Medicare Open Enrollment: CMS Suspends Universal American, Health Net and Arcadian Health From Open Enrollment

As if we needed Medicare Open Enrollment to get any more confusing, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) just announced that they have suspended three major insurers from Open Enrollment. CMS has ordered Health Net to stop marketing to and enrolling new members in its Medicare Advantage health and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Universal American and Arcadian Health from marketing and enrolling new members in its Medicare Advantage plans , saying the companies violated CMS regulations.

If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan from Universal American, Health Net, or Arcadian Health you will not be affected by the CMS suspensions.

However, if you are currently shopping around for a new Medicare Advantage plan, be aware that Health Net was ordered to suspend the marketing of and enrollment in its Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans as of Friday, as the government said the company’s conduct poses a “serious threat” to enrollees.

CMS characterized Universal American as a “chronic poor performer” whose company’s agents engaged in aggressive sales tactics and abusive behavior, and misled or confused beneficiaries or misrepresented the company’s plans, and based Arcadian Health’s suspension on similar conduct. Both have been ordered to stop selling their Medicare Advantage plans as of December 5th.

Again, if you are currently shopping around for a Medicare Advantage health plan or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you will not be allowed to enroll with Health Net during this suspension period. If you are currently shopping around for a Medicare Advantage health plan, you will not be allowed to enroll with Universal American or Arcadian Health during this suspension periods.  If you are contacted by a representative of any of these companies during this time, something shady is going on! Be on the lookout!

Are you shopping around for a new Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D drug plan this Medicare Open Enrollment season?

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1. Medicare Open Enrollment Is Here! Are You Ready?
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3. Open Enrollment: CMS Updates Ratings for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
4. Have You Noticed Our New Feature? Medicare Open Enrollment is Coming!
5. Medicare Open Enrollment: 4 Links to Help You Make It Through Medicare Open Enrollment