John Oliver is a genius. About a month ago, he hosted a show in which he royally roasted Medicare Advantage insurance. He has the amazing ability to describe things in an easy to understand way that is thoroughly entertaining. If you have not see the episode, take the time to watch it (it's about 30 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejoi9yfLVCc
Some IBM retirees in Raleigh are not happy about IBM UHC Medicare Advantage because a popular provider, WakeMed, will no longer accept the UHC Medicare Advantage insurance in 2026. Sadly, the options those retirees have are limited. They can:
1. Find new providers who do accept the UHC MA insurance and ditch WakeMed.
2. Try to find a medigap company that will sell them a medigap and switch to OM + a part D stand alone drug plan, and thereby lose access to their HRA, if they have one, because they will be disenrolling from IBM's MA plan. In North Carolina, medigap insurance companies are not required to sell someone a medigap if they don't have a "guarantee issue". There are only a few ways to have guarantee issue, such as if IBM terminated the UHC Medicare Advantage plan. They MIGHT sell you a plan but could charge you a higher premium if you have underlying health conditions. I do not recommend switching to original Medicare without a medigap.
3. Switch to a non-UHC Medicare Advantage plan that WakeMed will accept.
The insurance switching options for #2 and #3 can be done before December 8, 2025, which is the fall open enrollment period for Medicare, or in January, February, or March of 2026. If done in 2026, the switch will be effective the first of the next month. The 2026 three month period is know as the MA Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP). During those three months you have a one time option to drop out of any MA plan and into original Medicare, or to switch from one MA plan to another.
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