<div>Changes are coming for many Winona County residents on Medicare Advantage plans. The number of Medicare Advantage plans, aka Medicare Part C, offered in Winona County will be cut roughly in half next year, and Gundersen Health System’s Winona clinic is not in-network for any of them. It’s part of a broader shakeup, with multiple insurance companies cutting back on where they offer Advantage plans in Minnesota, citing financial challenges. These changes mean that many older adults in the area will need to change health plans, and some may have to consider changing doctors. At the same time, these shifts present opportunities for some customers, and advice on navigating Medicare is available.Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, funded in part by payroll taxes. Medicare Advantage, aka Medicare Part C, is an alternative offered by private companies in partnership with the federal government. Advantage plans often come with additional benefits, and they include an out-of-pocket maximum, meaning they may be the most cost effective for people who require more health care. Winona County residents will have fewer options next year, however.The Minneapolis-based nonprofit UCare is no longer offering Medicare Advantage plans anywhere in Minnesota. One of the nation’s largest insurers, United Healthcare, is pulling its Advantage plans in Winona County and, the Star Tribune reports, dozens of other counties. Finally, Gundersen affiliate Quartz Benefits won’t offer Advantage plans in Winona or Olmsted counties next year, according to Medicare.gov. In all, 23 Medicare Advantage plans were available in Winona County last year, and 12 will be next year.“I would say at least 75%, if not more, of the people that Lori and I help who are on Advantage plans have UCare or Quartz, so that’s a real kick in the teeth,” said city of Winona Senior Advocate Marité Olmstead.Many residents will need to find a new plan. The open enrollment period for choosing one began on October 15 and runs through December 7.Why are these changes happening? United Healthcare said that higher health costs, higher health care utilization rates, and cuts to federal funding contributed to its decision to scale back where its Advantage plans are available. In an announcement on the organization’s website, UCare officials wrote, “UCare's Medicare Advantage products have been experiencing significant financial losses due to rising medical and pharmacy costs that are impacting health plans nationwide. In light of this, we have made a number of difficult decisions that are essential to ensure UCare's financial stability. Unfortunately, keeping these Medicare Advantage products open was not sustainable.”Quartz spokesperson Myranda Tanck wrote, “After an extensive review, we made the difficult decision to withdraw our Medicare Advantage product ... where we determined we could not maintain a competitive offering.”In addition to Advantage plans being cut, provider networks are narrowing in some cases. With Quartz no longer offering a Medicare Advantage plan in Winona County, Gundersen’s Winona clinic will be out of network for all 12 of the 2026 Advantage plans on the market in Winona. Additionally, the Star Tribune reported that the Mayo Clinic’s Rochester location will no longer be in-network for United Healthcare and Humana plans, with Humana citing Mayo’s high prices.That means some patients may have to consider either changing doctors or switching to an entirely different kind of health coverage if they want to avoid out-of-network costs.The loss of plans does create an opportunity for some customers. Winona Senior Advocate Lori Paulson said that people whose Medicare Advantage plans are ending will have a unique opportunity to apply for a different kind of Medicare plan, Medigap, without being screened for preexisting medical conditions. The ability to enroll regardless of preexisting conditions is called “guaranteed issue.” Medigap, aka Medicare Supplement, is an add-on that provides fuller coverage; however, Paulson said that enrollees normally only get one chance in their lifetimes to sign up without being screened. “That’s why it’s so valuable right now,” she said. “When a plan leaves the marketplace … [those customers] get guaranteed-issued.” It’s rare for a plan to leave the marketplace, making the current six-month guaranteed issue period a valuable opportunity for those interested in Medigap coverage.Olmstead and Paulson help Winona area residents navigate Medicare and other services for older adults, and every year, their schedules are packed for open enrollment season. This year is something else, though. With so many people having questions about their options, the two organized a series of information sessions to provide guidance en masse. Those events are already full for in-person attendance, but those interested in attending can still participate via videoconference or attend in-person “watch sessions” to view recordings of the info sessions.The info sessions will be held on:<ul><li>Tuesday, October 28</li><li>Thursday, October 30</li><li>Thursday, November 6</li><li>Thursday, November 20</li></ul>The videoconferences will be held over Microsoft Teams. Links to the videoconferences are available on Microsoft Teams, a free app for computers and smartphones. The meeting ID and password for each info session are available on the Winona Park and Recreation Department’s Facebook page under events. The department is also hosting primers on how to use Microsoft Teams at the East Recreation Center on Thursday, October 23, at 2 p.m., and Friday, October 24, at 8:30 a.m. “If possible, please bring the device that you plan to utilize,” city staff advised.Alternatively, residents can simply come to the East Recreation Center to watch a recording of an info session on Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m., and Thursdays at 1:30 p.m., beginning on October 27. No replays will be held on November 11 or November 27.The senior advocates said their schedules are booked solid through the end of open enrollment, but encouraged residents to take advantage of the info sessions, pick up a packet of frequently asked questions from city hall, or consider reaching out to the Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly known as the Senior Linkage) at 800-333-2433 on weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or to insurance agents. Aging Pathways also has some guidance on Medicare open enrollment on its website, mn.gov/aging-pathways.</div>

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Changes are coming for many Winona County residents on Medicare Advantage plans. The number of Medicare Advantage plans, aka Medicare Part C, offered in Winona County will be cut roughly in half next year, and Gundersen Health System’s Winona clinic is not in-network for any of them. It’s part of a broader shakeup, with multiple insurance companies cutting back on where they offer Advantage plans in Minnesota, citing financial challenges. These changes mean that many older adults in the area will need to change health plans, and some may have to consider changing doctors. At the same time, these shifts present opportunities for some customers, and advice on navigating Medicare is available.

Local Medicare Advantage options shrinking

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Changes are coming for many Winona County residents on Medicare Advantage plans. The number of Medicare Advantage plans, aka Medicare Part C, offered in Wi

Local Medicare Advantage options shrinking

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