Anyone find it odd that open enrollment starts on November 2nd and we won’t even be able to see what the options are until OcT 26? Also- if your zip code is within ten miles of a “marathon health” clinic and you don’t go there- your copay will be at LEAST $100. The benefits site is up for 2027 but the “build your medical plan tool” won’t be up until 10/26. It’s going to be very bad….
28 replies (most recent on top)
Anyone have the EPO this year? Turning into Reach Broad Network plan next year. If so can you see in network out of your home area (ooa)providers?
Elevance Health does NOT own Marathon Health.
@OP I feel like this is a soft layoff in disguise. Make them mad and they will leave.
@1g3 I used Marathon a couple times this past year when I had to go into the office once a week. I lived exactly 10 miles away at the time. The Annual lab test includes HIV testing which I thought was weird since my PCP didn't do that, but this was Atlanta, sooo maybe that is why the test is on the profile. I do like the NP there. Probaly will use it to save money for real this time. I do not have $100 to throw away when I am not actually sick.
@OP I looked at the Marathon appointment options near my massive pulse point and you cannot see an actual doctor/ MD. You can only see a NP/PA. So every time I want to see a MD I’m going to risk being misdiagnosed by a NP/PA who will refer me to a specialist? How can you not even offer appointments with an actual MD?? Bonus points, have another MD order labs at Marathon because every thing you have ever wanted to test is covered for $0 but you better never need to see an MD at this COMPANY owned clinic.
It is unclear what the differences are between the 3 HSA plans. It seems like one may have higher monthly premiums because it allows you to visit providers not in the network.
@vb Ps. I just hope she doesn’t charge me copays. Just kidding! Lol
I think maybe I am going to bypass health insurance altogether and go straight to the source and marry a Medical Doctor, preferably an attractive one.
When checking for your providers to see if they're in network, it checks against their current network status. Some providers may not renew for 2027. There are huge doctor groups and facility systems in my region whose contracts have not been signed for next year. There are notifications posted at their offices and facilities about the possibility of being out of network with Anthem in 2027.
Has anyone found decent medical coverage with other insurers that allows you to stay within your current provider network instead of being forced to use Marathon? If yes, please share because I am shopping around myself. How terrible to be working for an insurer and being forced to shop externally for coverage to stay with your current providers.....
@t3 I hope more and more seniors, especially those who’s medicare plans were exited will make the switch over to Traditional (Original) Medicare coupled with Medigap (Supplemental) and a Part D plan.
When seniors Medicare Advantage plans os exited, it frees up the senior from not having to undergo the strenuous underwriting for Medigap.
Anyway, I hope lots of seniors take advantage of this gift opportunity.
@qv if they shorten the time you get to review it you make the decision they want you to make to enrich them once again. Went to a Medicare seminar yesterday as retirement is right around the corner - not one person in the room of at least 40 people were planning on signing up with this place , no one had a positive thing to say - some were there because they had this and were looking to switch.
Why can we not see rates either? Having to wait until 10/26 is crazy.
So much fake transparency-
@hp Glad people are starting to see this.
To use an analogy, you have all heard of the “phone trees” that were purposefully designed to make it more difficult for customers to get an answer to their questions and more difficult to get hold of a human being.
Well, what we are now seeing with healthcare, due to the major influx of major private equity firms, is what I will term the “healthcare tree,” which is designed to make it more challenging and difficult for patients (members) to receive care. Which, in turn, will lead to growing manifestations of deteriorating health conditions that could have been otherwise avoided.
This completely wrecks the philosophy of a medical home. We always highlight the importance to members of sticking with one organization for collaboration of care yet we as associates/members are now essentially being punished by having to do more if we want to continue with that. Whoever said this is going to backfire and cost more, for the patient, doctor, and organization is completely right. People will delay care, issues will build and build and by the time care is sought more than a PCP will be needed. It is disgusting that someone somewhere thought this was a good idea.
Just tell us you want us closer to an office without telling us.
It’s private equity owned, so expect to get the subway treatment.
@OP No, I don't find it odd that open enrollment starts on November 2nd and we won’t even be able to see what the options are until OcT 26 -- I find it stupid and negligent. Giving associates only one week prior to the start of open enrollment to evaluate costs is ridiculous. There has to be some reason behind the decision that benefits the company.
They have been holding meetings and creating videos since August to basically warn us that the offerings are going to be ugly, so they obviously have known the costs for a while. Going out of their way to hold back the only actionable information all that time is lousy way to treat your "valued" associates. But then, this is Elevance Health HR that we're talking about...
They are going to charge us more for a PCP visit than a specialist visit? People are just going to wait until they get more sick and need a specialist but first make a stop at an urgent care or the ER. That doesn't sound like a way to bring down healthcare costs.
Jokes on them - I already go to Marathon Health. But jokes on me, because in another year or two, they’ll take Marathon’s membership base and force us over to Apree. Easier to move after consolidation; Marathon is just a stepping stone.
They are removing the AFLAC voluntary insurance options.
@OP I left a few months ago - but this caught my attention - can someone d-mb down what is this about - does it replace me going to the same MD team I have been going to for 20 yrs. Does that include all specialists like GYN, Derm, etc Do they have access and communicate with my primary -
I am so glad I am gone but still interested in what this cr-p is about
Liberace hasn’t been this happy since he announced the Skillth Academy!
Elevance and other healthcare companies don’t realize they are going to sc--w themselves in the long run. When working people decide health insurance is too expensive and start going without, then who will be customers? This is unsustainable. We all have a point where the expense is just to great to justify health insurance.
@a8 It is really a shame employees don’t have more control. Seems like there would be something we could do yo gain a little power. If not for ourselves, then at least for future generations. I don’t know, maybe something like trying to start a Union might be the answer.
YEAH, maybe a UNION!!!
Yeah, really seems like health insurance is turning into a profiteering racket, huh?
Like, give us your premium dollars but no expecty any help for your health!
The doc at my Marathon Health is cr-ppy. He won't run tests. He sends me to a specialist so he can run the test. I guess he wants to keep his costs down. He either won't give me a prescription or gives me the bare minimum which results in me being sicker a lot longer and or have to go back for another office visit.