The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an immediate suspension of enrollment and marketing activities for Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans on January 21, 2016. The immediate intermediate sanctions against enrollment and marketing activities to Cigna, HealthSpring, and Bravo Health Medicare Advantage plans sold in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. The CMS sanctions were imposed on Medicare Advantage medical plan which include prescription drug coverage also known as MA-PDs.
New Medicare providers for Anthem Blue Cross plans
Anthem Blue Cross Medicare members will have more provider choices. This is especially exciting as we introduce our NEW Anthem MediBlue Plus and Select plans [Medicare Advantage], which are available throughout AEP 2016.
Evidence of Billing delayed for Blue Shield Medicare plans
We are writing to advise you that some Blue Shield Medicare Advantage HMO members have not received their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for medical or hospital services (Part C) for June, July, August, or September of this year, which includes their total out-of-pocket expenses to date.
Medicare 2016 Part B premium and deductible to increase
Beneficiaries not subject to the “hold harmless” provision will pay $121.80, as calculated reflecting the provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law by President Obama last week. Medicare Part B beneficiaries not subject to the “hold-harmless” provision are those not collecting Social Security benefits, those who will enroll in Part B for the first time in 2016, dual eligible beneficiaries who have their premiums paid by Medicaid, and beneficiaries who pay an additional income-related premium. These groups account for about 30 percent of the 52 million Americans expected to be enrolled in Medicare Part B in 2016.
Medicare Advantage plans by county and state for 2016
Every year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) produces spreadsheets with mountains of data on Medicare Advantage medical plans and the Part D Prescription drug plans. In addition to a detailed review of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and the forty-seven different measurements, CMS also catalogs all the available MA-PDs and PDPs in what are called Landscape Source files.
2016 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings complete data set
Medicare Advantage medical insurance plans and Part D Prescription Drug plans must notify existing and new members of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Star Ratings that have been assigned to them. While the plans must print the overall Star Rating for the plan, there are actually over forty specific measurements, each with its own rating, that make up the overall scores. For people who want to dive deeper in to the numbers, I’ve provided the CMS spreadsheet of all the ratings for each plan and measurements.
Medicare 2015 End Stage Renal Disease eligibility training
The lessons in this module, “Medicare for People With End-Stage Renal Disease,” explain the Medicare program for people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It includes information on eligibility and enrollment, coverage, health plan options, and provides additional sources of information.
Covered California clarifies Medicare questions for individuals
If you are enrolled in Medicare, you do not need to do anything with Covered California. If you have Medicare you are covered. No matter how you receive your Medicare benefits, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will have the same benefits and security you have now. You will receive new benefits, such as more preventive services and increased savings on brand-name drugs.
Blue Shield updates, improves Medicare Supplement billing
Subscribers will also receive a new bill with an improved format that includes their new subscriber and group numbers and new billing payment address. Their first bill post-migration will be delayed for two to three weeks. Included with their first new bill, there will be a Bill Quick Guide that outlines the changes.
Medicare prescription drug premiums projected to remain stable
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projected today that the average premium for a basic Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2016 will remain stable, at an estimated $32.50 per month.