Independent Care Health Plan (iCare) H2237-001 (HMO D-SNP) won’t offer your Medicare plan in 2026. This means your coverage through iCare will end December 31, 2025 and you will need to choose how you want to get your health care and prescription drug coverage. Whichever choice you make, you will still have Medicare and Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) Medicaid benefits, including prescription drug coverage. If you don’t choose another prescription drug plan by December 31, 2025, Medicare will choose a new drug plan for you, and you’ll have health coverage through Original Medicare starting January 1, 2026.
Even if Medicare places you in Original Medicare and chooses a drug plan for you, you still have other opportunities to join a Medicare health or drug plan. Because this plan will no longer be available to you, and to provide you additional time to evaluate your options, you have a special opportunity to join a new plan any time until February 28, 2026. If you join a new Medicare plan AFTER December 31, your coverage in the new plan won’t start until the month after you join.
Your Wisconsin DHS (Medicaid) coverage won’t change. You will still get your Wisconsin DHS (Medicaid) coverage through your current Medicaid plan.
What do you need to do?
You need to choose how you want to get your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for 2026. Here are your options:
Option 1: Depending on where you live, you can join an integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). D-SNPs are a type of health plan designed specifically for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. If you choose to enroll in one of these plans, it will cover your Medicare and most or all of your Medicaid benefits, including prescription drugs. An integrated D-SNP may also cover additional services such as vision, dental services, and care coordination.
To find out which integrated D-SNPs are in your area call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Or visit Medicare.gov to choose a new plan. Make sure to select “Medicaid” when asked if you get help with your Medicare health or drug costs. If you join an integrated D-SNP AFTER December 31, your coverage in the new plan won’t start until the month after you join.
Option 2: You can join another Medicare Advantage health plan. Medicare health plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide benefits. Medicare health plans cover all services that Original Medicare covers and may offer extra coverage such as vision, hearing, or dental.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Or visit Medicare.gov to find out which Medicare health plans are in your area, or to choose a new Medicare health plan. The calls are free.
Option 3: You can change to Original Medicare. Original Medicare is coverage managed by the Federal Government. If you choose Original Medicare and don’t choose a prescription drug plan by December 31, Medicare will enroll you in a separate Medicare prescription drug plan. You will only be enrolled into the separate prescription drug plan if you don’t make another selection by December 31.
Important Information:
In general, you can change plans only at certain times during the year.
• From October 15 through December 7, anyone with Medicare can switch plans or return to Original Medicare. This includes adding or dropping Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year. You can make as many changes as you need during this period. Your last coverage choice will take effect on January 1, 2026.
• From January 1 through March 31, anyone enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (except a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plan) can switch plans or return to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan).
• In addition, because you have Medicaid, you can make certain changes to your Medicare coverage any month including:
o Disenrolling from a Medicare health plan and changing to Original Medicare by enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan,
o If you have coverage through Original Medicare, enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan or changing to a different Medicare drug plan if you already have one, or
o If eligible, enroll in an integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) that provides your Medicare and most or all of your Medicaid benefits and services in one plan.
There may be other situations when you are eligible to make a change to your enrollment. If you want to make a change, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). This toll-free help line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Your Wisconsin DHS (Medicaid) coverage will continue. For questions about Wisconsin DHS (Medicaid), contact 1-800-291-2002, TTY: 711, Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ask how joining another plan or returning to Original Medicare affects how you get your Wisconsin DHS (Medicaid) coverage.
If you have an employer or union group health plan, VA benefits, or TRICARE for Life, contact your insurer or benefits administrator. Ask how joining another plan or returning to Original Medicare affects your coverage.
How do you get help comparing Medicare Plans?
To get help comparing your options, you can:
• Visit Medicare.gov or refer to your Medicare & You handbook for a list of Medicare health and prescription drug plans in your area. You may also refer to the attached list of Medicare health and prescription drug plans in your area. If you want to join one of these plans, call the plan to get information about their costs, rules, and coverage.
• Call WI State Health Ins. Assist. Program (SHIP) at 1-800-242-1060 (TTY: 711), 24- hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, for free, personalized health insurance counseling.
• Call your State Ombudsman at 1-800-760-0001 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Representatives are available to answer your questions, discuss your needs, and give you information about your options. All counseling is free.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell them you got a letter saying your plan isn’t going to be offered next year and you want help choosing a new plan. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. The calls are free.
• Visit Medicare.gov. Medicare’s official website has tools that can help you compare plans and answer your questions. Click the “Find Plans Now” tab to compare the plans in your area.
If you need more information, please call us at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711), 24-hours-a-day, 7- days-a-week. Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tell the Customer Care representative you saw this notice.