Open Enrollment for Medicare Starts Early

All Medicare eligible individuals need to be aware of the early open enrollment period this year. Starting Saturday, October 15th, recipients can choose their new plan if they choose to do so. What's more important is the end date of December 7th. This is the last day recipients can switch their plans. If they miss this deadline, individuals could end up losing the coverage they want, or they could lose all coverage. With so many choices in Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans, preparation is crucial.

With open enrollment earlier than normal, there are concerns that some seniors may miss the deadline and end up missing out. The government is working hard to get the information out to as many recipients as possible, but it will be hard to tell how many people will be left out. This time is critical in choosing plans that are best suited for the individual. There are so many choices to sort through and seniors are encouraged to meet with an expert to help sort through the variety of plans. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the information, but with the right preparation seniors can make the best choices for them and their families.

Medicare 2011: Changes to Come

The United States government sponsors many health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the Healthy Indiana Plan, but it's most popular program, Medicare, is up for some big changes in the coming months.

According to the article "Medicare Changes Set for 2011" by The Times-Standard outlines 4 of the major changes to come. They include:

1. New yearly open enrollment for Medicare Advantage
2. Updates for the Medicare Prescription Drug programs
3. Less being paid into the "donut hole"
4. Annual wellness visits

These are just a handful of the upcoming changes for 2011 according to The National Council on Aging. Beneficiaries are encouraged to review their Medicare packages to ensure they understand all changes being made that will affect them. Many will need Medicare supplement plans to have full coverage and you want to make sure you can continue to see the same doctor. The changes are intended to improve the program overall, but as the shift takes place some may be left confused so getting educated is very important.

Humana Completes Acquisition

Humana has completed the $14 million purchase of MetCare Health Plans a subsidiary of Metropolitan Health Networks, based in West Plam Beach Florida.

Metropolitan is a growing health care organization in Florida, providing comprehensive health care services for Medicare Advantage members and other Florida health insurance customers.

Metcare's AdvantageCare provides Medicare beneficiaries in South and Central Florida with access to comprehensive health care coverage.

The acquisition increases Humana's Medicare Advantage membership by more than 7,000 members.

Humana Suspends Sales of Medicare Advantage Plans

Humana Inc. and other health insurance providers are temporarily suspending marketing of non-group Medicare Advantage plans after finding out that sales agents forged signatures and signed up dead people.

The move comes after complaints were made regarding insurance salesmen being overly agressive when trying to sell the health insurance plans to the elderly, even going as far as to sign up dead people and forge signatures.

The health insurance companies who suspended marketing the government funded plans are working with the U.S. Medicare health insurance program for the elderly and disabled.

Medicare has approximately 43 million beneficiaries, of which about 7.5 million are in Medicare Advantage plans. Enrollment of seniors in Private fee-for-service plans is rising sharply and now accounts for about 20% of the $60 billion Medicare Advantage program.