Health/Medicare in CA—
By Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, bureau of Public News Service.
Tens of thousands of Californians are going to have to choose a new individual Medicare Advantage plan once open enrollment for Medicare starts Oct. 15, because multiple companies are dropping plans in the state for 2027.
Sharp Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna have all sent out notices some plans will no longer be available next year.
Advice from experts
Stephanie Fajuri, an insurance counseling manager for the city and county of Los Angeles and program director at the Center for Healthcare Rights, said it is important to find out if your plan will still cover your medications and if your doctors still accept your plan.
“I recommend that people confirm with their doctor or hospital system to confirm which plans they will be accepting in the upcoming year because that does seem to change quite a bit,” Fajuri urged.
Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, you have the opportunity to switch between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, join, drop or change a Part D prescription drug plan, or move from one Advantage plan to another. The California Health Advocates website has links to the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program in your county.
Lupe Garcia, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program manager for Kern County, said navigators are there to provide unbiased advice.
“We are funded through California Department of Aging and we don’t endorse any kind of insurance. We’re only here to educate Medicare beneficiaries as far as what all of their options are,” Garcia explained.
People should be aware costs are increasing for the Medicare prescription drug benefit for 2027. The annual standard deductible is going up from $615 to $700 and the out-of-pocket maximum for the prescription drug benefit will be $2,400, up from $2,100.
