Medigap
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Understanding Open Enrollment, Supplementing Medicare & Medicare Changes in 2026
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Have questions on how to navigate Medicare’s Open Enrollment period (Oct 15 – Dec 7)? Curious about ways to supplement Medicare outside of Medicare Advantage plans? Wondering what’s new with Medicare in 2026? If so, watch our recorded webinars, What’s New With Medicare in 2026? and What You Need to Know About Supplementing Medicare During Open…
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Sutter Health Leaving UnitedHealthcare’s Individual Medicare Advantage HMO Network in 2026
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UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Sutter Health have agreed to end their contract for Individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans with some providers in some counties beginning January 1, 2026. This means that some Sutter hospitals and doctors will no longer be in-network for these plans. Contrary to incorrect information some providers have given out, this change does not affect: People enrolled in UHC Individual Medicare…
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Get Ready for Medicare’s Open Enrollment: Tips & Resources to Make Your Best Coverage Choices
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Medicare’s Open Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7 each year, and is almost here! This is an important time to review your current coverage and other options to make sure your Medicare coverage meets your needs for the year ahead. Any changes you make will take effect on January 1, 2026. What can you…
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Notices to Cigna Medigap Policyholders – What Do They Mean?
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By Bonnie Burns, Training and Policy Specialist CIGNA has sold its Medicare business to Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC). An insurance company named Medco Containment Life Insurance Company, or MCLIC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of HCSC and will be the new insurer for Cigna’s previous Medicare Supplement business. People with a Medigap policy originally issued by Cigna…
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CHA Supports Creating an Annual Right to Buy a Medigap Policy Regardless of Health Status or Age
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California Health Advocates is a proud co-sponsor of the Medigap Access and Protection Act (SB 242 – Blakespear). This bill would establish a 90-day annual open enrollment period for people enrolled in Medicare Part B, during which applications for Medicare supplement coverage would be accepted without discrimination based on health status or age. Our team…
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CHA Calls for Medigap Guaranteed Issue Rights when Providers Withdraw from Medicare Advantage Plans
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Bonnie Burns, Training and Policy Specialist with California Health Advocates, spearheaded a letter calling for a Medigap guaranteed issue right for beneficiaries when providers withdraw from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. As a long-time consumer representative with National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Burns and other consumer representatives sent this letter to NAIC’s Senior Issues Task…
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CHA Supports The Right to Medigap Coverage (SB 1236)
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California Health Advocates submitted a letter in strong support for SB 1236, which aims to establish a right to guaranteed issue Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) when Medicare patients experience life events necessitating a change in their health care coverage. It is unacceptable for a Medicare beneficiary to be denied a Medigap plan and consequently trapped…
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New Medigap Bill Would Create an Annual Enrollment opportunity with no health screenings
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Currently, opportunities for Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a Medigap policy without a health screening are few and far between. The main opportunity is when one first turns 65 and/or becomes eligible for Medicare, followed by other very specific and limited open enrollment and guaranteed issue rights corresponding to certain circumstances or life events. This…
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Tell Congress to Say Yes to Medicare Improvements ~ Now is the Time!
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In mid August, the Senate passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, followed by a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint reconciliation bill passed on party-lines that would make it possible to expand education, child care, climate change initiatives and health care, including many key improvements to Medicare. While the road ahead to passage could be arduous,…
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