Thank you to all of you that are fighting the COVID battle on the front lines. We can’t comprehend the stress, the workload and the emotional drain of watching patients suffer with this virus. We are trying to do our part to spread the message, and that is why we are so involved with the NHA/NHM effort to spread the information about the benefits of preventive measures. I am proud of the varied talents of our team and in this case it highlights the skills of our marketing group, Lindsay and Shea, who created eye-catching graphics and a website in little time. Know that we are supporting your message to stop the spread.
Also at this time we think about those patients we serve. For the senior population, the NHN has a contract with CMS for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) as well as five Medicare Advantage plans. In total, through these agreements, you are caring for approximately 50,000 seniors in value-based arrangements. Shortly after the election season, you probably heard the ads change from political to those promoting Medicare Advantage plans. That is because it is now open enrollment season for both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. The enrollment period ends Dec. 7, and resumes with a special Medicare Advantage open enrollment period from Jan. 1 to March 31. The NHN has a preferred Medicare Advantage network plan with Bright Health, and also Medicare Advantage agreements with Aetna, Blue Cross, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Seniors can work with their insurance broker to select plans that best fit their utilization profile.
Now is also the time for open enrollment for individual plans offered on the exchange – more commonly referred to as Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans or “Obamacare”. The enrollment period for 2021 ends on Dec. 15. The NHN has preferred network products with both exchange participants in Nebraska – Bright Health and Medica. If your patients are asking for suggestions, we are the preferred network for all of the Bright Health NHN plans and for the Elevate by Medica plan options. Elevate by Medica is also available in Iowa for exchange participants. For additional information on enrollment and these and other plan options, please visit HealthCare.gov.
Thank you for all you are doing in this stressful time. We hope to return to being able to see you at our in person dinner meetings next year. Have a blessed holiday season.
