August 24, 2008

In response to Ann Leventhal's Aug. 18 Op-Ed article ["Caught In Insurer's Grasp"], I can say that she is not alone. The Center for Medicare Advocacy hears every day from beneficiaries having trouble with private Medicare plans, with or without drug

coverage. Like Ms. Leventhal, they have often been led astray by their private plans.

In fact, Ms. Leventhal had every right to disenroll from her Part D plan. People can

disenroll at any time to enroll in an employer or union-sponsored plan. Health Net should have immediately sent her a disenrollment form. Indeed, had the plan notified the Medicare agency of the reason, the agency should have opted her out of Part D.

Apparently Medicare told Ms. Leventhal that there was nothing it could do. This is

yet another systemic problem where private plans are concerned. The Center for

Medicare Advocacy has also been told by Medicare that it could do nothing about a

client losing all her Medicare coverage and necessary home care because she was

in a private Medicare plan. The Medicare agency said it was up to the plan to solve

the problem.

Ms. Leventhal and anyone else in Connecticut experiencing problems with Part D

or other Medicare problems can contact the Center for Medicare Advocacy or the

CHOICES program. We can help make sure they get the health care they need and

coverage that is best for them.