Medicare Roundup

Units of WellPoint Inc. are trying to offer of peace of mind for Medicare managed care plan members who seek out-of-network care.

The WellPoint Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio will be introducing the Blue Medicare Access Standard plan, a Medicare preferred provider organization plan that will charge a set co-payment for most out-of-network care, according to WellPoint, Indianapolis.

The co-payment will be higher than the co-payment for in-network care, but consumers who buy the plan, which will take effect in January 2007, will not face the uncertainty of having to pay a coinsurance amount that is set to be a percentage of the billed amount, WellPoint says.

The plan also will include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and routine vision coverage, WellPoint says.

In other Medicare plan news: