CYPRESS, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand for the first time its Secure Horizons Medicare+Choice plan to Nevada County in Northern California -- a county that until now had no Medicare+Choice option for seniors.
Enrollment in the expanded Secure Horizons service area will be effective Oct. 1, 2004.
According to Howard Phanstiel, PacifiCare’s chairman and chief executive officer, the nearly 18,000 Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in Nevada County will now have an affordable Medicare+Choice option for the first time. Rural California includes more than 4 million residents, and 14 percent of rural populations in California are over the age of 65, compared with 11 percent of urban populations. Currently, more than 70 percent of rural counties in California do not have a Medicare+Choice option.
“Congress has taken a historical step to modernize the Medicare program, and we are taking action to make health care coverage more affordable and accessible for seniors by expanding our Secure Horizons Medicare+Choice plan in Nevada County, an area that has previously lacked affordable health care options for seniors,” said Phanstiel. “The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act passed by Congress and signed by the President in December 2003 has enabled us to enhance benefits and reduce premiums and copayments for Medicare beneficiaries, explore new opportunities to expand health care services and offer new, innovative health care products and services for seniors.”
Earlier this year, PacifiCare used increased funding received under the Drug Improvement and Modernization Act to enhance benefits for seniors by providing more comprehensive brand and generic prescription drug coverage, adding new benefits and lowering premiums and co-payments.
In addition to a $60 monthly health plan premium, the new Secure Horizons Medicare+Choice plan will include access to coverage for unlimited generic medications with a $9 co-payment. The plan will include a $15 co-payment for a physician office visit and no deductibles. Medicare beneficiaries interested in learning more about the new Secure Horizons Medicare+Choice plan in Nevada County can call 800-406-0008 or visit http://www.securehorizons.com/.
In 1985, PacifiCare’s Secure Horizons became one of the first Medicare health plans to be awarded a Medicare+Choice contract by the federal government. Nearly 20 years later, Secure Horizons remains one of the nation’s largest Medicare+Choice plans, offering competitive health care coverage and additional benefits to about 700,000 members in eight Western states.
“As a company that has served the senior community for nearly 20 years, we feel PacifiCare has the expertise and experience to provide the kind of health care coverage that seniors have been asking for,” Phanstiel added. “We believe the private sector is well suited to offer Medicare beneficiaries more options and flexibility at a lower cost. In the wake of the most sweeping legislation in Medicare’s 39-year history, we have the opportunity to better deliver on our brand promise to Nevada County seniors that ‘Caring is Good. Doing Something is Better.’”
PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation’s largest consumer health organizations with more than 3 million health plan members and approximately 9 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Currently, more than 99 percent of PacifiCare’s commercial health plan members are enrolled in plans that have received Excellent Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). PacifiCare’s specialty operations include behavioral health, dental and vision, and complete pharmacy and medical management through its wholly owned subsidiary, Prescription Solutions. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/.
PacifiCare Health Systems Inc.
CONTACT: Tyler Mason, Media Relations, +1-714-226-3530, or DanYarbrough, Investor Relations, +1-714-226-3540, both of PacifiCare HealthSystems Inc.
Web site: http://www.securehorizons.com/
Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/
