Humana Should Correct Medicare Advantage ‘Misinformation’: AG Ellison

SF. PAUL, Minnesota (FOX 9) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison urges health insurer Humana to correct alleged “misinformation” after more It appears that health care provider networks are choosing not to accept certain Medicare Advantage plans.

What we know

Several Minnesota health provider networks have announced they will no longer accepts certain Medicare Advantage plans in 2025 due to ongoing issues with reimbursement and denial of medical coverage.

According to the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, the following health care provider networks will no longer accept the following Medicare Advantage plans:

• Allina will not accept Humana
• Avera will not accept Humana
• Essential Health System will not accept Humana
• M Health Fairview Health Care System will not accept Humana or Aetna
• Mayo Clinic will not accept HealthPartners
• North Memorial Medical Center and their providers will not accept Humana
• Sanford Health will not accept Humana

About 60,000 Minnesotans use Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, which are private health care plans with additional benefits not available through the traditional Medicare program.

‘Misinformation’

According to a news release from the Attorney General’s Office, during the Medicare enrollment period, Humana listed providers as in-network for their Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, despite these providers’ announcements that they would no longer be in-network with Humana plans. .

The alleged misinformation could cause Humana customers to pay much more for the care they receive if their preferred provider ends up out of network, the release said.

Someone seeing a provider that doesn’t accept their Medicare Advantage plan could result in higher out-of-pocket costs or care that isn’t covered at all.

Minnesotans switching between Medicare Advantage plans in early 2025 could also face a gap in coverage, the news release said.

“My goal is to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety and respect, and that becomes much more difficult when people can’t afford the health care they need,” Ellison said in a statement. “If Humana has indeed shared this misinformation, I urge Humana to hurry and make every effort possible to correct it. It is critical that Minnesotans considering a Medicare Advantage plan have accurate information about what that plan will and will not cover.

Among the letter’s requests, Ellison asks Humana about any plans it might have to reimburse consumers for care from out-of-network providers through March 2025 for those who signed up for a Humana Medicare Advantage plan based on a misunderstandings of the Humana network. covering.

The full letter sent to Humana, which requests a response within five days, can be found below:

what else

Health officials are encouraging Medicare users to review their plans for cost changes, formulary changes and provider changes before open enrollment closes on Dec. 7.

If you want to make a change to your Medicare Advantage plan after this date, a separate open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage is from January 1 to March 31.

For more information on navigating the Medicare Plan Finder, click here. To check if your provider current healthcare will be available under your plan, visit www.medicare.govaccording to the Minnesota Attorney General’s office.