I talked about this last week (see blog post here), but yesterday, Coventry made it official that they are exiting the Private Fee for Service market at the end of 2009. This will affect over 300,000 members including both individual and group PFFS plans.
A relatively small percentage of these members reside in a service area where Coventry offers a Network Based Medicare Advantage product (approximately 40,000 of the 300,000+). These members will be able to elect the Network product during the Annual Enrollment Period (November 15th through December 31st of 2009) for a January 1st, 2010 effective date. They also have the option of electing another Medicare Advantage option in their area or they can return to Original Medicare. If they make no election, they will go back to Original Medicare.
Those members who are affected who have Prescription Drugs included in their Advantra Freedom plan will need to choose an alternate way to get the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. They can either go with a Stand Alone PDP or they can elect a Medicare Advantage plan which includes prescription drugs.
Coventry is not exiting totally. I have been receiving emails from them that certification starts in Aug. for their 2010 Medicare Advantage plans. I think they are keeping their PPO and HMO plans.
7/23/2010
I’m a little surprised at the small number of enrollees in many counties. I guess that’s why they are exiting.
Any bright ideas out there about contacting the current members?
Joe