October 12, 2023
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska covers in-network preventive care benefits in full. The preventive services we cover are determined by federal recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). These recommendations often include age specifications for preventive drugs. Premera is starting to apply the USPSTF age-specific ranges to prescription drugs covered as preventive services. This change will begin January 1, 2024, or as groups renew, for all members with non-grandfathered health plans.
Adding age-specific ranges to preventive drugs means some members may start paying a cost share for medications that were previously of no cost to them. The impacted members will be sent letters prior to this change. The letters will include information on their medication(s), the age-specific ranges for preventive full coverage, and the recommendation to keep taking current prescription drug(s) as prescribed, unless directed by their doctors.
Preventive care resources for members will be updated by effective dates, as applicable.