Your Patients May Still Have Time To Change Medicare Plans! Even though the official Open Enrollment Period has ended, many of your patients may fall into a Special Election Period:
Special Enrollment Period for Patients Who Are Losing Their Plan
- Essence Healthcare: no longer offered in the State of Washington.
- Soundpath Health: has dropped their “Pinnacle+Rx” plan in Whatcom county. In Snohomish County they have dropped “Apex + Rx” and “Charter + Rx”. They do have other plans available to choose from in both counties.
- United Healthcare/AARP Medicare Complete Medicare Advantage: is no longer available in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
- WindsorSterling: no longer offers Medicare Advantage plans in the State of Washington.
If you have new or existing patients enrolled in any of the above, they will have until February 28, 2013 to make a change. (If they do not change prior to December 31, 2012, they will be placed on Original Medicare until a change is initiated – must happen by February 28, 2013.)
Special Enrollment Period for Those Wanting a 5-Star Rated Plan
We are fortunate in our area to have a Medicare Advantage 5-Star Rated plan. People can enroll in a 5-Star plan any time between December 8 & November 30. However, they may only do so one time in the year.
This year, we will see large numbers of people eligible for enrollment outside of the regular Open Enrollment Period. Chances are we may be able to find a plan that will work for your new or existing patients that think they may be too late for Medicare Advantage. Please have them call 360-733-5111 or 866-733-5111 (toll-free).
We thank you for allowing us to assist your patients and we wish you and your staff a joyful Holiday Season and a Merry Christmas,
Your Friends at VibrantUSA
