In Medicare Advantage stalemate, Everett Clinic patients left in limbo
EVERETT — A few days after Christmas, Mel drove his wife to The Everett Clinic in Shoreline, their usual place of care. She was having trouble breathing, likely a complication of a respiratory illness and asthma.
But the clinic refused to see her, saying it would not accept patients with Regence Medicare Advantage plans, Mel said. They gave her a paper with a list of clinics that would probably treat her. This was about one week after Mel received care for the same respiratory distress in California, with no problems.
Mel, who asked that his last name not be published, wrote in an email: “We are shaken to realize that we have no contact allowed with our usual and long-standing sources of primary and specialty care! In our mid- seventies, this is no small development!”
As The Daily Herald reported in December, when Regence and Optum — the parent of The Everett Clinic — settled commercial contracts in late December, the deal did not include Medicare Advantage plans. Some seniors buy these plans from private insurers, rather than coverage through traditional Medicare. Regence and Optum are still negotiating.
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