Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition celebrates MercyOne, Medicare partnership

By KAALTV

BCBS / MGN

(ABC 6 News) – The Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition announced Tuesday that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota added MercyOne to the list of eligible Medicare Advantage providers in SE Minnesota for 2023.

ALHC members have long rallied for local Medicare members to access healthcare providers other than Mayo Clinic.

The Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition was formed after Mayo Clinic moved some medical services away from Albert Lea to Austin, and lobbied for MercyOne’s clinic to cover Freeborn County.

However, Medicare Advantage clients were not able to use their insurance to help pay for services at the MercyOne clinic.

The ALHC asked seniors to switch from their BCBS Medicare Advantage plan to original Medicare or to providers such as UCare or Medica, or contact BCBS Minnesota and the Attorney General’s Office to include MercyOne in Freeborn County’s medicare providers.

According to the ALHC, Medicare Advantage will include providers such as Allina, Mankato Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center.

“It’s a wonderful day for the seniors of Albert Lea and the surrounding area,” ALHC president Brad Arends said in a press release. “All of our work on this issue for the past year paid off.”