Hundreds and possibly thousands of members of Alignment PPO AVA 007 and Aetna Choice PPO Medicare Advantage plan will be impacted by the plan’s termination in San Diego, CA. Alignment and Aetna have decided to sunset these plans by 12/31/2024. Impacted members need to find a new plan to replace their termed plan. The Medicare…
Since January 2024, Scripps Health has no longer accepted Medicare Advantage plans and isn’t in-network with all Medicare Advantage plans as it used to be. There is one exception to this. The existing members from the Alignment PPO plan who were enrolled before January 2024 were grandfathered for another year, meaning they can still access…
The Medicare enrollment process can be easy or difficult. There are several ways to enroll: online, in person at the local Social Security office, by filling out the required forms and dropping them off at the office, or by phone. In this post, based on my experience helping Medicare beneficiaries over the past nine years, I’d…
The Medicare Program Will Soon Take on Postal Service Retirees Health Benefits. Why is the government doing this? As with so many decisions, money is likely the driving force. In 2018, about 500,000 retirees received health benefits, with the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund paying most of the costs. To address the fund’s shortfall,…
The Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is a great but often overlooked benefit for helping older adults live independently in their homes. With the PERS alert device, members and their families can be confident that they have quick access to help if needed. It provides members with 24/7 access to help in the event of…
At this time of the year, I often receive many inquiries about dental and vision insurance and whether Medicare covers dental or vision Care. This is also because of the ads people see on TV or the Internet that offer dental and vision benefits to entice Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a plan. So, does…
Q: I recently switched from my employer group plan to a Medicare plan with prescription coverage. I received a letter from the insurance company notifying me that I owed a part D penalty. Why do I get the penalty, and what should I do? A: If you receive a letter indicating that you have a…
I’d like to address a hot topic that came out from the matter that Scripps Health (Coastal and Clinic) will no longer be accepting Medicare Advantage plans in 2024. To keep your Scripps doctors and hospital, the recommended way is to have Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement (Medigap), plus a Part D plan. However, when…
The rumors that Scripps Clinic and Coastal, a popular medical group in San Diego County, will no longer be accepting Medicare Advantage plans in 2024 have been confirmed with the release of the emails sent to those plans’ members on 9/27/2023. In the email sent from Scripps Health to a client mentioned that Scripps Clinic…
Q: I will turn 65 in September and be eligible for Medicare. Can I enroll in October during my Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) and request the effective date to be on January 1? A: The Medicare enrollment timeline and coverage starting date for a new beneficiary in his/her Initial Enrollment Period follow this guideline shown…