Two Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Akamai Advantage plans are ending Dec. 31, affecting about 16,000 Hawaii seniors. As Medicare open enrollment begins, some kupuna are scrambling to find new coverage while worrying about rising premiums, medication costs and the affordability of healthcare.
HONOLULU (Island News) — Glenn and Beverly Takahashi didn’t realize their Medicare insurance plan is going away in a couple months with the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA).
“We have to figure something out cause my husband and I need medical coverage because we have medical problems,” Beverly said.
Medicare’s open enrollment started Thursday. Two HMSA Akamai Advantage plans are ending on Dec. 31 for 16,000 Hawaii seniors.
But many are still unaware or confused about the changes. And for seniors on fixed income, it’s a big worry.
“It’s going to hit us some depending on what coverage we pick,” she said. “It’s going to be difficult. It’s always difficult when you’re a senior. Medications and everything, it costs a lot.”
Millions of seniors across the country are losing Medicare coverage and many will be forced to pay higher prices for healthcare in 2027.
“Come January, there’s going to be millions of people nationally and many tens of thousands of people in Hawaii that just can’t afford healthcare,” said Dr. Ira Zunin.
The changes come as insurance companies deal with skyrocketing costs.
“So their costs are going up and costs across the country for premiums are spiking from 30% to 300% and in turn the benefits are becoming less rich and less generous,” he said. “We’re as a country starting to pay more premiums for fewer benefits. It’s really scary. It’s really unsettling.”
And with no end in sight, many kupuna caught in the middle are facing significant hardship.
“It’s getting more expensive — everything — so I don’t know. Right now we can handle it, but I don’t know in the long run if we live to the 90s or 100,” Beverly said. “I don’t know if we can afford to have insurance. We might have to go on Medicaid, get state help.”
