Press Releases
MEDICARE ENDS CONTRACT WITH FLORIDA-BASED MD MEDICARE CHOICE
MEDICARE ENDS CONTRACT WITH FLORIDA-BASED MD MEDICARE CHOICE
NO INTERRUPTION IN HEALTH CARE OR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR MDMC ENROLLEES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is terminating the Medicare Advantage contract with MD Medicare Choice (MDMC), a Florida health plan providing services to more than 16,000 Medicare beneficiaries. MDMC has been placed into receivership by the State of Florida’s courts effective September 30, 2008. The action by the state cancels the CMS Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) contract with MD Medicare Choice.
All members of MDMC in 23 Florida counties (Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Miami-Dade, Duval, Escambia, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia) are being enrolled in a health plan with similar health care and prescription drug benefits administered by Humana, effective October 1, 2008. Members also have a special enrollment period if they wish to choose another plan before the end of 2008.
Former MDMC members will receive a letter from Medicare explaining the change on or about October 1, 2008, followed by a letter from Humana that will provide details about their new health plan. MDMC members will be able to continue to see their current Primary Care Provider until December 31, 2008. Beneficiaries who are currently in the hospital, skilled nursing care, or receiving treatments such as chemotherapy, dialysis, or organ transplantation will be able to continue with their treatments through the end of the illness or December 31.
The costs of the new plan for MDMC enrollees will be the same as they were paying under their MDMC plan until December 31, 2008. After December 31, 2008, enrollees will receive services from providers in Humana’s network and Humana cost sharing will apply. Humana will be working with MDMC providers about possibly joining the Humana network if they don’t already belong.
Medicare consumers and providers looking for more information about the Humana Health Insurance Company may contact the plan at 1-800-758-4086 (TTY users call 1-800-833-3301). Humana is ready to help beneficiaries and providers make a smooth transition.
Former MDMC members will have a special election period to make changes in their Medicare health care and prescription drug coverage if they choose not to remain in Humana. This special election period begins October 1, 2008 and ends on January 31, 2009. Former members of MDMC who wish to exercise this special election period option should call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Former MDMC members who decide to return to original Medicare have the option of purchasing a Medicare Supplement or Medigap plan by December 2, 2008.
CMS is working closely with its partners in the State of Florida government, and in particular, the Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), to ensure that Medicare consumer rights are protected and that they are aware of the Medicare coverage options available to them. Medicare beneficiaries may contact SHINE at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).
CMS is committed to providing Medicare beneficiaries with high value health care, including ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries are adequately protected. In addition to the special election period described above, all Medicare beneficiaries will still have the opportunity to make new Medicare enrollment coverage elections for calendar year 2009 coverage beginning November 15, 2008. Former MDMC members will also receive information about the new plan’s 2009 plan costs and benefits in October.
For more information, please visit: www.medicare.gov
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