Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Thursday, September 09, 2004 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
For questions about Medicare please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
|
MANAGED CARE PLAN OFFERED TO MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES IN TUCSON AND 2 ARIZONA COUNTIES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a request by United Healthcare of Arizona Inc. to offer managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in Tucson and two Arizona counties.
United Healthcare of Arizona is now serving beneficiaries in Pima County including the city of Tucson, and Santa Cruz County, south of Pima County, including the city of Nogales, Ariz., on the U.S.-Mexico border. Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for the plan during the current open enrollment for Medicare Advantage, formerly known as Medicare+Choice. About 147,000 beneficiaries live in the two counties.
"We are pleased United Healthcare of Arizona decided to serve beneficiaries in the Tucson area,” HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Under the Medicare reform law signed by President Bush, Medicare will provide all seniors - no matter where they live - with better health insurance options, including prescription drug coverage and preventive care. The law is achieving the President's goals of strengthening and modernizing Medicare.”
United Healthcare of Arizona is a subsidiary of United Health Group, based in Minnetonka, Minn.
The plan gives another health care choice to beneficiaries in the two counties. The other Medicare Advantage plans currently operating in these counties are Evercare, Health Net Life Insurance Co., HealthNet of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona and Sterling Life Insurance Co.
“We want to make sure all Medicare beneficiaries, whether in a Medicare Advantage plan or fee-for-service, are receiving the highest quality health care," said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. "We are doing more to guarantee that beneficiaries understand the Medicare coverage options available to them. We also are reminding beneficiaries of the need to work closely with the doctors and other health care providers that give them medical care."
Since Dec. 8, when President Bush signed the Medicare Modernization Act into law, CMS has approved 10 new contracts with Medicare health plans and 27 service area expansions. There are currently 28 applications pending for new contracts and 22 service area expansions pending.
Medicare Advantage HMOs and fee-for-service plans are available where private companies choose to offer them. Currently, about 4.6 million Medicare beneficiaries -- out of a total of about 40 million aged and disabled Americans – have enrolled in Medicare HMOs. Original fee-for-service Medicare, currently chosen by more than 35 million beneficiaries, is available to all beneficiaries.
Medicare has a far-reaching consumer information program that includes a national toll-free phone number -- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY/TDD, at 877-486-2048 -- an Internet site -- www.medicare.gov -- and a coalition of more than 200 national and local organizations to provide seniors more information.
