Dear Neighbors,
I hope you were able to stay warm during this cold spell coupled with a very strong wind. There are some important dates coming up so I wanted to share some relevant information with you all.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment ends this Saturday, December 7th. This year, it’s more important than ever to explore your options and confirm that your healthcare providers are “in network” and your drugs are “on formulary”.
There’s been a lot in the news lately about large hospital systems dropping out of Medicare plans from for-profit insurers because of delays in payments and claim denials. You’ll want to check to make sure that your doctors are still “in network” for next year. (Note: I’m drafting a bill that would require health insurers to provide information about claim denial rates to the MN Department of Health.)
In general, Medicare drug coverage has improved this year; however, it’s more likely than usual that there will be changes to your current plan’s “formulary” of covered medications. You’ll want to double-check to make sure that your current prescriptions will still be covered by your plan in 2025. This year, the out-of-pocket maximum for drugs is $2,000 and you can spread your payments evenly across the year.
I strongly recommend the use of Medicare’s excellent Medicare.gov comparison shopping tool. For 2025 I found a Medicare Advantage plan from a non-profit Minnesota insurer with a zero dollar monthly premium, free primary care and a $3,700 maximum in-network out of pocket cost. Dental, vision, and audio are all covered. All my providers and drugs are covered.
If you’re still pondering the choice between a Medicare Supplement Plan (aka Medigap) or Medicare Advantage, my general rule is to choose a Medigap plan if you have an expensive chronic condition (or a genetic predisposition to acquiring one). Otherwise, a Medicare Advantage plan will usually be a better value. In some states, Medicare Advantage plans have very limited provider networks, but Minnesota Medicare Advantage plans tend to have very broad networks. However, be sure to be thorough in your own research and assessment of your individual health and finance needs, as this general rule does not apply perfectly to every unique situation.
Data Privacy
There was an alarming story in the Minnesota Star Tribune, this morning, about data privacy abuses by large data brokers. You will be at least a little reassured to learn that we passed my Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act last year. When it goes into effect in July, many of the abuses described in the story will be prohibited.
You will have the right to know what data a company has about you, to obtain a copy and to have it corrected or deleted. Companies will be limited to collecting only the data that they need to do business with you, and to delete it once they no longer need it to service your account. They will be unable to sell sensitive personal information about you without your advance permission, and you will be able to opt-out of having your data used to target advertising to you. Also, data brokers will be prohibited from tying anonymous data back to you.
If your data is used to make important decisions about you related to employment, housing, insurance, etc. you will have the right to question the data and processes used to profile you, and to demand corrections if there are errors. You may also demand that they stop profiling you, at all.
Minnesota is now one of 19 states that have laws like this. Other states are even starting to copy some of the unique provisions in our new law. Last month, I was honored to receive the Minnesota Technology Association’s Tekne Award for Public Service for my work getting this bill passed (it took me five years.) Tomorrow, I will receive an Innovation award from TechNet, a national technology trade group for the exemplary way that I went out engaging with stakeholders as I developed the bill.
I’m happy to receive this recognition, but I’m even more grateful that we live in a state where this kind of important legislation can be passed.
Keep in Touch
Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance. Please follow me on my Facebook page for further updates and invite your friends and family to do so as well.
Thanks for the honor of representing you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Steve Elkins
Representative, District 50B
Minnesota House of Representatives
rep.steve.elkins@house.mn.gov