Change to Affect Thousands in Medicare Advantage

More than 630,000 Medicare beneficiaries must change to a different Medicare Advantage (MA) health plan or switch to traditional Medicare for 2010, following a decision by their current MA plans to exit Medicare in some areas at the end of this year. Many of these plans are private fee-for-service plans that faced cuts in federal payments in 2010, as well as tougher new federal regulations resulting from a law passed in July 2008.

Affected enrollees—less than 6 percent of the 11 million in the MA program—can switch to a different MA plan, or to traditional Medicare, during open enrollment, Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. During this period, all beneficiaries can compare plans online at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-633-4227.

An analysis of how MA health plans and Part D prescription drug plans will change costs and benefits in 2010 will also appear in the December AARP Bulletin.

Patricia Barry is a senior editor of the AARP Bulletin who covers Medicare and health policy issues.