
to the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for the QIO contact information.
Appeals and Grievances
Members of Freedom Blue PPO, their physicians, or authorized representatives acting on the
member’s behalf may request an appeal of an adverse coverage determination made by Freedom
Blue PPO. Examples of reasons an appeal may be filed include: the member believes he or she
was denied benefits that the member is entitled to receive, the member believes there has been a
delay in providing or approving the drug coverage, or the member disagrees with the amount of
cost sharing he or she is required to pay.
A request for a Standard Appeal may be made orally or in writing to Freedom Blue PPO.
Freedom Blue PPO is required to notify the member in writing of its decision as quickly as the
member's health condition requires, but no later than 7 calendar days from the date Freedom
Blue PPO receives the request for the Standard Appeal.
Members of Freedom Blue PPO and their prescribing physicians may request that an appeal be
Expedited for situations in which applying the Standard Appeal process may seriously jeopardize
the member's health, life or ability to regain maximum function. (This would not include
requests for payment of drugs already furnished.) A request for an Expedited Appeal can be
made orally or in writing. Freedom Blue PPO is required to notify the member and the
prescribing physician of its decision as quickly as the member's health condition requires, but no
later than 72 hours after receiving the request. Members of Freedom Blue PPO may file a
Grievance, either orally or in writing, expressing dissatisfaction with the operations, activities or
behavior of Freedom Blue PPO or with the quality of care or service received from a Freedom
Blue PPO provider. Freedom Blue PPO is required to respond to the member's Grievance as
quickly as the case requires, but no later than 30 days after the date Freedom Blue PPO receives
the oral or written Grievance.
Please refer to the Freedom Blue PPO Evidence of Coverage for details on the Appeals and
Grievance process.
You may request a Coverage Decision, Appeal, or Grievance by:
• calling 1-800-550-8722, TTY users call 1-800-988-0668; seven days a week from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• writing to P.O. Box 535047, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-5047;
• faxing 1-412-544-1513
Obtaining Data on Exceptions, Appeals and Grievances
Members of Freedom Blue PPO can receive a description of the number of Exceptions,
Appeals and Grievances received and how these cases were resolved by contacting
Freedom Blue PPO:
• Phone member service at 1-800-550-8722, TTY users please call 1-800-988-0668, seven
days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Mail your request to: P.O. Box 535047, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-5047
• Fax your request to: 1-412-544-1513