38K patients with Medicare to lose their supplemental insurance

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tens of thousands of patients with Medicare are about to find out they don't have supplemental insurance anymore.

Their policies are through a company called Physicians United, which a judge declared insolvent earlier this week.

The judge's order on Monday called for an immediate discharge of the Orlando-based company's employees.

Channel 9's Lori Brown has been trying to figure out what that means for the Medicare HMO's policy holders.

The insurance plans for the 38,000 PUP policyholders are to be canceled effective July 1, and those policyholders haven't received any notice yet.

Sandra Kohl said she just happened to hear about PUP's liquidation from her daughter, who works at an assisted living facility.

"I was flabbergasted," said Kohl, a 74-year-old cancer survivor.

Kohl is now worried about how she'll get her yearly followup exam and afford her prescription.

"I was preparing to make my appointments for my blood work and annual ollowup visit," she said.

Kohl's current PUP plan had no monthly premiums and low co-pays. She relies solely on Social Security and said she can't afford a more expensive plan.

"I invested what money I had into my home so I wouldn't have to worry about that as I got older," she said.

It is now up to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to notify policyholders and provide them with new options.

But when Channel 9's Lori Brown talked with the federal agency on Wednesday, she learned they are still trying to figure out what those options will be, which is little comfort to patients like Kohl whose insurance runs out in 20 days.

WFTV