Minnesota Anoka County HealthPartners MA- Delay in open enrollment forms sent out

I apologize in advance, this might get a bit lengthy. But, I may not be the only person in this position, so hopefully it wil help someone who has been putting off posting.

I have been waiting forever to receive the annual open enrollment form to switch out my current health insurance that I've been on for the last 3 years (HealthPartners MA), because it no longer will have most of my important doctors (Cardiologist, Vascular Surgeon, etc) in-network – not to mention, I've had major issues with HealthPartners MA with scheduling, etc.

HealthPartners was great in the beginning, and then something happened, and I was told there was a "Special Guideline" tag added to my account that only schedulers and (eventually, HealthPartners) could see.

From that point forward, any time I would attempt to schedule an appointment with my Primary doctor, I was told they weren't able to – that I wasn't allowed to go to that clinic. I was also informed, through trying to schedule elsewhere, that I was not able to, due to this tag on my account…even to a clinic that was 2 blocks away, that I had other family members on the same medical insurance attending. The schedulers would tell me they could only schedule me for clinics that were 30+ minutes away in Wyoming, MN – Chisago, MN – North Branch, MN, etc.! I live in Fridley (Anoka County).

Moving forward – HealthPartners eventually admitted they didn't understand why this was attached to my account, and they would send it to their "higher ups", because they were just contractors (what the heck?)…and in the meantime, just tell the schedulers to "override the block" and "schedule the appointments I needed to make" – which is what I have been having to do ever since this tag was added to my account.

I also explained to HealthPartners that I have never encountered any issues – no emails, no claims, no mail, no calls, nothing that made anything seem amiss or wrong, up until that tag was added. I was able to schedule any appointment in a breeze, no questions asked.

It made no sense and I am still experiencing this issue. It has now been at the very minimum, 8 months, with no relief – and I am BEYOND FRUSTRATED AND OVER IT!

I have called the DHS, I've called the EZ info line, I've called Managed Care, as well. I have not heard anything from HealthPartners on what has happened, either.

I have ended up literally arguing with schedulers about setting appointments, and I'm not the type of person who enjoys arguing, not to mention, due to my heart problems, I'm not supposed to be under duress. I am a patient, understanding person who knows this is not the schedulers fault…and I have had to state that to them, several times. They are just following protocol.

I am SO upset about this – and NOW, we aren't receiving our open enrollment forms in a timely manner. I can not wait to switch, and solve all these issues once and for all. It is BEYOND stressful, since I have to see doctors on a regular – sometimes weekly, basis, as I have Coronary Artery Disease, Periphreal Artery Disease, Diabetes Type 2, High BP, High Cholesterol, etc. I am also currently receiving weekly B12 injections due to cognitive issues and medication side effects. And I'm not what anyone would call "senior or elderly" – I'm 57 years old and have (most) of my mind left, thankfully. I have a lengthy background in the Nursing area as well – so, I am also educated and do know a bit about how people should be treated – in a HUMANE way, and by law.

My questions:

1. Has anyone out there in Medicaid-land experienced anything like this?

2. Does anyone know, if the annual open enrollment deadline is December 15th, if it will be extended?

3. If we are supposed to "prepare" to choose a new plan, how we are supposed to do so if all these MA insurance plans are being changed and rearranged, and DHS doesn't even know what's going on?

4. How are we supposed to "prepare" and call our current doctor clinics and ask them what MA insurance plans they'll be accepting, if the insurance plans aren't yet sorted properly? Can the clinics even confidently give me (you, etc) correct information in order to make an informed decesion when it's time to put pen to paper and choose a new healthplan??

If anyone…ANYONE has ANY answers, even the tiniest bit of info…PLEASE, for the love of God…comment. I am at a complete loss and I'm not getting answers from the people who should have the answers. It is a HOT MESS!

Thank you so much, have a good day everyone. Hang in there!