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Freedom Blue PPO Standard (PPO)

Available to residents of Lackawanna County, PA for 2026. Contract H3916, plan 015, segment 0.

Renewed for 2026. CMS carries this plan forward from 2025.

Plan details

Monthly premium (Part C + D)$121.00
— medical (Part C) part$22.80
— drug (Part D) part$98.20?
Monthly premium with full Extra Help (LIS)$88.30?drug (Part D) part $65.50; Extra Help does not cover the medical (Part C) premium
Part B premium reduction (giveback)$18.00 a month?You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
In-network out-of-pocket maximum$5,000.00?
In- and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum$8,950.00
Drug deductible$0.00
Drug out-of-pocket threshold$2,100.00
Plan typePPO?
Contract / planH3916-015-0
Offered byHighmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue S
Parent organizationHighmark Health
Formulary drugs3,874
Formulary exception tier4?
Pharmacy searchmedicare.highmark.com
Member services(833)544-1060TTY 711

CMS star ratings

Overall
4.5 out of 5 stars for Overall
Health plan (Part C)
4 out of 5 stars for Health plan (Part C)
Drug plan (Part D)
4.5 out of 5 stars for Drug plan (Part D)

Published per contract — every plan under contract H3916 shares this rating.

Plan health benefits

ServiceIn-networkOut-of-network?
Doctor visits
Primary care doctor$0 copay$0 copay
Specialist$35 copay$35 copay
Other health care professional$0–$35 copay$35 copay
Additional telehealth services$0–$50 copay—
Preventive care
Medicare-covered preventive services$0 copay$0 copay
Annual physical exam$0 copay$0 copay
Kidney disease education$0 copay$0 copay
Glaucoma screening$0 copay$0 copay
Diabetes self-management training$0 copay$0 copay
Diagnostic tests, labs and imaging
Diagnostic tests and procedures$0–$15 copay(authorization required)$15 copay
Lab services$0–$15 copay(authorization required)$15 copay
Diagnostic radiology (e.g. MRI, CT)$125 copay(authorization required)$125 copay
Therapeutic radiology$60 copay(authorization required)$60 copay
Outpatient x-rays$20 copay(authorization required)$20 copay
Emergency and urgent care
Emergency room$130 copay—
Urgent care$50 copay—
Worldwide emergency coverage$130 copay—
Worldwide urgent care$50 copay—
Worldwide emergency transportation$260 copay—
Hospital care
Inpatient hospital stay$475 per stay(authorization required)$475 per stay
Outpatient hospital services$200 copay(authorization required)$200 copay
Outpatient observation$200 copay$200 copay
Ambulatory surgical center$150 copay(authorization required)$150 copay
Outpatient blood services$0 copay30% coinsurance
Skilled nursing and home health
Skilled nursing facility$0 per day for days 1–20; $218 per day for days 21–100(authorization required)30% coinsurance per stay
Home health care$0 copay(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Kidney dialysis20% coinsurance20%–30% coinsurance
Rehabilitation
Occupational therapy$35 copay(authorization required)$35 copay
Physical therapy and speech-language therapy$35 copay(authorization required)$35 copay
Cardiac rehabilitation$0 copay30% coinsurance
Pulmonary rehabilitation$0 copay30% coinsurance
Mental health and substance use
Inpatient psychiatric hospital stay$475 per stay(authorization required)$475 per stay
Outpatient mental health, individual session$35 copay$35 copay
Outpatient mental health, group session$35 copay$35 copay
Psychiatrist, individual session$35 copay$35 copay
Psychiatrist, group session$35 copay$35 copay
Partial hospitalization$0 copay30% coinsurance
Intensive outpatient program$0 copay30% coinsurance
Outpatient substance use, individual session$35 copay$35 copay
Outpatient substance use, group session$35 copay$35 copay
Opioid treatment program$35 copay$35 copay
Ambulance and transportation
Ground ambulance$260 copay(authorization required)$260 copay; 30% coinsurance
Air ambulance$260 copay(authorization required)$260 copay; 30% coinsurance
Transportation to plan-approved locations$0 copay(authorization required, limits apply)30% coinsurance
Medical equipment and supplies
Durable medical equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, oxygen)20% coinsurance(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Prosthetics (e.g. braces, artificial limbs)20% coinsurance(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Medical supplies20% coinsurance(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Diabetes supplies0%–20% coinsurance(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Diabetic therapeutic shoes or inserts20% coinsurance(authorization required)30% coinsurance
Chiropractic, acupuncture and foot care
Chiropractic (Medicare-covered)$15 copay(authorization required)$15 copay
Routine chiropractic care$15 copay(authorization required, limits apply)$15 copay
AcupunctureNot covered—
Foot exams and treatment (Medicare-covered)$35 copay$35 copay
Routine foot care$35 copay(limits apply)$35 copay
Dental?
Medicare-covered dental services$35 copay$35 copay
Fluoride treatmentNot covered—
Other diagnostic dental servicesNot covered—
Other preventive dental servicesNot covered—
Restorative services (fillings, crowns)Not covered—
Endodontics (root canals)Not covered—
Periodontics (gum disease)Not covered—
Dentures and other removable prosthodonticsNot covered—
Maxillofacial prostheticsNot covered—
ImplantsNot covered—
Bridges and other fixed prosthodonticsNot covered—
Oral and maxillofacial surgeryNot covered—
OrthodonticsNot covered—
Adjunctive general services$0 copay(limits apply)30% coinsurance
Vision?
Eye exam (Medicare-covered)$35 copay$35 copay
Routine eye exam$0 copay(limits apply)$50 copay
Eyewear after cataract surgery (Medicare-covered)$0 copay(limits apply)—
Eyewear plan limit$425 plan limit every year—
Contact lenses$0 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Eyeglasses (frames and lenses)$0 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Eyeglass lenses$0 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Eyeglass frames$0 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Eyewear upgrades$0 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Hearing?
Hearing exam (Medicare-covered)$35 copay$35 copay
Routine hearing exam$0 copay(limits apply)$35 copay
Hearing aid fitting and evaluationNot covered—
Hearing aid plan limit$500 plan limit every year—
Hearing aids (all types)$599–$899 copay(limits apply)$0 copay
Hearing aids, inner earNot covered—
Hearing aids, outer earNot covered—
Hearing aids, over the earNot covered—
Medicare Part B drugs
Part B insulin0%–20% coinsurance(authorization required, step therapy may apply)$35 copay
Chemotherapy and radiation drugs0%–20% coinsurance(authorization required, step therapy may apply)30% coinsurance
Other Part B drugs0%–20% coinsurance(authorization required, step therapy may apply)30% coinsurance
Other extra benefits?
Over-the-counter (OTC) allowanceNot covered—
Meals after a hospital stay or for a chronic condition$0 copay$0 copay
Fitness benefit$0 copay50% coinsurance
Health educationNot covered—
Nutritional / dietary benefitNot covered—
Extra smoking and tobacco cessation counselingNot covered—
Enhanced disease management$0 copay$0 copay
TelemonitoringNot covered—
Remote access technologies (web/phone, nurse line)$0–$35 copay$0–$35 copay
Home and bathroom safety devices$0 copay30% coinsurance
Counseling servicesNot covered—
In-home safety assessmentNot covered—
Personal emergency response system (PERS)Not covered—
Medical nutrition therapyNot covered—
Post-discharge in-home medication reconciliationNot covered—
Re-admission preventionNot covered—
Wigs for hair loss from chemotherapyNot covered—
Weight management programsNot covered—
Alternative therapiesNot covered—
Therapeutic massageNot covered—
Adult day health servicesNot covered—
Home-based palliative careNot covered—
In-home support servicesNot covered—
Support for caregiversNot covered—

In-network cost-sharing as the plan filed it with CMS (CMS plan benefit package (PBP) files, CY2026). A range means the cost depends on the service or setting. Rows the filing does not state are left out rather than guessed; an out-of-network dash means the plan files no separate out-of-network cost for that service. Contact the plan for the full Evidence of Coverage.

Drug tiers — preferred pharmacy, initial coverage

TierCost-sharing
Tier 1$0.00
Tier 2$13.00
Tier 3$45.00
Tier 4$95.00
Tier 533%

Rx cost-sharing by coverage phase

Tier30-day supply90-day supply
PreferredStandardMail OrderPreferredStandardMail Order
Initial coverage phase
Tier 1: Preferred Generic$0.00$5.00n/a$0.00$15.00$0.00
Tier 2: Generic$13.00$19.00n/a$39.00$57.00$27.00
Tier 3: Preferred Brand$45.00$47.00n/a$135.00$141.00$115.00
Tier 4: Non-Preferred Drug$95.00$100.00n/a$285.00$300.00$275.00
Tier 5: Specialty Tier33%33%33%n/an/an/a
Catastrophic coverage phase
Tier 1: Preferred Generic$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
Tier 2: Generic$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
Tier 3: Preferred Brand$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
Tier 4: Non-Preferred Drug$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
Tier 5: Specialty Tier$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00

Also available in 33 other PA counties

Benefits in plain text

Freedom Blue PPO Standard (PPO) (H3916-015-0) is a 2026 PPO Medicare Advantage plan offered by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue S, available to residents of Lackawanna County, PA.

The monthly premium is $121.00 (Part C and Part D together).

The plan reduces the member's Medicare Part B premium by $18.00 a month (a "giveback"); the Part B premium itself must still be paid.

With full Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy), the total monthly premium is $88.30.

Its in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $5,000.00.

The combined in- and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum is $8,950.00.

The drug deductible is $0.00.

The plan's formulary lists 3,874 drugs.

At a preferred pharmacy in the initial coverage phase, a 30-day supply costs tier 1: $0.00; tier 2: $13.00; tier 3: $45.00; tier 4: $95.00; tier 5: 33%.

CMS gives the plan's contract (H3916) an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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Plan facts come from the CMS quarterly prescription drug plan public use files; the premium split, Extra Help premium, MOOP and plan type from the CMS Landscape file; the Part B giveback and health benefits from the CMS plan benefit package (PBP) files.