Released: April 14, 2009

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces the Medicare WellCare Program has disenrolled 377 Private Fee for Service and/or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) policyholders in Louisiana as of April 1, 2009. These customers failed to pay their January 1, 2009 premiums and have not paid the premiums as of March 30, 2009.

“This is unfortunate for these policyholders since they will lose their health insurance or prescription drug insurance coverage until January 2010,” said Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon. “Impacted individuals will now pay full price for their prescription drugs. Wellcare notified these recipients at least nine times and conducted outreach to pharmacies used by these members regarding their potential disenrollment without a successful response from the individuals.”

Most individuals who have been disenrolled from this Private Fee for Service and/or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) will not be eligible to enroll in another Medicare Advantage and/or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) until the annual enrollment period is offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this November 15 through December 31, 2009, with an effective date of January 1, 2010.

However, if these individuals have a change in their income status and become eligible for a low-income subsidy, or if they are now eligible for a low-income subsidy, they can enroll in another Medicare Advantage and/or Prescription Drug Plan now or at any time.

If anyone has questions regarding the disenrollment of WellCare customers due to non-payment of premiums, they should call the Department of Insurance SHIIP program at 1-800-259-5301, option 2, or WellCare at 1-888-423-5252.