Blessing Health to be host of multiple Medicare informational sessions beginning Oct. 15

QUINCY — Blessing Health is the host of a series of free Medicare informational sessions across the region during October to help seniors better understand their options for the annual national Medicare open enrollment period from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

Blessing is modifying its approach to Medicare Advantage Plans, accepting a select group of plans effective Jan. 1. 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.

A growing number of health systems and hospitals nationwide 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 on July 23 states 15 health systems dropped all or some of their Medicare Advantage plans during the first six months of the year. Providers say the reasons for dropping the plans are delays in patient care 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, will attend the informational sessions 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 any of the following sessions at any time:

• Oct. 15, 3-6 p.m. at the Blessing Resource Center, 420 N. 34th, Quincy
• Oct. 16, noon-2 p.m. at the Blessing Mt. Sterling Clinic
• Oct. 22, noon-2 p.m. at the Illini Rural Health Clinic
• Oct. 23, 3-6 p.m. at the Blessing Resource Center in Quincy
• Oct. 29, noon-2 p.m. at the Blessing Health Palmyra Clinic
• Oct. 30, noon-2 p.m. at Blessing Health Hannibal
• Nov. 6, noon-2 p.m. at Blessing Health Hamilton Warsaw Clinic

Patients 64 years and older who had an appointment with Blessing Health during 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 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to speak with a certified counselor.