Moffitt Experts Help You Navigate Health Insurance Open Enrollment

Moffitt Cancer Center recently hosted a webinar about health insurance open enrollment for patients, featuring experts from Moffitt’s Financial Clearance Unit. The session offered valuable insights for patients and community members on selecting the right insurance plans, understanding prescription coverage and navigating recent changes to Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans.

During the webinar, the experts shared advice on choosing insurance plans. “If you’re receiving insurance through your employer, the process can be easier because the options are more straightforward,” said Javier Gonzalez, Financial Clearance Unit supervisor. “However, if you’re exploring insurance on your own, I strongly recommend using the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.”

When choosing a plan, carefully consider individual health care needs. If someone does not need frequent care, they may benefit from a plan with lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. For those with ongoing health care needs, a plan with higher premiums but better coverage may be a more cost-effective option in the long run.

A major point discussed was the difference between health insurance and prescription drug coverage.

“Health insurance and prescription drug coverage are usually two separate entities. Prescription coverage, especially for Medicare beneficiaries, may or may not be bundled with a Medicare Advantage plan,” said Yoanndra Perez, Financial Clearance Unit insurance navigator. “Patients should contact their insurance companies with a list of their current medications to see which drugs are covered and compare costs across different plans.”

The webinar also highlighted that Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans will no longer be in-network with Moffitt Cancer Center starting Jan. 1, 2025. This means that patients with these plans will need to change their coverage if they want to continue receiving care at Moffitt. This change applies only to Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans and does not affect other types of Florida Blue insurance, like commercial or marketplace plans.

If you need guidance during this enrollment period, please reach out to Moffitt’s Financial Clearance Unit at FCUinsuranceNavigator@Moffitt.org or call 813-745-7300.

“We are here to help you make the best decisions for your health care,” Gonzalez said. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support.”

The full webinar replay is available below.