Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, or MDPP, is a program open to Medicare members with Part B coverage at no additional cost. The goal is to prevent Type 2 diabetes among members who may be at risk.

If you qualify for this program, you can take part in a six-month series of weekly classes to help with healthy living and weight management. After you complete the initial weekly sessions, you can participate in monthly meetings that encourage healthy choices. Members who achieve and maintain weight loss and attendance goals will get monthly coaching sessions for a second year.

In order to qualify, you must: 

• Be enrolled in Medicare Part B 
• Have a body mass index, or BMI, of at least 25, or at least 23 if you self-identify as Asian 
• Have no previous diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes other than gestational diabetes 
• Not have end-stage renal disease 

You must also meet one of the following three blood test requirements within the past 12 months of the first core session:

• A hemoglobin A1c test with a value between 5.7 and 6.4 percent,  
• A fasting plasma glucose of 110-125 mg/dL, or 
• A two-hour plasma glucose of 140-199 mg/dL (oral glucose tolerance test)

The MDPP is available at no additional cost, but members who don’t have a record of their BMI or blood test results may need to pay for a doctor’s visit to get lab work completed.

You can only enroll in the program once. If you sign up, make sure you complete the program and enjoy the results.

We’re offering this program in partnership with Solera Health.* They’ll help you determine if you qualify and assist you with finding an MDPP program near your home. To see if you qualify, go to www.solera4me.com/bcbsm. You’ll answer a few questions about your health history to find out if you’re eligible for the program.

You can also call Solera at 1-866-653-3837, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call 711.

* Solera Health is an independent company retained by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in qualified members.