2020 Medicare Annual Election Period
It is officially that time of the year again! Plan options for 2020 have been released and our agents can now compliantly discuss new options with you and go over any changes to your existing plans. Just like last year, there are many changes for 2020 including new plan options for many of our customers and perhaps impacting more folks is that there are significant changes to networks throughout the Puget Sound.
Kaiser Permanente has announced a change in their Individual Medicare Advantage primary care provider networks in both Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Read more here.
Ahead of Open Enrollment, I’m sharing the news that Premera Blue Cross has contracted with Family Care Network for our Medicare Advantage (over 65) customers in 2020. Because of FCN’s large presence in the Whatcom and Skagit counties, this partnership improves access for our MA customers in those counties. In an area where provider access can be a struggle, Premera’s excited to welcome FCN into its network for 2020. You can read more about this announcement here.
A well known National Medicare Prescription Drug Insurance Carrier is making widespread changes to its Part D prescription plans for 2020. Some plans are being mapped to another plan, there is a brand new plan being introduced and plan names are changing. Your Annual Notice of Change should detail the changes being made to your plan. Your benefits may have changed year over year and your agent can help you make sense of these changes.
For 2020, Aetna has expanded their Medicare Advantage Insurance plan offerings by introducing new HMO plan options available in select markets in the State of Washington. These new plan options may offer benefits that are richer than the existing Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO plans available today. We would strongly encourage members of these existing Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO plans to review their Annual Notice of Change Letters and to reach out to their VibrantUSA agent to learn how these new plans differ from their existing plan.
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* Enrollments for 2020 plans do not begin until October 15th and enrollments can not be completed prior to this date.
This post is not intended to be the complete list of all changes for 2020 and is meant to provide some quick insight to a few different changes that impact a large population of our customers. Please stay tuned for more information here on our website or by liking our pages on Facebook.
The Annual Enrollment Period can be a challenge and we want you to rest assured; VibrantUSA is here to assist you every step of the way. Here are a few important factors to consider.
- Annual Notice of Change Letter: If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage and/or Part D prescription drug plan, you should have already received a letter from your insurance company describing any changes to the plan benefits, premiums or service areas. You will want to review this letter carefully and maintain a copy for your records. After your review, if you wish to remain in the plan, there is nothing more for you to do. Your policy will “rollover” to the next year. If you want to make a change or consider other plans, call VibrantUSA. We represent nearly all plans available in the state and will be pleased to assist you.
- Important Notice: Each year, insurance companies may decide to not renew a certain plan option in their portfolio for the upcoming year. If you have received one of these notifications, often referred to as a “Service Area Reduction”, there is no reason to panic. There are several plan options available and often times by the same insurance company that decided to not renew a particular plan. You will have plenty of time to consider your options and we have a number of ways to handle this change in a manner that is convenient and comfortable for you. If you are impacted by this change, please give us a call to get the ball rolling.
There is no charge for our services. We are compensated directly by the insurers should you choose to enroll in a plan. We look forward to answering your questions and to helping you find the best plan to meet your insurance needs. Please give us a call at 866-733-5111, email us at info@vibrantusa.com, or complete our online quote request form. You may also email your VibrantUSA Insurance Specialist directly.
