Medicare News
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: |
| Thursday, January 15, 2004 | CMS Office of Public Affairs 202-690-6145 |
For questions about Medicare please call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
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MANAGED CARE PLAN EXPANDS TO INCLUDE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES IN HERNANDO COUNTY, FLA.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a request by Humana Medical Plan Inc. to expand managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in Hernando County, Fla., in the Tampa Bay area.
Humana Medical Plan, based in Tampa, Fla., is now serving beneficiaries in Hernando County. Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for the plan during the current Medicare+Choice open enrollment. About 43,500 beneficiaries live in the county north of Tampa Bay.
Humana Medical Plan is a subsidiary of Humana Inc., based in Louisville, Ky. The plan began serving beneficiaries in 1987 in Florida in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa.
"We are pleased Humana Medical Plan decided to expand this health plan to include more Medicare beneficiaries in the Tampa Bay area,” HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Under the new 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.”
The company’s product, Humana Gold Classic, gives beneficiaries in Hernando County another Medicare+Choice organization to select. Other plans are offered by Quality Health Care, United HealthCare of Florida, Universal Health Care and Well Care Choice.
"We want to make sure all Medicare beneficiaries, whether in a Medicare+Choice plan or fee-for-service, are receiving the highest quality health care," CMS Acting Administrator Dennis G. Smith said. "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."
Medicare+Choice 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.
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.
