Greg Ehlinger - Retirement Made Easy

URGENT !!
We have just learned from United Healthcare the agents will NOT be able to help people change plans...

I will follow up as you as soon as I have any more details.

From UHC...

"CMS has advised:



The SEP is NOT available for agent use.


The member is being directed to contact 1-800-MEDICARE or meet with a local SHIP counselor to make a change utilizing the SEP.


The SEP runs until the end of October.


UHC will be sending out letters to the impacted membership based on CMS guidance, the SEP is NOT available to all UHC members.


If your client makes a change via Medicare or a SHIP counselor their plan will be effective the 1st of the following month.


If the member uses the special one-time SEP to change to Original Medicare, they have a special temporary right to buy a Medicare Supplement policy
with Guaranteed Issue. They will have to save a copy of the letter as proof of their Medigap rights.

The members are being directed to contact SHIP counselors to discuss their Medicare Supplement rights.



The one-time SEP is NOT available for carrier use.


UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete remains in-network with Brown University Health hospitals.


If any additional details or updates are shared, we will send a follow-up communication"

I have just learned that Brown University Health labs, formerly Lifespan, such as the lab at the Bristol Medical Center, are considered Out of Network for United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Clients. As explained to me, the actual testing for many is actually performed at the hospitals, such as Miriam.

For those in the East Bay: the following appear to be closest, or you can call UHC Customer Service 800-711-0646

East Side Clinical Laboratory
Laboratory
15 Gooding Ave
Bristol, RI 02809
(401) 253-3017

334 County Rd
Barrington, Bristol, RI 02806
(401) 247-8613

Quest Diagnostics
Laboratory
101 President Ave Ste 1
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 324-4105

Laboratory Corp of America Holdings
Laboratory
1151 Robeson St Ste 201
Fall River, MA 02720
(508) 290-0509

Additionally, Brown Un. Health mailed a notice to all Medicare members w UHC, including UHC Supplements, that they are out of network with Brown. this only impacts medicare Advantage members, NOT Supplements. If you have a medicare supplement form UHC, such as Plan G or F, you can still go to any facilty that accepts medicare, including Brown.

I am happy to help anyone who may be uncertain, first place to check is your card which will clearly state supplement or Medicare Advantage.

We continue to monitor this situation and will share info as it comes in.

from United Health Care, Updated June 18, 2025

We want to keep Brown University Health’s (formerly Lifespan) hospitals in our Medicare Advantage network
We have been engaged in active discussions with Brown University Health for the past several months regarding our Medicare Advantage contract for their hospitals. Our goal has always been to reach an agreement that is affordable while providing continued, long-term access to the health system’s hospitals.

Unfortunately, Brown University Health refused our proposal to extend our contract through the end of 2025 and is seeking to be paid significantly more than any health system in our Medicare Advantage network in Rhode Island.

If we are unable to reach an agreement, Brown University Health’s hospitals will be out of network for our Medicare Advantage plans, including Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Group Retiree plans, effective July 1, 2025.

We remain committed to continued discussions with Brown University Health should they provide a proposal that is affordable for the people we serve.

Brown University Health’s physicians are not impacted. They will continue to remain in our network at this time, regardless of the outcome of our negotiation.
This negotiation only impacts our Medicare Advantage contract for Brown University Health’s hospitals at this time. Brown University Health’s physicians will continue to participate in our Medicare Advantage network on and after July 1.

Brown University Health recently communicated inaccurate information regarding the possibility their physicians would be out of network for our Medicare Advantage plans at the end of 2025. That is not true.

Brown University Health is seeking price hikes that would make their hospitals significantly higher cost than all other hospitals in our Medicare Advantage network in Rhode Island.
Brown University Health is seeking to be reimbursed at rates that would make their hospitals an outlier in our Medicare Advantage network in the state. Agreeing to their proposal would increase overall health care costs while also impacting the benefits our Medicare Advantage members rely on.

We proposed to extend our hospital contract for our Medicare Advantage plans through the end of 2025. Brown University Health refused.
Our proposal to extend our current contract would have provided Medicare Advantage members continued network access to Brown University Health’s hospitals while we continued our discussions toward a potential long-term agreement. The health system refused, potentially and unnecessarily disrupting access to care for thousands of people enrolled in our Medicare Advantage plans.

We are committed to continued good-faith negotiation. We hope Brown University Health shares our commitment to reach an agreement that is affordable and sustainable for the people we collectively serve.
We have prepared the following FAQs to ensure our members have the information they need regarding our negotiation, as well as next steps in the event Brown University Health’s hospitals leave our Medicare Advantage network.