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Contact:

Scott Peterson

Department of Human Services, Communications 651-392-7223

scott.peterson@state.mn.us

 

Changes to Medicare Advantage Plans to Affect Many Minnesotans in 2027

Enrollees should act now to ensure coverage for the coming year

 

St. Paul, Minn. – Many Medicare Advantage plan companies are reducing or fully discontinuing offering Medicare Advantage across the U.S., including throughout Minnesota. An estimated 392,000 of the 1.2 million Minnesotans on Medicare will lose their current Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, with a small fraction being automatically moved to another plan. All Medicare Advantage enrollees are urged to review their plan information. If their plan is ending, they must find another Medicare Advantage or Part D plan during Medicare Open Enrollment, which begins Thursday, Oct. 15 and runs through Monday, Dec. 7.

Some Medicare Advantage plans are reducing the number of counties where they offer their plans, while others are discontinuing plans completely. There are 15 Minnesota counties that will have no Medicare Advantage plan options – Aitkin, Carlton, Chippewa, Cook, Goodhue, Koochiching, Lake, McCleod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Pine, Rice, Sibley, Stevens, and Yellow Medicine. However, in these counties, Medicare Cost plans and Original Medicare are available. But in three Minnesota counties – Crow Wing, Lake of the Woods and Wadena – there will be no Medicare Advantage or Medicare Cost plans, so Original Medicare is the only option for those enrollees.

Medicare Cost plans are hybrid plans that require enrollees to use in-network providers for the most coverage, however, they can use providers outside of the network and Original Medicare Part A and B will cover the out-of-network care. Original Medicare covers Medicare Parts A and B and purchasing a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan covers medications. Those opting for Original Medicare can also opt to add a Medigap policy, which helps to cover copayments, co-insurance and deductibles. During this time, Medigap guaranteed issue rights are offered, which is an opportunity to purchase a Medigap policy without health screening (underwriting).

There are important things to consider when looking for a new Medicare plan, including:

 

• Are your medical providers/doctors covered in the plan’s network?

 

• Will you be able to use your preferred pharmacy?

• Are your medications covered and/or has the cost increased?

• Will the premium(s) increase?

• What will you pay in other out-of-pocket costs?

• Do you plan to travel?

 

Those who need help can call 1-800-Medicare or visit the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov to review plan options 24 hours/day. But before calling, it’s important to prepare by:

 

• Creating a personal account in the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

• Writing down important personal information and have it handy (full name, date of birth, ZIP Code, Medicare card, other insurance cards, names of providers, current plan information).

• Making a list of medications/prescription drugs, including drug names and dosages.

 

Help is available through Minnesota Aging Pathways at (800) 333-2433 Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During Medicare Open Enrollment each year, Minnesota Aging Pathways is busy assisting many callers, so hold times may be long.