As of January 1, 2025 we will no longer take Medicare Advantage plans.

At Eye Care Associates of Sarasota, our patients are at the center of everything we do and your trust is very important to us. Sharing information is one way that ensures we continue to be  trusted partners for your eye health needs. We want to inform you of some changes that will be taking place and the reasons behind these changes.

As of January 1, 2025 we will no longer take Medicare Advantage plans of any kind. We will continue to accept  Traditional Medicare with or without a secondary plan. Because you are an established patient, we will continue to accept your present plan for 2024.

Many retirees who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan do so for the low-cost premiums and “extra benefits” they are promised. A sizable percentage of those retirees do not understand that they are signing over their Medicare benefits for Parts A & B to a private insurance company. 

Medicare advantage plans are not Medicare. These are private insurance companies who are paid a set amount by Centers for Medicare Services for each patient they enroll. The more people these private insurers sign up the more money they make from Medicare. Unfortunately, these companies do not pay physicians the same as Medicare would. The “extra benefits” these plans promise are paid for with additional co-insurance charges or denials for other care.

Over the past 2 years there has been an explosion of Medicare replacement plans, each one has its own rules and regulations. Some of these plans are regional, which means we could be out of network, others are hidden HMO’s and need prior authorizations and/or referrals. We can no longer keep up with the administrative burden that all these plans cause.

We are sorry for any inconvenience these changes may cause you. We appreciate your faith and trust in us and thank you for the opportunity to serve your healthcare needs.