Medicare Advantage Info
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 14th
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 14th 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)