Marin•Sonoma IPA inks Medicare contract with Health Net for Sonoma County Seniors

Marin•Sonoma IPA has signed a contract with Health Net to offer Health Net’s Medicare plans to seniors in Sonoma County who may be affected by a recent contract  signed by United Healthcare and Sutter Health.

According to a news release Friday from Marin•Sonoma IPA, the new United Health/Sutter contract excludes some Sonoma County seniors from accessing their community hospitals and Marin•Sonoma IPA and Sonoma County Primary Care IPA physicians.

Patients affected by this may change their insurance carrier to Health Net and thus continue to see the physicians in the Marin•Sonoma IPA and use non-Sutter Hospitals (community hospitals like Sonoma Valley Hospital, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Petaluma Valley Hospital, Palm Drive Hospital, and ).

“Health Net stepped up to assure our senior residents continue to have a choice of physicians and hospitals throughout Sonoma County” said Joel Criste, Chief Executive of Marin Sonoma IPA.  “Exclusive contracts limit patient choice.” 

He said this affects mainly current United Healthcare enrollees in Sebastopol, Petaluma and Sonoma Valley who are losing their current physician/hospital networks (Marin Sonoma IPA & Sonoma County Primary Care IPA).  By choosing a Health Net senior plan, patients can continue with their current medical services. 

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 31, patients in Sonoma County who have the United Healthcare Secure Horizons plan and wish to continue to seen by their local physicians and hospitals can call Health Net directly at 800-720-2486 to begin the enrollment process with Health Net’s Medicare Advantage plans.

Open enrollment ends Dec. 7 so patients need to call before then in order to change their plan.

 For more information, view the Marin∙Sonoma IPA website: www.marinsonomaipa.com.