Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Clark Fork Valley Hospital (CFVH) and Humana have come to an agreement to offer a Medicare Advantage Program in 2018. With that, CFVH and its Family Medicine Network offices and providers will be listed as a participating healthcare facility. The contract is retroactive to January 1.

Medicare enrollees had until February 1 to choose a primary care provider. “We learned that Humana Medicare was being marketed to Sanders County residents, despite the fact that CFVH was not a participating provider with them,” Carla Neiman, CFVH Chief Financial Officer, wrote in a statement.

In October 2017, CFVH was informed that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana would not be offering Medicare Advantage plans in Sanders County. “That left many BCBS subscribers with very limited options for a Medicare plan in 2018,” Neiman said.

“If you are a Humana Medicare enrollee who was assigned a Primary Care provider outside Sanders County, you will now be able to choose a CFVH provider to manage your care,” according to Neiman. “We are in the process of inquiring about the procedure to make that change.”

Humana was not the only option for supplemental plans for area seniors. Neiman said earlier this year that seniors can enroll in traditional Medicare, which includes a Part B premium, copays and deductibles. Medicare supplements are also an option for seniors. Supplements cover the coinsurance and deductibles that Medicare does not pay.

If seniors cannot afford a Medicare supplement plan, the CFVH Financial Assistance Program is another option. The program covers up to 100% of the balance after Medicare, depending on income. Other state programs are also available, and the Agency on Aging can provide more information about those programs.