BlueChoice HealthPlan

Media Contact: Elizabeth Hammond, 803-264-4626

S.C. BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid Adds Adult Vision, Dental Benefits

Columbia, S.C. – BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid this month began offering routine vision and dental benefits to its adult members, at no extra charge to members.

The new vision benefit is for adults ages 21 and over and includes one eye exam every 12 months and one pair of glasses (lenses and frames) valued at up to $125 once every 24 months. It is offered through a network provided by the independent company, Vision Service Plan (VSP). Headquartered in Rancho Cordova, Calif., VSP is a family of companies that serves more than 2 million Medicaid recipients nationwide. Additionally, as a not-for-profit company, VSP provides a program for children without eye care coverage called "Sight for Students," wherein VSP identifies students with refractive errors and provides them with glasses free of charge.

The new dental benefit for members ages 21 and over is offered through a provider network contracted with DentaQuest, LLC, an independent company. It includes two cleanings per 12 months, two exams per 12 months, one comprehensive periodontal evaluation (one per lifetime, per member), two sets of bite wing X-rays per 12 months, basic fillings and simple extractions. DentaQuest, one of the nation’s largest dental benefits administrators, is headquartered in Mequon, Wis. It is the premier national dental benefits administrator for more than 12 million government program recipients.

“These new benefits focus on routine vision and dental health and, more importantly, make these part of our overall mission to keep our Medicaid members healthy and identify those with emerging medical conditions,” said BlueChoice HealthPlan President Mary Mazzola Spivey.

Details on all of the plan’s benefits may be obtained by calling the company’s Customer Care Center at 866-781-5094 or visiting www.getyourbenefits.com. Medicaid-eligible individuals interested in joining BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid may call Healthy Connections Choices at 877-552-4642.

When part of BlueChoice HealthPlan’s Medicaid plan, members receive their normal Medicaid coverage, plus they can visit the doctor as often as needed with no copayments, call a 24-hour nurse line with questions, and save money with discounts on health programs, such as weight management, as well as fitness center memberships, allergy products, vitamins and more. Members with some chronic diseases get extra help through BlueChoice HealthPlan’s Healthy Habits program. Pregnant members receive special care through the company’s prenatal program, followed by Healthy Habits for You and Your Baby.