During a recent government meeting, discussions centered around potential changes to Medicare Advantage plans, particularly concerning the transition from Humana to Blue Cross Blue Shield. A key participant expressed concern about altering the current plan for existing beneficiaries, specifically mentioning a retiree named Miss Daphne, who has already moved to a Medicare plan.

The conversation highlighted a proposed switch to Blue Cross Blue Shield, which could yield significant savings—$5.9 million compared to $3.4 million with Humana. However, it was noted that the Humana plan offers richer benefits than the Blue Cross option, raising questions about the implications of such a change for current enrollees.

Participants debated the feasibility of offering both plans simultaneously. While there was no legal barrier identified that would prevent the offering of two Medicare Advantage plans, concerns were raised about underwriting and business decisions by insurers. The consensus leaned towards the idea that insurers might not allow two plans to coexist due to complexities in underwriting for different populations.

The discussion concluded with a suggestion to revisit underwriting options to explore the possibility of offering both plans, although skepticism remained about the likelihood of approval from insurance carriers. The meeting underscored the delicate balance between cost savings and maintaining quality benefits for retirees.