| Upcoming changes in the federal laws will affect the availability of certain Medicare Supplement Plans for certain Medicare beneficiaries. A new federal law, called the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), will affect the availability of certain Medicare Supplement Plans issued to newly-eligible Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2020. The Medicare Supplement Plans affected by MACRA are ones that cover the Medicare Part B deductible. | |||
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A lot is happening in the Rx Market this year. In case you missed it, Aetna has been purchased by CVS health, which has been approved by the DOJ. As part of this purchase, however, they have to sell Silverscript, the Medicare Rx Program. This is set to happen around the first of the year, to WellCare. In the meantime, Silverscripts prices have gone up and Aetna looks much more competitive, and we expect a lot of changes this year.
Walgreens bought Rite Aid and is in the process of consolidating stores and plans. No word yet on what will happen to Rite Aids’ Envision Rx program, and Walgreens has maintained its deal with AARP.
It is important that Seniors check their prescriptions EVERY year, as this is the time of year when everything changes. It is too late to change in January when you discover your medication is no longer covered!
From Allwell Centene:”
In what the New York Times (6/24, Pear, Subscription Publication) calls “a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation on a major policy initiative,” the Trump Administration and Congress are “revamping Medicare to provide extra benefits to people with multiple chronic illnesses, a significant departure from the program’s traditional focus that aims to create a new model of care for millions of older Americans.” The changes, says the Times, “tackle a vexing and costly problem in American health care: how to deal with long-term illnesses that can build on one another, and the social factors outside the reach of traditional medicine that can contribute to them, like nutrition, transportation and housing.” The additional benefits “can include social and medical services, home improvements like wheelchair ramps, transportation to doctor’s offices and home delivery of hot meals.”
Fox News is reporting that, while all seniors will get new Medicare Cards this year, scammers are trying to get you to give you your new 11 digit number, along with other personal information.
A reminder that you should NEVER give this information to someone you do not know. Also, there is no fee for this new card.
The full article is here.