Blessing Health is hosting a series of free, Medicare informational sessions across the region during October to help area seniors better understand their options for the annual national Medicare Open Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2024.

Blessing is modifying its approach to Medicare Advantage Plans, accepting a select group of plans effective January 1, 2025. Blessing Health clinics and doctors in Illinois and Missouri, and its two hospitals, will continue participation in Traditional Medicare, BlueCross Blue Shield of Illinois Medicare Advantage, Molina Medicare Advantage, Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (trail), and United HealthCare Medicare Advantage. Blessing will not be considered in-network with any other Medicare Advantage plans. 

Nationwide, a growing number of health systems and hospitals are either ending their participation in all Medicare Advantage plans, or limiting their partners as Blessing Health is doing. A Becker’s Hospital Review article dated, July 23, 2024, states 15 health systems dropped all or some of their Medicare Advantage plans during the first six months of the year. Blessing and other hospitals say the reasons for dropping or limiting Medicare Advantage plans include patient care being delayed due to some Medicare Advantage plans’ pre-authorization process, denial rates and inability to approve needed care. Specifically, some plans apply more stringent medical necessity criteria than traditional Medicare. These factors can limit patient access to timely care.

Certified staff, trained through the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), will attend the informational sessions hosted by Blessing Health to help seniors and their caregivers understand the benefits and limitations of traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans in which Blessing will participate during 2025.

No reservations are required for the free sessions. Seniors are welcome to visit a session at any time between the hours listed below: 

  • October 15, 3-6 pm at the Blessing Resource Center, 420 N. 34th Street, Quincy
  • October 16, Noon-2 pm at the Blessing Mt. Sterling Clinic
  • October 22, Noon-2 pm at the Illini Rural Health Clinic 
  • October 23, 3-6 pm at the Blessing Resource Center in Quincy
  • October 29, Noon-2 pm at the Blessing Health Palmyra Clinic 
  • October 30, Noon-2 pm at Blessing Health Hannibal
  • November 6, Noon-2 pm at Blessing Health Hamilton Warsaw Clinic
  •  November 8, Noon-2 pm at East Adams Clinic, Golden, Illinois

Patients 64 years and older who had an appointment with Blessing Health over the past year will receive information in the mail regarding Medicare Advantage plans accepted at Blessing Health in 2025. People with additional Medicare questions should call the Blessing Resource Center at 217-277-5000, Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, to speak with a certified counselor.