Good morning, as I sit here writing this, we wave goodbye to our summer, it was late, but stayed well past expectations, kind of like family. Hope everyone enjoyed it, now bring on the snow. Fall to me always means open enrollment for Medicare part D, 10 weeks of craziness. Phil will be talking about that in his section so I won't repeat what he has to say. Instead I will talk about the changes that may be occurring if you have a Medicare Advantage Programs in Clallam or Jefferson County.
There are two major changes occurring this year. Windsor Sterling is withdrawing completely from the Jefferson county market, leaving only one Medicare Advantage company serving only portions of Jefferson County, based on the zip code. Group Health Care is offering the only program for Jefferson County. The premium is $103.00 per month, and it is only available in certain zip codes. If you are in Jefferson County and have received notification of your plan being withdrawn, please call us immediately. You need to make a change for 2013.
The second major change is that Group Health Care is scaling back to one plan in Clallam County. Group Health is withdrawing the Elite program that was available last year for $121.00 per month. If you have this plan for 2012 you need to contact us immediately so that we can help you make the necessary change during the open enrollment.
This leaves Clallam County with only 5 plans available, from three companies, Group Health, Regence and Community Health First.
The Community Health First programs have the lowest premiums, but a serious lack of providers make these plans unusable in Clallam County. At this time we are not aware of any doctors that are accepting this insurance in Sequim.
Group Health Care's Prestige plan is increasing from $67.00 per month to $103.00 per month and very few changes have occurred in the co-pays. Many of the doctors and clinics in Sequim accept this insurance.
The Regence Classic has DECREASED, in premium from $119.00 per month to $99.00 per month. They have increased the outpatient or Part B deductible, to $125.00 and have some increases in co-pays. Regence also has a program for $241.00 per month with no drug or outpatient deductible and lower co-pays.
In the comparisons that we have run so far this year, there is not enough difference between the Group Health Prestige and Regence Classic plan, to suggest that you should change if you have either of these programs. For those clients that have the Group Health Elite program, you need to do something before February 2013, otherwise you will return to Original Medicare with no Part D coverage.
I am here to help at any time with any questions that you may have about these changes, so feel free to call or e-mail me. I look forward to helping you.
Please send your questions and comments to
John@castellinsurance.com
