BOSTON, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) has announced its broad suite of Medicare options for the 2016 open enrollment period. Blue Cross has the highest-rated Medicare PPO plan in America, with a rating of 4.5 out of 5, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It has been the top Medicare PPO plan in America for four years in a row.  Blue Cross' Medicare HMO plans are also among the top rated in the nation, receiving a 4.5 out of 5 rating.[i]

"This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Medicare and we have been dedicated to serving the Medicare population since the program's inception," said Ken Arruda, Executive Director of Medicare Markets for Blue Cross. "We have a number of affordable options that fit any budget. We encourage everyone to take a careful look and find the plan that works best for them."

Individuals with Medicare can choose the best Medicare Advantage and prescription drug coverage plan for their health care needs during the October 15 - December 7, 2015 open enrollment period, and enrollment is effective January 1, 2016. A Blue Cross Medex or Dental plan can be selected at any time of the year.

To learn more about Blue Cross' broad suite of Medicare coverage options, a list of covered medications, and to find the plan right for you:

• Visit www.bluecrossma.com/medicare to view the online comparison tool.
• Call 1-800-678-2265 (TTY: 1-800-522-1254), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Medicare beneficiaries can also contact:

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.
• Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone (SHINE), 1-800-243-4636.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a HMO and PPO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts depends on contract renewal.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are a trusted health plan for more than 31,500 Massachusetts employers and are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

[i] NCQA's Medicare Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2015–2016. NCQA rated over 1,300 health plans for their effectiveness of wellness and prevention efforts, including immunizations, cancer screenings and disease treatment, access to high-quality primary and specialty care, and Member Satisfaction. NCQA is not affiliated with CMS, nor is the award given by Medicare. Star Ratings can be found at www.medicare.gov.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150224/177637LOGO

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts