FORT MYERS, FL — WINK News is setting up a Medicare Help Center to field questions from Lee Health patients and other Southwest Florida residents as major insurance changes approach. The hospital system is ending its contract with UnitedHealthcare at the end of the year, a shift that affects about 50,000 patients.
The help center will be part of a WINK Investigates event called Coverage in Question on Monday, Oct. 12. Organizers say the goal is to give people clear, unbiased information before Medicare open enrollment begins on Oct. 15.
Counselors Will Take Calls From 4 to 6:30 p.m. During the Event
During the event, WINK News will host the Medicare Help Center from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Trained counselors with SHINE, which stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, will answer calls from viewers who need help understanding their options.
The counseling is being offered free of charge. WINK says the service is meant to give residents practical answers at a time when coverage questions can become urgent, especially for people who rely on Medicare Advantage plans and need to know whether a doctor or hospital will stay in network.
Lee Health Patients Face a Year-End Break With UnitedHealthcare
Lee Health’s contract with UnitedHealthcare is set to end on Dec. 31. For many patients, that means the change will land right as they are thinking about next year’s coverage and whether they need to make new choices during enrollment…