Medicare Advantage Info for Seniors

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

During the debate on health care reform, there were many stories about the fate of Medicare Advantage plans under the new law. The Kaiser Family Foundation recently said there will be a 13 percent decline in the number of Medicare Advantage plans available to seniors, and the Wall Street Journal recently reported that seniors have fewer options this year, and that 700,000 beneficiaries will have to find new options for 2011.

I contacted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to learn the status of Medicare Advantage plans in my district. There are Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) available in all seven counties of the 14^th Congressional District. Open enrollment started on November 15 and remains open until Dec. 31. You can find additional information at: http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/open-enrollment.aspx . You can also learn more about new benefits at http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/manage-your-health/preventive-services/medicare-physical-exam.aspx.

Many of the providers offer several plan options in each county so you should shop around and compare plans. If you want to stay with your current plan, you don't need to do anything. My office cannot help you select a Medicare Advantage plan, but Medicare has a website to help you compare and select a plan: https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx. In addition, you might also contact your local senior center, aging agency or the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Agency (OSHIIP) with questions.

Below are the providers available in each county, as well as those that offer statewide plans. Contact information for all the local providers, Medicare and OSHIIP is provided below.

Ashtabula: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, and SummaCare Secure

Lake: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, SummaCare Secure and WellCare

Geauga: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and SummaCare Secure

Cuyahoga: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare (AARP plans), SummaCare Secure and WellCare

Portage: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Plan SecureChoice, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, SummaCare Secure, and the Health Plan

Trumbull: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Plan SecureChoice, HealthAmerica, Humana, SecureHorizons by United HealthCare (AARP plans), SummaCare Secure and The Health Plan

Summit: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Health Plan SecureChoice, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, SecureHorizons by United HealthCare (AARP plans), SummaCare Secure , the Health Plan and WellCare

Statewide: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana

Here is contact information for the plans available in the 14^th District of Ohio:

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield: http://my.medicare-anthem.com/oh or toll-free 877-690-7065

HealthAmerica (Advantra plans): http://coventry-medicare.coventryhealthcare.com/advantra-pennsylvania/index.htm or toll-free 877-988-3589

Health Plan SecureChoice: http://www.healthplan.org/medicare/medicare_plantypes.shtml or toll-free 877-236-2290

Humana: http://www.humana-medicare.com/index.asp or toll-free 800-611-1481

Kaiser Permanente: https://medicare.kaiserpermanente.org/wps/portal/medicare/plans/enroll/regional or toll-free 866-681-3592

Secure Horizons by UnitedHealthcare (AARP): https://www.securehorizons.com/ or toll-free for non-members 800-577-5623; if an existing member, call the number on the back of your card

SummaCare Secure: www.medicare.summacare.com or toll-free 800-996-6250

WellCare: http://wellcare.com/ or toll-free 866-687-8815

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP): http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Consumer/OSHIIP/Documents/WhatIsOshiip.pdf or toll-free 800-686-1578

Medicare: toll-free 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)

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