Medicare broker warns of plan caps in Hennepin County

Grant Rockwood, a health insurance broker at MN Benefits, issued a warning to residents this month. He said some Medicare providers are now placing caps on specific plans. This is a new development for the 2026 open enrollment period. Rockwood told KSTP 5 Eyewitness News that he has not seen this practice in Minnesota before.

Rockwood explained that these capped plans are now operating on a first-come, first-served basis. He cited one insurer that disclosed its capacity levels to brokers. That company reported its plan was over 50% full after the first day of enrollment. By the end of the following week, the plan reached approximately 90% capacity.

Rockwood cautioned that a desired plan could disappear quickly. He noted that a client might think about a specific plan and find it gone within two days or two weeks. Once a plan hits its cap, it is no longer available to new applicants. The broker emphasized that speed is now a factor in choosing coverage.

Rockwood also pointed out changes in how insurers handle re-enrollment. In previous years, many providers automatically re-enrolled customers into similar plans. He said that is not happening as widely this year. Rockwood advised that similar options often exist with the same carriers, even if the initial notice is confusing. He said it is difficult to capture those details clearly in a letter.

Clients have also reported difficulties reaching customer service representatives. Rockwood said some people have waited more than an hour on the phone and still left with unanswered questions. He attributed this to carriers having fewer internal employees available to answer questions than in the past. He described the current level of guidance as harder to come by.

Open enrollment for Medicare runs through Dec. 7. The state provides resources to help residents navigate the process. Rockwood encourages people to review their options before the deadline. He wants to ensure they select a plan that fits their needs and provides the best value.

The broker’s warnings target the more than a million Minnesotans eligible for Medicare. He is focused on helping people secure their preferred coverage before caps are reached. The shift in enrollment practices is a key concern for this year’s cycle.