KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Nearly 14,000 East Tennessee seniors could be dropped by their BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee insurance providers unless they re-enroll in their Medicare advantage plan by the end of the year, a spokesperson told 10News.
An "error" with one of the company's BlueAdvantage Sapphire plans resulted in 13,901 members in 16 East Tennessee counties set to lose coverage, spokesperson Alison Sexter said.
"This issue was the result of internal error, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure it doesn’t happen again," she said.
Medicare plans are traditionally mostly utilized by senior citizens and some people with disabilities.
Gwen Mulholland said she and her husband got a letter a few weeks before saying they would need to re-enroll.
"They sent out their annual as long as you want to keep this plan you're good to go," said Mulholland.
Then, she said they got the second letter.
"It even confused me, because I'm thinking you're automatically enrolled," said Mulholland.
The company sent a letter to impacted members on October 30 and plans several in-person enrollment meetings over the coming weeks to help them re-enroll, Sexter said.
The mistake impacted members of the plan in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties, Sexter said.
Affected members can call 1-800-292-5146 and ask to re-enroll in the BlueAdvantage Sapphire East plan, or visit the company's website.
"I thought it might be a scam," said Debbie Neese, whose mom got the letter.
Neese said she had to wait on the phone for 45 minutes, but she hung up because it took so long. Eventually, Neese said she was able to re-enroll her mom.
"Fortunately, I helped my mom. Not everyone has that," Neese said.
An enrollment form was also included with the letter sent out. Affected people can send it back in the postage-paid envelope they provided. They can also stop by an enrollment meeting between 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. at the locations below.
