What Your Patients Need to Know for Medicare Open Enrollment

 

The annual Medicare open enrollment period runs October 15 to December 7 this year, giving adults ages 65 and older the opportunity to review and possibly change their healthcare coverage.

These changes may affect some of your patients access to care in 2027. Many individual Medicare Advantage plans are changing benefits, provider networks and coverage options for next year, making it imperative that patients review their coverage carefully during the Open Enrollment period.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center continues to participate in Original Medicare and Medicaid programs and will remain in-network for several individual Medicare Advantage plans offered by insurers throughout the region.

Importantly, there have been no changes to Roswell Park’s participation status with non-Medicare commercial and employer plans. Roswell Park also remains in-network with most group retiree plans.

Roswell Park remains committed to caring for all patients and getting them the care they need and deserve. If a patient loses in-network access to Roswell Park, out-of-network authorizations might be available, and continuity of care rules allow certain patients currently in active treatment to continue receiving care at an out-of-network provider for a certain amount of time into the new year.

We understand that insurance decisions can be complex, particularly for patients navigating a cancer diagnosis or ongoing treatment. These dedicated Medicare Open Enrollment resources are available to patients:

• Website: Roswellpark.org/medicare
• Support phone line: 716-845-8760

We value the partnership with you and remain committed to ensuring that insurance changes do not create unnecessary barriers to timely cancer care. Our teams will work closely with you and your patients to help navigate coverage questions, coordinate care, request out-of-network authorizations, and support continuity of treatment whenever possible.

We appreciate your continued trust in Roswell Park and your partnership in caring for patients throughout Western New York and beyond. If you have questions about a specific patient or referral, please contact our Physician Referral Office at 716-845-7763.