Minnesota Seniors Prepare for Medicare Plan Shift

An estimated 320,000 seniors across Minnesota covered by Medicare Cost will need to change health plans in the coming months because of a federal law eliminating the policy next year in most of the state. The 2003 law says Medicare Cost plans cannot be offered in areas with significant competition from Medicare Advantage plans. Congress delayed the law's implementation until 2019. About 20 million people in the United States are covered by Advantage programs, while only about 630,000 people had Cost plans in June, reports the Associated Press .