tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123419132697929931.post3846145000360351587..comments2023-11-01T06:58:44.005-07:00Comments on ibm medicare options: IBM Medicare Extend Health DO NOT try to enroll in the same Part D plan you use in 2013Platohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14060433813948859747noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123419132697929931.post-75445263363213199102013-12-09T06:21:38.455-08:002013-12-09T06:21:38.455-08:00Actually, you have until the last day of February ...Actually, you have until the last day of February 2014 (and it would be effective March 1st) to select a new Medicare Advantage plan or a new prescription drug plan if the plan you had with IBM is ending on 12/31/13. However, if you wait until 2014 to enroll you will not have insurance until the first day of the following month so it is risky to do so. Also, not all IBM plans are ending. Those in Aetna or Kaiser plans had to make a switch by December 7th. However, this has nothing to do with my post. I had a part D plan that was not an IBM plan because I had selected Aetna Integration insurance. Therefore, the part D plan I bought was not "ending". If I was to make a switch I had to do it by 12/07/13. And I had to switch if I wanted to use part D to get my HRA subsidy because it was the only way Extend Health could get commission.Platohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060433813948859747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123419132697929931.post-71290818066691627272013-12-08T14:07:23.405-08:002013-12-08T14:07:23.405-08:00Plato - you will have up to 60 days after you lose...Plato - you will have up to 60 days after you lose your IBM group coverage (12/31) to make a plan election with a Medicare Advantage plan. This is called a special election period. you get the special allowance because IBM is terminating a group policy - and you are losing creditable coverage. This does not help you get your own plan back, but at least know that you still have options under the Medicare rules.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11251001603674300299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123419132697929931.post-56274426666185989352013-11-16T19:13:28.209-08:002013-11-16T19:13:28.209-08:00I doubt there is basis for legal action as far as ...I doubt there is basis for legal action as far as Medicare law is concerned. EH is not tricking us into switching to another policy. IBM made a deal with Extend Health that would require each of us to have a policy through EH so EH could get commissions and IBM likely pays a lower fee to EH to administer the HRA. IBM does not have to give us a subsidy. They can remove it at any time. I'm not saying IBM is doing an ethical thing by having such a contract with EH - I just don't think it is illegal.Platohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060433813948859747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123419132697929931.post-57178015089608758392013-11-16T05:09:56.446-08:002013-11-16T05:09:56.446-08:00According to EH call advisors the reason we cannot...According to EH call advisors the reason we cannot keep or reenroll in our current Medicare plan for 2014 is because Medicare does not allow changing the "agent-on-record" for an existing health ins. policy. But checking with Medicare, I was told changing the agent-on-record, particularly during the enrollment period was OK. What Medicare does not want to do is allow agents to steal policies from one another. If the effect of their EH enforcement results is forcing us to buy something else under threat of losing our subsidy is policy driven and not a matter of advisor interpretation, then I think we should bring this up with IBM, Medicare or the even the Justice Dept as a case of unfair market practice or aritficially creating demand for Medicare exhange transactions..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447043611501126377noreply@blogger.com