The information below is being provided to BCBS of Kansas City members by the Office of Human Resource/BCBS of Kansas City.

Flu vouchers for FREE flu shots for seasonal flu will be mailed to Blue Care HMO members of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City plans who are considered to be at high risk for getting the flu, based on the following criteria:

• Members over age 50
• Members who have one or more chronic diseases (Diabetes, COPD, Asthma, Heart Failure or Heart Disease)

This includes spouses and dependents if they meet the above criteria.  The vouchers are scheduled to be mailed to the Blue Care HMO member’s homes through Sept. 28. If a flu voucher is received, the member should go to one of the flu shot clinics located throughout the community that are listed on the back of the voucher.

In addition, BCBS has decided to add an additional benefit due to the great demand for (seasonal) flu shots for both Blue Care HMO and PPO members regardless of age or medical conditions. If employees and their dependents would like a flu shot (regardless of whether or not they have received a free flu voucher), members can take their BCBS ID card to any of the locations listed below and the fees will be totally waived. However, you cannot get any other kind of medical service, or you will be charged for the additional services.

• Take Care Health Clinics (Walgreens) in the KC Metro area
• Minute Clinics (CVS) in the KC Metro area
• Adult Quick Care – (locations on website of adultquickcare.com)
• Concentra Medical Centers located at:
  • North KC – 599 Armour Rd
  • 200 SW Blvd, KC, MO
  • 6401 Front St, KC, MO
  • 12220 A. South Blue Ridge Blvd, Grandview, MO
  • 4214 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS
  • 14809 W. 95th St., Lenexa, KS

BCBS is sending out a letter stating that members may now also go to their PCP (Primary Care Physician) to get the flu shot, and will not have a co-pay. However, our BCBS representative cautioned that it would be a good idea to verify this information with each PCP office because some PCPs still feel they have the right to charge the co-pay, due to administrative fees. To avoid having to pay the co-pay, you may want to go to one of the specified clinics listed above.

More information will be distributed at a later time regarding the H1N1 flu shots and how they are to be covered by BCBS of Kansas City once the CDC makes their final decisions about the distribution of the HlN1 flu vaccines.

If you have questions about any of this information which is for BCBS i-FLEX participants only, please contact BCBS at 816-395-2121.

If a full-time JCCC employee is enrolled in the Medical Flexible Spending Account through i-FLEX, he/she can ask for an itemized receipt for co-pays, etc. and turn in the claim on a paper claim form for reimbursement from Cafeteria Plan Administrators.  If you are receiving your flu shot at your physician’s office and you have a Medical Flexible Spending Account “swipe card,” you may use your swipe card instead of submitting a paper claim. However, please keep your receipt, because you may be asked to send it to Cafeteria Plan Administrators (CPA) to validate the charge using your “swipe card.” (The Corporate Health information states they will only accept cash or checks, so you will not be able to use your Medical FSA “swipe card” if you are getting a flu shot at JCCC through Corporate Health. They have stated that they can provide a receipt).