McKee Seasons Club available to counsel those affected by Medicare change

LOVELAND, Colo. (March 10, 2010) – In response to Medicare’s recent announcement to end contracts with a national insurance company drug plan, McKee Medical Center will offer free counseling sessions to area residents transitioning to a new plan.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on Tuesday that it has ended its contract with Fox Insurance Company. The termination of the contract is effective immediately.

CMS reported that the termination will not impact or delay access to drugs for those currently enrolled in the Fox plans. According to CMS reports, 365 people in Larimer County are enrolled with Fox. Those enrollees now are required to obtain drugs through LI-NET, a program run by Medicare and administered by Humana, to ensure that beneficiaries receive their Medicare prescription drugs. Fox enrollees can choose a new Medicare prescription drug plan through May 1. Current enrollees who do not choose a plan will be enrolled into a new plan by Medicare.

To help with the transition, McKee Seasons Club and Senior Services Manager Phoebe Hawley is offering counseling sessions similar to those that take place at the end of each year when Medicare recipients participate in the open enrollment process. Hawley or one of the trained volunteers will help Medicare recipients to locate and enroll in an appropriate replacement Medicare Part D Plan.  Please call (970) 635-4097 for an appointment.

CMS encourages Medicare prescription drug plan enrollees having concerns with access to drug coverage to contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the state health insurance assistance program (SHIP) to help get them resolved. Medicare enrollees, their families and their caregivers can contact a SHIP near them by visiting: http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx

NOTE:  According to the CMS release, states in which the Fox plan was available were:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.