BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Tens of thousands of Vermont seniors now need to shop for new Medicare Advantage plans after two of the largest insurance providers announced this week they are dropping coverage next year. WCAX viewer Helen asked, “Is the state government going to step in to figure out why advantage plans are no longer being sold in Vermont?” We went looking for answers.
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and cover all the same services as Medicare, but often include prescription drug coverage and extra benefits. But Vermont Blue Advantage and UnitedHealthCare — two of the largest insurance providers — are now dropping their plans, causing a big disruption for upwards of 30,000 seniors.
Department of Financial Regulation officials say that the state’s hands are tied because these plans are agreements between federal agencies and private companies and the state doesn’t get a say in that.
They do have a say in some of the supplemental plans which Vermonters can also purchase, but those aren’t the ones being canceled.
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation has posted helpful links.
Those with questions are also urged to call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or use the Medicare Plan Finder tool available at medicare.gov to shop for a new plan.
Do you have a question you want answered? Email us at gettinganswers@wcax.com.
