North Dakota officials remind Medicare beneficiaries to reconsider plans – InForum

FARGO — As residents sign up for Medicare during this open enrollment season, the North Dakota Insurance Commission is reminding them to double-check what’s covered and in-network for the plan they choose.

Insurance can be confusing. What’s online, what’s received, and how it’s billed are all questions facing consumers. The answers are not always clear cut.

Medicare open enrollment began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.

Residents can schedule an appointment with the North Dakota Department of Insurance to get help choosing a plan.

Essentia Health will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans from Humana and United Healthcare in 2025.

Sanford Health is also dropping Humana.

Both hospitals point to delays in patient care and insurance denials and say they have informed patients of the changes.

“Usually you want to be where your service providers are. These are the doctors who know you,” said John Arnold, deputy insurance commissioner for the North Dakota Department of Insurance. “They know your background, your medical history, you feel comfortable with them. You’ll want to shop around, maybe you’ll find a plan that’s, you know, more affordable, but you’ll have to travel a little further. , and it’s a personal choice.”

If you change plans and it turns out that your hospital no longer accepts that plan, you will have to pay out of pocket.

Altru officials say they will continue to use Humana and United Healthcare Medicare plans.