NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana Inc. announced today plans to enhance benefit offerings for its New Orleans Medicare Advantage plan including the addition of a new zero premium option, enhanced pharmacy benefits and a free exercise program. Humana included the enhancements in its 2005 Medicare Advantage plan benefit package for the greater New Orleans area, filed with the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The 2005 benefit package is effective January 1 for Medicare eligible beneficiaries in New Orleans pending CMS approval.
Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans for 2005 include several upgrades. Both plans feature reduced inpatient co-pays (from $200 to $175) and unlimited free access to the SilverSneakers(R) Fitness Program. The new Humana Gold Plus Value HMO plan is benefit rich, and includes a $5 co-pay for physician visits and $30 co-pay to a referred specialist, a twelve month prescription drug allowance rollover benefit of up to $600, and an unlimited generic drug benefit. Humana’s Gold Plus Standard HMO plan features a $0 physician visit co-pay and $30 co-pay to a referred specialist along with the free exercise program.
“Seniors have asked for more benefits, and now they have them,” said George Renaudin, Humana’s Louisiana President for Senior Products. “Humana’s innovative plans not only provide greater value than traditional Medicare through enhanced health care and prescription drug benefits, they also support healthy, active lifestyles with wellness benefits such as SilverSneakers.”
Currently, Humana has over 22,000 Medicare Advantage members in the New Orleans area, including those formerly with Ochsner Health Plan which was acquired by Humana Insurance Company this past April. Humana’s Medicare Advantage health plan is an alternative to traditional Medicare, not a supplement. For more information about enrolling in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, call toll-free 1-800-201-5779.
Humana is one of Louisiana’s leading health benefits providers with over 33,000 Medicare Advantage members statewide. In April 2004, Humana acquired Ochsner Health Plan of Louisiana, the third largest health benefit plan in the state. In addition to Humana’s two Medicare Advantage HMO plans, Humana offers a Medicare Advantage POS plan and a Medicare Advantage PPO plan.
About Humana Medicare Advantage
Humana Medicare Advantage (formerly known as Medicare+Choice) is available to all Medicare-eligible individuals who live in a Medicare approved service area and are over 65 years old or qualified by disability. Unlike traditional Medicare, Humana Medicare Advantage includes a prescription drug benefit, limits on out-of-pocket expenses, unlimited, medically necessary inpatient hospital stays and worldwide coverage for emergency care and urgently needed care. More than 368,000 individuals are currently enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan.
About Humana Inc.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 5.8 million medical members located primarily in 15 states and Puerto Rico. Humana offers coordinated health insurance coverage and related services -- through traditional and Internet-based plans -- to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.
More information regarding Humana is available via the Internet at http://www.humana.com/ including:
* Annual report to stockholders; * Securities and Exchange Commission filings; * Most recent investor conference presentation; * Quarterly earnings press releases; * Audio archive of most recent earnings release conference call; * Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned participation in investor conferences); * Corporate Governance Information.
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CONTACT: Ross McLerran of Humana Corporate Communications,+1-210-617-1771, or rmclerran@humana.com
Web site: http://www.humana.com/
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