HNE Offers Medicare Advantage Plans in Pioneer Valley

Variety of Plans to Meet the Needs of Medicare Beneficiaries

Springfield--Starting this month, Health New England (HNE) will offer Medicare Advantage plans to eligible residents in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties in Massachusetts.

The HNE Medicare Advantage Plans cover all the benefits of original Medicare, as well as routine exams, vision screenings and prescription medications. HNE Medicare Advantage Members also can take advantage of HNE’s innovative health management and disease management programs, HNE’s fitness and Weight WatchersÒ reimbursement program, and reimbursement for dental and eyewear.

“Our Medicare Advantage plans provide the same great local and accountable customer service our members are used to receiving,” said Peter F. Straley, President and CEO of HNE. “In the past, when an HNE member became eligible for Medicare, they would have to choose another company. Now, our members can stay with us through an HNE Medicare Advantage plan.”

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for US citizens aged 65 or older, under 65 with a disability, or with end-stage renal disease. Upon becoming eligible, participants are automatically covered under Medicare Part A, which serves as hospital insurance. Participants also are eligible for Medicare Part B, which covers physician services; however, they must pay the premium for this coverage. Medicare Advantage plans (also referred to as Medicare Part C), such as those offered by HNE, provide additional coverage beyond Medicare Parts A and B. HNE also will offer prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D) as an option with HNE Medicare Advantage Plans.

Plan options include Premium, Plus and Basic coverage for medical, as well as, Enhanced or Standard options for prescription medications.

Additional features include:

• $150 Fitness Club/Weight WatchersÒ Allowance--Annually
• $150 Dental Allowance--Annually
• $100 Eyewear Allowance—Every Other Year

HNE Medicare Advantage plans sold now will take effect January 1, 2009.

About HNE

Health New England is a managed care organization serving western Massachusetts since 1985. Because of its commitment to accountable, personal service, more than 100,000 members and 5,000 employers select HNE as their choice for health care coverage, administrative services and programs.

HNE employs more than 240 associates at its main offices in Springfield and in its Berkshire County office in Pittsfield. HNE’s service area covers Franklin, Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and parts of Worcester counties in Massachusetts. Most recently, HNE achieved the highest rating in Customer Service among 160 commercial HMO/POS health plans surveyed in the United States according to the Quality Compass 2008®, a report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA.)

*Quality Compass® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).