MORRIS, IL – The open enrollment deadline for the State of Illinois’s new retiree healthcare program — Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) — is approaching this Friday, December 13. According to State Senator Sue Rezin, there may be a misunderstanding about provider options for individuals covered under the TRAIL plan who choose the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan, the only option for residents of Grundy, LaSalle and Putnam counties.
“I’ve had several calls to my office from individuals who are concerned about the limited number of providers they are seeing listed in the network for the United Healthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO option,” says Senator Rezin. “The enrollment booklet states that if you enroll in the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan, you can see any provider in the nation who accepts payment from Medicare and that the provider does not have to be in the UHC network.”
According to Rezin, the majority of physicians and hospitals in Illinois and across the nation accept payment from Medicare, including all hospitals in her jurisdiction. That includes Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers.
“It’s important to understand that there are many options beyond the providers listed in the UHC Group Medicare Advantage PPO network,” says Rezin. “Further, when you receive out-of-network care, the PPO plan pays providers the same amount Medicare would have paid, and you pay the same out-of-pocket percentage as if you had received in-network care. There is no additional cost”
Two legislative aides from Sen. Rezin’s district office will be at Morris City Hall on Thursday, December 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to assist with the enrollment process. From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., representatives from CMS will be on a phone line to assist with the process and answer questions as well.
CMS has requested and encourages those people who plan on stopping by Morris City Hall on December 12 to watch the TRAIL Informational Seminar video at www.benefitschoice.il.gov. Click on the TRAIL – Medicare Advantage program once there. The web seminar is very helpful and goes through each step of the enrollment form.
Rezin says the open enrollment form must be postmarked by Friday, December 13, 2013 to have state-sponsored retiree healthcare coverage after January 31, 2014.
Questions about the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan can be directed to UnitedHealthcare’s customer service number, 888-223-1092 or Senator Rezin’s office 815-220-8720.