As many as 24,000 North Carolina Medicare recipients may be affected by the suspension of a New York-based drug plan.
Federal Medicare regulators have ordered Fox Insurance Company of New York to suspended new enrollments and marketing for its Medicare Part D drug plan because the company was not providing drugs to customers quickly, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The company, without permission from Medicare, was suggesting patients use cheaper drugs than those prescribed by doctors. Given the drugs were for drugs for treating cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS, delays in medications could have had serious implications.
More than 24,000 Medicare recipients in North Carolina were enrolled with the company, said Kristin Milam, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Insurance. Mecklenburg County had more than 1,400 enrollees and Wake County had about 1,000.
Many of those enrolled were also enrolled in Medicaid and should be able to change drug providers on a monthly basis, she said. Others may have to follow a special procedures. Milam said anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the state's free Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program, which provides unbiased, expert advice and information.
"If you've got a question about it and you think you're affected by this, go ahead and call," Milam said. "You will get a live person when you call that 1-800 number."
Individual, in person appointments are also available in every county. For more information visit www.ncshiip.com or call 1-800-443-9354.
