MINNEAPOLIS, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- UCare Minnesota is offering several free informational seminars to explain the impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 on Medicare coverage. Passed by Congress in December 2003, this legislation is the largest expansion of Medicare since 1965. “The legislation has raised many questions for Medicare beneficiaries as they try to understand how the changes will affect them,” said Nancy J. Feldman, President and CEO, UCare Minnesota. “As a leader in the Medicare health care business, we are leveraging our years of experience to bring these informational seminars to the marketplace. The seminars will help Medicare beneficiaries navigate their way through these Medicare changes.”
Designed specifically for Medicare beneficiaries, these seminars will help them sort through much of the confusion generated by the legislation and its prescription drug benefit. All Medicare beneficiaries -- not just UCare members -- are welcome to attend. In preparing the seminars, UCare sought input from Medicare beneficiaries about the topics and questions of concern to them relating to the new legislation. Based on this input, the seminar instructors will present clear answers to commonly asked questions about the new Medicare legislation.
The seminars will address: -- Benefits Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for under the Medicare Modernization Act. -- The timeline for major changes to Medicare. -- The Medicare-approved Drug Discount Card Program, including up to a $600 credit toward prescription drugs. -- Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit that will be available beginning 2006.
The seminar instructors will also present individual case studies to show how the act affects different people with different forms of supplemental Medicare coverage. A representative from the Minnesota Senior Federation will be on hand to answer additional questions.
Enrollment for seminars fills quickly
The response to the Medicare seminar invitations has been overwhelming. A week after the invitations were mailed, more than 1,000 people had signed up to attend, and extra seminars were scheduled to accommodate the demand.
Seminar dates, times, and locations Tuesday, May 18 Wednesday, May 19 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Shoreview Community Center Presbyterian Homes of Arden Hills 4600 Victoria St. N. 3220 Lake Johanna Blvd. Shoreview, MN 55126 Arden Hills, MN 55112 Thursday, May 20 Tuesday, May 25 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Bloomington City Hall & Center for Eagle Valley Golf Course the Arts 2600 Double Eagle Ln. 1800 West Old Shakopee Road Woodbury, MN 55125 Bloomington, MN 55431 Thursday, May 27 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m. Plymouth Creek Center 14800 34th Avenue N. Plymouth, MN 55447 ABOUT UCARE MINNESOTA
UCare Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit health maintenance organization (HMO) providing health care and administrative services to 130,000 members. UCare provides health insurance programs for seniors: UCare for Seniors, a Medicare+Choice product for Medicare beneficiaries in the metropolitan area and adjacent counties; and UCare SeniorSelect, a Medicare Select product. In addition, UCare offers Minnesota Senior Health Options, a program for seniors who have Medical Assistance, but may or may not be eligible for Medicare. UCare also offers income-based health programs, including Prepaid Medical Assistance, Prepaid General Assistance Medical Care, and MinnesotaCare, in 77 Minnesota counties.
UCare Minnesota
CONTACT: Debbie Weiner of UCare Minnesota, +1-612-676-3562,dweiner@ucare.org
Web site: http://www.ucare.org/
