BayCare, Florida Blue Disagreement Leaves 5,500 Seniors in Limbo
Open enrollment starts next week, leaving many Florida seniors with tough decisions. BayCare Health System and Florida Blue Insurance failed to reach an agreement on Medicare Advantage plans, affecting around 5,500 patients.
The breakdown in negotiations has left these patients without access to their BayCare primary care providers. Dr. Troy Quast, a health economics professor at the University of South Florida, noted the significance of this failure.
Despite the setback, a last-minute deal was struck, ensuring around 200,000 patients can continue seeing their BayCare doctors. However, this doesn't cover the approximately 5,500 Florida Blue Medicare members not included in the new contract. BayCare stated that over 4,000 Florida Blue PPO plan members are unaffected until the end of 2025. Florida Blue is assisting affected members by matching them to nearby Medicare care teams.
With open enrollment approaching, affected seniors face difficult choices. They may need to find new primary care physicians or switch Medicare plans. While Florida Blue members can still access BayCare specialists and hospitals, and emergency care is always covered, the situation highlights the importance of staying informed during enrollment periods.
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