Valley insurance cuts Medicare Advantage

Rachel Sun, Lewiston Tribune, IdahoLewiston Morning Tribune

Oct. 9--Some seniors in the area will lose access to Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 after insurance providers including Regence Blueshield and BlueCross of Idaho pulled their plans.

That's a big deal in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, where almost 30% of adults older than 20 are seniors.

Medicare Advantage is health insurance for seniors approved by Medicare. It's offered by private companies.

Benefits like prescription drug coverage, dental and eye care are not offered under traditional Medicare. But they are available on MedAdvantage plans. Those are often cheaper than Medicare Supplement plans.

Insurance brokers say insurance providers' decisions to no longer offer the plans comes down to money.

"This inflationary period hit, they also got stuck with a situation by law, (insurers) couldn't raise the rates high enough," said Rick Woods, an insurance broker based in Lewiston. " If they can't keep it in the black, there's no reason for 'em to keep going."

Since Oct. 1, Woods has met with more than 600 clients affected by the MedAdvantage cuts to explain their options.

" It's kind of all hands on deck," he said. "I got some of my employees that had retired, I got 'em to come back. I had my wife there helping out."

Tim Gleason, an agent with American Insurance, said he's also been holding group meetings with affected customers.

"Our big concern is all these people on social security, on a fixed income. Going from $22 (for MedAdvantage) to $200 (for a Medicare Supplement plan)," he said. "That's gonna be a major hit."

MedAdvantage customers in Nez Perce and Asotin counties paid anywhere from $22 to around $100 per month for their plans in 2025, Woods said. Those plans were also pulled from neighboring Latah County.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

There are a few MedAdvantage plans available in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, but few local brokers are selling them, Woods said.

Woods' office is offering one MedAdvantage plan in Asotin County, he said, as well as Medicare Supplement and prescription drug plans for clients in both states.

"We tried to pick plans that were good companies that we're comfortable with. Same with the prescription drug plans," he said.

Woods said the cost of comparable coverage through Medicare Supplement plans and prescription drug plans will vary depending on the individual and their needs. That could include buying standalone vision, dental and drug plans.

Gleason said because of how complicated insurance policies are, he recommends people go to an insurance broker. Brokers don't charge clients, but are paid a commission by the insurance company whose policies they sell.

"Those people that are out there on their own, I would encourage 'em to call my office or Rick (Wood)'s office and get into one of our meetings," Gleason said.

If someone does choose to shop for coverage on their own, Woods said, they should proceed with caution and make sure they understand what they're signing up for. Not all plans will cover all health care providers or treatments.

"If they're doing this on their own, they need to be really careful," Woods said.

He said it's important for any patients who had MedAdvantage plans this year to evaluate their options now and plan what they want to do.

For Medicare plans, the annual election period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, with coverage beginning Jan. 1.

Sun may be contacted at [email protected] or on X @Rachel_M_Sun. This report is made in partnership with Northwest Public Broadcasting, the Lewiston Tribune and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.