Provider Toolkit: Supporting Your Patients Through Coverage Changes in 2026 and Beyond

Posted Aug 24, 2026

Use these resources to help your patients understand their plan options and stay connected to care.

Bookmark this page as your go-to resource—we'll update it regularly with the latest guidance, tools, and patient communications.

 

Dual Eligible Care Plans Help You and Your Medicare Patients

Your patients who have a Medicare Advantage plan with Medicaid Fee-For-Service (FFS) can now get their Medicare and Medicaid coverage through one integrated care plan, the Life Improvement Plan. 

Plus, they can make the move any time without having to wait for the next Annual Enrollment Period in October.

Use these letter templates to explain the benefits of having an Integrated Care plan to dual eligible patients. 

Provider with patients

Preparing Patients for Medicare

For patients approaching Medicare eligibility at age 65, missing initial enrollment windows can lead to lifelong financial penalties and delayed healthcare coverage.

Use these letter templates to alert a patient to their options as they approach Medicare eligibility age. 

Active senior

Keeping Patients Connected to Care

When a healthcare provider becomes out of network with a patient's health insurance plan, patients may be unsure about their options or concerned about disruptions to their care.

Use these letter templates to educate a patient about network disruption. 

Office manager

Essential Plan Eligibility and Benefit Changes

Essential Plans are federally subsidized plans offered to individuals whose immigration status or income makes them ineligible for Medicaid. 

Due to federal funding cuts in H.R.1, there are several important changes providers and members enrolled in EP need to know.

EP 200-250 Coverage to End
Recommended action for providers
Multi generational

Prepare for 2027: Join Our Upcoming Provider Town Hall 

Join Healthfirst for one of our upcoming Provider Town Halls in September to learn about 2027 benefit changes affecting our Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial plans. 

Hear important updates, learn what the changes may mean for your practice and patients, and get answers to your questions directly from Healthfirst. 

Reserve your spot today. Log in to the Healthfirst Provider Portal at Essentials.Availity.com, then visit News and Announcements in the Healthfirst Payer Space to register.

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