September 22, 2022
IRTA
Central Management Services Highlights:
TRAIL Vendor Change
RFP process for TRAIL MAPD plans has finalized. Beginning January 1, 2023, the new sole medical and prescription drug plan will be the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan.
Beginning January 1, 2023, your new medical and prescription drug plan will be the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan. This new plan will replace your current plan, whether you’re currently enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare MAPD Plan or one of the MAPD HMO Plans (Aetna, Health Alliance, or Humana).
No action is required unless you want to opt out of the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan, add or remove dependents, or change dental/life coverage, if applicable. If you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) are currently covered under the UnitedHealthcare MAPD Plan or a MAPD HMO Plan, you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan with coverage beginning January 1, 2023.
To learn more about this change, click here.
TRAIL MAPD OPEN ENROLLMENT is November 1-30, 2022
September 20, 2022
IRTA Members,
Central Management Services (CMS) indicated that the current Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) contract with United Healthcare is set to expire on December 31, 2022. During this process, CMS chose to end the State’s relationship with United and chose Aetna to become the new, sole MAPD provider. Just like United Healthcare's MAPD plan, Aetna's plan will not include vision or dental. In addition, during this process, CMS chose to no longer provide an HMO option.
Under the new contract, premiums will decrease, while out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles will stay the same. Some aspects of the program may also change such as which drugs are formulary and which doctors are considered in network. Members should discuss these changes with their healthcare team to understand how if at all, these changes could affect them.
CMS also stated that no action will be required unless a participant wants to opt out of the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan. If you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) are currently covered under the United Healthcare MAPD Plan or a MAPD HMO Plan, you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan with coverage beginning January 1, 2023.
Sincerely,
Jim Bachman
IRTA Executive Director
September 14, 2022
IRTA Members,
The Illinois Retired Teachers Association would like to make our members aware that according to a recent article, Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO will be the sole insurer offered to Illinois retired state workers and retired teachers. This means that, in addition to removing United Healthcare, the State is also removing all HMO options from retired teachers. IRTA understands that in some areas, members will not be able to continue to see their current healthcare providers at the same cost.
The attached article makes it clear that this will be true in the Champaign area, but your area could be impacted as well. You may want to check with your healthcare providers about how the State’s decision to contract Aetna as the sole provider could impact your benefit.
Open enrollment for retirees has been pushed back to November 1st from the typical October 1st start date. The new plan will go into effect for enrollees January 1, 2023. Communication regarding the change will begin within the next couple of weeks. To read the full article, please click here.
Sincerely,
Jim Bachman
IRTA Executive Director
Note: Open enrollment for state retirees has been pushed back to Nov. 1 from the typical Oct. 1 start date. The new plan will go into effect for enrollees Jan. 1.
A Message from IRTA Executive Director Jim Bachman
To: Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) Eligible – Members
From: Jim Bachman, IRTA Executive Director
Re: Questions concerning TRAIL enrollment
As an individual who is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, your Annual TRAIL MAPD Open Enrollment Period will be held in the fall of each year. The TRAIL plan year is January 1 through December 31. The Open Enrollment Period is from October 15 – November 16.
Many enrollees have been calling the IRTA asking questions concerning the open enrollment process. Please read the information sent to you thoroughly.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• Materials sent to you from the TRIP - sponsored TRAIL MAPD plan administrators will feature the TRAIL logo.
• If you are currently enrolled in one of the TRAIL plans, your coverage will continue - you do not need to do anything unless you want to make a change.
You can download the guide on TRS’s website: click here
IRTA
Central Management Services Highlights:
TRAIL Vendor Change
RFP process for TRAIL MAPD plans has finalized. Beginning January 1, 2023, the new sole medical and prescription drug plan will be the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan.
- TRAIL MAPD Open Enrollment Period will run November 1 – November 30, 2022
- An email (shown below which links to the letter which will be mailed) was sent out to all members September 20 explaining the change
- No action is required unless the member needs to add/remove a dependent or wishes to opt out of the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan.
- Member elections go into effect January 1, 2023.
- Members will receive a welcome kit in the mail from Aetna with more information about the plan and will also receive new member ID cards, which can be used for medical and prescription drug services.
- TRAIL seminars will be in-person this year beginning November 1-18, 2022, except for the Nov. 8 and 11 state holidays. Dates and locations are still being finalized. This information should be available in early October and will be sent out to all members on a “save the date” mailer. CMS will provide Advisory Board members the listing of events once it is available.
- There will be three virtual high-level webinars beginning October 25-27. Members can attend these first and decide if they want or need to attend the live seminars in person.
Beginning January 1, 2023, your new medical and prescription drug plan will be the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan. This new plan will replace your current plan, whether you’re currently enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare MAPD Plan or one of the MAPD HMO Plans (Aetna, Health Alliance, or Humana).
No action is required unless you want to opt out of the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan, add or remove dependents, or change dental/life coverage, if applicable. If you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) are currently covered under the UnitedHealthcare MAPD Plan or a MAPD HMO Plan, you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan with coverage beginning January 1, 2023.
To learn more about this change, click here.
TRAIL MAPD OPEN ENROLLMENT is November 1-30, 2022
September 20, 2022
IRTA Members,
Central Management Services (CMS) indicated that the current Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) contract with United Healthcare is set to expire on December 31, 2022. During this process, CMS chose to end the State’s relationship with United and chose Aetna to become the new, sole MAPD provider. Just like United Healthcare's MAPD plan, Aetna's plan will not include vision or dental. In addition, during this process, CMS chose to no longer provide an HMO option.
Under the new contract, premiums will decrease, while out-of-pocket maximums and deductibles will stay the same. Some aspects of the program may also change such as which drugs are formulary and which doctors are considered in network. Members should discuss these changes with their healthcare team to understand how if at all, these changes could affect them.
CMS also stated that no action will be required unless a participant wants to opt out of the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan. If you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) are currently covered under the United Healthcare MAPD Plan or a MAPD HMO Plan, you and your Medicare-eligible dependent(s) will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan with coverage beginning January 1, 2023.
Sincerely,
Jim Bachman
IRTA Executive Director
September 14, 2022
IRTA Members,
The Illinois Retired Teachers Association would like to make our members aware that according to a recent article, Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO will be the sole insurer offered to Illinois retired state workers and retired teachers. This means that, in addition to removing United Healthcare, the State is also removing all HMO options from retired teachers. IRTA understands that in some areas, members will not be able to continue to see their current healthcare providers at the same cost.
The attached article makes it clear that this will be true in the Champaign area, but your area could be impacted as well. You may want to check with your healthcare providers about how the State’s decision to contract Aetna as the sole provider could impact your benefit.
Open enrollment for retirees has been pushed back to November 1st from the typical October 1st start date. The new plan will go into effect for enrollees January 1, 2023. Communication regarding the change will begin within the next couple of weeks. To read the full article, please click here.
Sincerely,
Jim Bachman
IRTA Executive Director
Note: Open enrollment for state retirees has been pushed back to Nov. 1 from the typical Oct. 1 start date. The new plan will go into effect for enrollees Jan. 1.
A Message from IRTA Executive Director Jim Bachman
To: Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) Eligible – Members
From: Jim Bachman, IRTA Executive Director
Re: Questions concerning TRAIL enrollment
As an individual who is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, your Annual TRAIL MAPD Open Enrollment Period will be held in the fall of each year. The TRAIL plan year is January 1 through December 31. The Open Enrollment Period is from October 15 – November 16.
Many enrollees have been calling the IRTA asking questions concerning the open enrollment process. Please read the information sent to you thoroughly.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• Materials sent to you from the TRIP - sponsored TRAIL MAPD plan administrators will feature the TRAIL logo.
• If you are currently enrolled in one of the TRAIL plans, your coverage will continue - you do not need to do anything unless you want to make a change.
You can download the guide on TRS’s website: click here
