Medicare Takes Action Against Aetna Insurance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that, effective April 21, 2010, Aetna Insurance Company is prevented from marketing to and enrolling new Medicare beneficiaries until further notice. Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson has advised Ohio Medicare beneficiaries that this recent action taken against Aetna Insurance Company does not impact subscribers currently enrolled in Aetna Medicare plans.

According to CMS, Aetna was served with the notice because it improperly administered the Medicare drug benefit in the plan’s national stand alone Part D prescription drug plan and its 25 Medicare Advantage prescription drug contracts.

Plan members who may have concerns or any difficulties with their current Aetna coverage should call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Beneficiaries can also contact the Department’s Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) toll-free hotline at 1-800-686-1578 for Medicare information, which is also available on the Department’s web site, www.insurance.ohio.gov