CMS has granted a special Medicare enrollment period for individuals affected by the July contract disagreement between UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Providence, R.I.-based Brown University Health.
CMS determined that the removal of the system’s hospitals from UnitedHealth’s MA network was a significant network change, triggering the special period, according to a July 31 notice from the Rhode Island Attorney General.
UnitedHealth MA members who are assigned to, currently receive care from, or have received care from Brown within the past three months will be allowed to enroll in a new MA or Medigap plan, or transition to traditional Medicare, during a two calendar month window.
The special period begins the month that UnitedHealth notifies its enrollees.
