No, during OEP you can make a one-time plan change to become effective the 1st of the following month. This is a one-time opportunity within the Open Enrollment Period, but there could be other Special Election Periods throughout the year (ask your agent for more information).
If you are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, this new enrollment period is not available to you.
If you are current enrolled on a Medicare Advantage Plan:
- You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan
- Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare A and B
- Sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (if returning to Original Medicare)
- Apply for a Medicare Supplement plan (if returning to Original Medicare)
Of course! So long as your plan remains available year over year, you can remain on your plan and our team would be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have on this process. One of the caveats here for 2019 that you need to pay attention to is that the network for your current plan in 2018 may not be the same as they will be in 2019.
If you are a Soundpath Health member and a patient at Family Care Network, it is important to understand that you will not be able to see the providers at Family Care Network in 2019 unless you are on one of their contracted plans.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
Not necessarily. If you are currently a Soundpath Health Medicare Advantage member, your plan will not be accepted by Family Care Network in 2019 and should you want to continue to see Family Care Network providers you would need to be a member of one of their contracted plans for 2019.
Family Care Network’s contracted plans for 2019 will be available for review and discussion starting on October 1st, 2018 at which point you can assess all of your options.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
Both Soundpath Health and Premera Blue Cross have said that you can remain on your current plan for 2019 if you wish. However, if you are a patient at Family Care Network and/or wish to be able to see Family Care Network providers in 2019 you will need to be on one of their contracted plans starting on January 1st.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
Over the course of 15 years, we have learned that in this industry you never say never. We have seen these situations change at the 11th hour and are committed to making sure that we supply our customers with the latest information so they can make the best decisions for themselves.
YES! Although Overlake Medical Center and Clinics has a relationship with a national agency, the team at VibrantUSA is a locally owned independent insurance agency that would be more than happy to assist you. We have 4 offices here in the state of Washington and should any of our employed agents be unable to assist you, we have a network of nearly 1,000 agents that we can connect you with should it become necessary.
VibrantUSA is fully independent, trusted, and unbiased. Most importantly, we work for you.
It is important to note that Overlake Medical Center and Clinics will remain in network for the remainder of 2018 for Regence Medicare Advantage members. Should you wish to review your plan options for 2019 that would include Overlake Medical Center and Clinics as in network, our team can assist you here or by calling us at 866-733-5111. If you want to remain on your plan for 2019 and your plan remains available, you do not need to do anything as you will automatically be “renewed” for 2019 coverage.
Our team can also assist you in reviewing the network for your Regence Medicare advantage plan and can potentially help you identify new providers who will be in network for 2019.
If both parties do not come to an agreement, Evergreen Health will no longer be considered in-network providers for beneficiaries enrolled in the UHC MA HMO products. Beneficiaries will then need to choose another healthcare system for their services.
At this point we simply cannot answer this question. We know that these negotiations do happen quite often and many times an agreement may be struck at the eleventh hour. But should an agreement NOT be made prior to the end of the Open Enrollment Period (December 7th), you may not be able to choose a different option unless you qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP).
If you are worried that your UHC MA HMO Insurance plan will not be accepted by EvergreenHealth providers and/or facilities in 2016, you do have a small window of time to consider your alternatives for 2016. As you can tell from the Medicare Key Dates chart below, you have until December 7th (unless you have a Special Election Period) to enroll or switch plans for the next year. Our agents are here to help you at no charge to you.
Medicare Key Dates
If you do not currently see doctors/providers at EvergreenHealth nor use the EvergreenHealth facilities and you do not plan on doing so in the future, this contract negotiation could very well not impact you.
If you see providers at EvergreenHealth and/or use their facilities & have a UHC MA HMO plan, this contract dispute could very well impact you in 2016. Unfortunately we simply do not know if a contract will be reached between EvergreenHealth and UHC MA HMO plans. We are certainly hopeful one is reached, but we also know that if one isn’t reached our customers like yourself could very well have an insurance plan that no longer meets their needs.
The real challenge here is that in the event a contract agreement is not reached, you only have until the close of business on December 7th (unless you have a Special Election Period) to enroll onto a different Medicare Advantage plan for 2016 coverage. You would still have the disenrollment period which is January 1st through February 14th where your have the ability to return to original Medicare only, but many providers in King County no longer accept Original Medicare.
While we are as hopeful as you are that a contract agreement is made, you can certainly consider and evaluate all of your options for 2016. Our agents are here to help at absolutely no charge to you.
What can’t I do during OEP?
If you are not currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, this new enrollment period is not available to you.
What can I do during OEP?
If you are current enrolled on a Medicare Advantage Plan:
- You can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan
- Drop your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare A and B
- Sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (if returning to Original Medicare)
- Apply for a Medicare Supplement plan (if returning to Original Medicare)
If I am current Soundpath Health Medicare Advantage Member and do not want to change plans, is that OK?
Of course! So long as your plan remains available year over year, you can remain on your plan and our team would be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have on this process. One of the caveats here for 2019 that you need to pay attention to is that the network for your current plan in 2018 may not be the same as they will be in 2019.
If you are a Soundpath Health member and a patient at Family Care Network, it is important to understand that you will not be able to see the providers at Family Care Network in 2019 unless you are on one of their contracted plans.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
I am currently a Family Care Network Patient and on a Medicare Advantage Plan, do I need to change plans for 2019?
Not necessarily. If you are currently a Soundpath Health Medicare Advantage member, your plan will not be accepted by Family Care Network in 2019 and should you want to continue to see Family Care Network providers you would need to be a member of one of their contracted plans for 2019.
Family Care Network’s contracted plans for 2019 will be available for review and discussion starting on October 1st, 2018 at which point you can assess all of your options.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
I am currently a Soundpath Health Medicare Advantage Member, do I need to find a new Medicare Advantage plan for 2019?
Both Soundpath Health and Premera Blue Cross have said that you can remain on your current plan for 2019 if you wish. However, if you are a patient at Family Care Network and/or wish to be able to see Family Care Network providers in 2019 you will need to be on one of their contracted plans starting on January 1st.
You can reach our agents here on our website, by email at info@vibrantusa.com, or by phone at 866-733-5111.
Is It Possible They Change Their Mind?
Over the course of 15 years, we have learned that in this industry you never say never. We have seen these situations change at the 11th hour and are committed to making sure that we supply our customers with the latest information so they can make the best decisions for themselves.
Can I Work With Any Agent or Agency?
YES! Although Overlake Medical Center and Clinics has a relationship with a national agency, the team at VibrantUSA is a locally owned independent insurance agency that would be more than happy to assist you. We have 4 offices here in the state of Washington and should any of our employed agents be unable to assist you, we have a network of nearly 1,000 agents that we can connect you with should it become necessary.
VibrantUSA is fully independent, trusted, and unbiased. Most importantly, we work for you.
I'm a Regence Medicare Advantage Member, What Do I Do?
It is important to note that Overlake Medical Center and Clinics will remain in network for the remainder of 2018 for Regence Medicare Advantage members. Should you wish to review your plan options for 2019 that would include Overlake Medical Center and Clinics as in network, our team can assist you here or by calling us at 866-733-5111. If you want to remain on your plan for 2019 and your plan remains available, you do not need to do anything as you will automatically be "renewed" for 2019 coverage.
Our team can also assist you in reviewing the network for your Regence Medicare advantage plan and can potentially help you identify new providers who will be in network for 2019.
What Happens If I have UHC Insurance & No Agreement Is Made?
If both parties do not come to an agreement, Evergreen Health will no longer be considered in-network providers for beneficiaries enrolled in the UHC MA HMO products. Beneficiaries will then need to choose another healthcare system for their services.
Will They Come To An Agreement?
At this point we simply cannot answer this question. We know that these negotiations do happen quite often and many times an agreement may be struck at the eleventh hour. But should an agreement NOT be made prior to the end of the Open Enrollment Period (December 7th), you may not be able to choose a different option unless you qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP).
How Can I Protect Myself?
If you are worried that your UHC MA HMO Insurance plan will not be accepted by EvergreenHealth providers and/or facilities in 2016, you do have a small window of time to consider your alternatives for 2016. As you can tell from the Medicare Key Dates chart below, you have until December 7th (unless you have a Special Election Period) to enroll or switch plans for the next year. Our agents are here to help you at no charge to you.
Medicare Key Dates
I Do Not Currently See EvergreenHealth Doctors/Providers
If you do not currently see doctors/providers at EvergreenHealth nor use the EvergreenHealth facilities and you do not plan on doing so in the future, this contract negotiation could very well not impact you.
I See EvergreenHealth Doctors/Providers & Have UHC Insurance
If you see providers at EvergreenHealth and/or use their facilities & have a UHC MA HMO plan, this contract dispute could very well impact you in 2016. Unfortunately we simply do not know if a contract will be reached between EvergreenHealth and UHC MA HMO plans. We are certainly hopeful one is reached, but we also know that if one isn’t reached our customers like yourself could very well have an insurance plan that no longer meets their needs.
The real challenge here is that in the event a contract agreement is not reached, you only have until the close of business on December 7th (unless you have a Special Election Period) to enroll onto a different Medicare Advantage plan for 2016 coverage. You would still have the disenrollment period which is January 1st through February 14th where your have the ability to return to original Medicare only, but many providers in King County no longer accept Original Medicare.
While we are as hopeful as you are that a contract agreement is made, you can certainly consider and evaluate all of your options for 2016. Our agents are here to help at absolutely no charge to you.