The ending of a Medicare Advantage plan offered by Cigna will open up a special enrollment period for participants in the plan.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency, says the end of the program has enough of an impact to warrant a special enrollment period for people in the Cigna/Bayhealth Medicare Advantage program.
Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro says thousands of Delawareans could be affected.
“It's about 6,000 plans - doesn't necessarily equal 6,000 people, but I think that's a pretty good number," Navarro said.
The dates for the special enrollment period haven’t been set by the federal government yet. Cigna is required to notify affected policyholders by letter, including the start and end dates of the special enrollment period. Once consumers receive that letter, the countdown to find new coverage begins.
“When that happens, consumers will have 60 days prior to the termination of the plan and then 63 days after the plan coverage would end," Navarro said.
Navarro says his office is standing by to help consumers during the special enrollment window.
“You can do a one-on-one counseling with an expert here who can help," he said "We don't promote one company or product over another, but we can help people with, say if they have a specific prescription.”
The state’s Medicare Assistance Bureau has educational resources on its website insurance.delaware.gov/dmab, and counselors for a confidential and free session are available by phone at 1 (800) 336-9500.
