What will the Medica transition mean to me?

Sep 27, 2017 | Robert McGriff | @m039153 | Comments (25)

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On August 17th, Mayo Clinic announced a new business arrangement with Medica, a Minnesota-based health services company.  The arrangement is part of an overall strategy to help improve access to Mayo Clinic for patients with serious and complex medical conditions.  As part of this arrangement, Medica will acquire MMSI, which does business as Mayo Clinic Health Solutions.

To answer the question of how this change will impact participants in Mayo Clinic employee benefit plans, you first need to understand the services that Mayo Clinic Health Solutions provides.  Mayo Clinic Health Solutions is a benefit plan administrator.  That means that they perform the day-to-day work of a benefit plan.  They manage the provider networks, process claims, and make payments directly to health care providers on behalf of the plan.  However, the benefit plans are designed and funded by the employer who sponsors them.  A change in the plan design (deductible, coinsurance, covered items, etc.) can only come from the employer (Mayo Clinic for our plans).  We do not expect any changes to the Mayo Clinic benefit plans as a result of the change in plan administrator

In the initial phases of the transition, plan participants will see no change at all.  The sale of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.  Current staff of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions will continue using the same technology to manage plan operations for the time being.  This means no immediate change in phone number, website, or forms (like the Explanation of Benefits that you receive when a claim is paid) for plan participants.

Starting in mid-2018, Medica will begin transitioning clients (including Mayo Clinic) to it's technology platform.  Following a communication campaign, you may see changes in the Online Service Center and the Explanation of Benefits may look different than what you are used to.  You may also begin to use a different method of submitting claims to the Mayo Reimbursement Account and the Flexible Spending Accounts.  Each time a change comes, you will receive plenty of information about how and when it will occur.  By the end of 2019, all clients of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions are expected to be moved to the Medica plan administration technology.

And for those of you who are wondering about our colleagues who work for Mayo Clinic Health Solutions, Mayo Clinic leadership has said that they are "committed to helping MMSI staff affected by these changes through this transition over the next two years, and intend to provide these staff with multiple employment options for their consideration."

So, while there is no immediate impact to plan participants, stay tuned for more information over the next 12-18 months.  Be sure to follow this page for updates and feel free to comment below.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Benefits Connect page.

@sdb

Hopefully this is the copy of my statement.

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Sorry. I don't see an attachment. I think it best if you send the information to mcgriff.robert@mayo.edu. He is in Human Resources and should be able to find out what is happening.

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What on line source is available for retired employee in regards to benefits? The following are some areas I am seeking online resources for.

Have not yet started taking my Mayo retirement payments and would like to refresh on how this will work. Also, I retired in 2017 so I would like to view my medical insurance plan options and cost for 2021 plans but my mIled information is not available.

And final item is to better understand the cost, benefit and requirements for Mayo Medicare Supplement. My major question with Medicare is if I will be covered when I reach 65 for Mayo care. Apologies if this is not the correct forum for asking for direction.

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@veralouise

What on line source is available for retired employee in regards to benefits? The following are some areas I am seeking online resources for.

Have not yet started taking my Mayo retirement payments and would like to refresh on how this will work. Also, I retired in 2017 so I would like to view my medical insurance plan options and cost for 2021 plans but my mIled information is not available.

And final item is to better understand the cost, benefit and requirements for Mayo Medicare Supplement. My major question with Medicare is if I will be covered when I reach 65 for Mayo care. Apologies if this is not the correct forum for asking for direction.

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For a retiree or former employee, the best resource for Benefits Information is the HR Connect call center at 1-888-266-0440. Representatives will be able to give detailed responses for each of your questions.
Mayo Clinic Benefits

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I am a 92 yr old Mayo retiree who has been dealing with Medica for almost a year trying to get reimbursement for my hearing aids. My hearing aid provider has sent the claim forms 3 times--)each time making adjustments that Medica wanted. The last time (Jan 2021) my provider called and then sent the claim forms again via express mail. In February, Medica called my provider and clarified some information and then told them the claim was authorized and I should be receiving a check. I contacted Medica this week to find out where the check was and they responded that they never got the updated claim forms in Jan even though they had to sign for them. Now I am back to square 1 again. Medica is an incompetent claims adjuster service unless their mission is to give people enough hassle so they give up!! Mayo Clinic should know how bad they are. Who do you contact?

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@gbh29

I am a 92 yr old Mayo retiree who has been dealing with Medica for almost a year trying to get reimbursement for my hearing aids. My hearing aid provider has sent the claim forms 3 times--)each time making adjustments that Medica wanted. The last time (Jan 2021) my provider called and then sent the claim forms again via express mail. In February, Medica called my provider and clarified some information and then told them the claim was authorized and I should be receiving a check. I contacted Medica this week to find out where the check was and they responded that they never got the updated claim forms in Jan even though they had to sign for them. Now I am back to square 1 again. Medica is an incompetent claims adjuster service unless their mission is to give people enough hassle so they give up!! Mayo Clinic should know how bad they are. Who do you contact?

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Please e-mail me at mcgriff.robert@mayo.edu with your name and dates of service and we can investigate for you.
Robert

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