Plan also goes statewide in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UCare announced today that it is expanding its UCare for Seniors Medicare Advantage product to 23 counties in western Wisconsin. This is the first expansion of UCare for Seniors beyond Minnesota’s borders by the nonprofit, independent health plan.
UCare for Seniors is one of the leading Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota and has more than 36,000 members. UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan dedicated to serving members of its Minnesota Health Care Programs and Medicare plans, not shareholders and investors. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently ranked UCare for Seniors in the top 8 percent of all Medicare Advantage plans nationwide for outstanding performance.
“We are very pleased and proud to offer a comprehensive and affordable health plan like UCare for Seniors to Medicare beneficiaries living in the western one-third of Wisconsin,” said Nancy Feldman, UCare’s President and CEO. “We know that Wisconsin residents are looking for a Medicare plan with the features and benefits available in UCare for Seniors. We already have Wisconsin clinics and care systems like Mayo Health System in our provider network, so it makes great sense to extend our presence across Minnesota’s eastern border.”
UCare for Seniors will become available in 2008 to Medicare-eligible Wisconsin residents in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Crawford, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Richland, Sawyer, Trempealeau, St. Croix, Vernon, and Washburn counties.
Medicare beneficiaries in the UCare for Seniors service area can enroll in the comprehensive and affordable plan during Medicare’s Annual Election Period, which begins Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31, 2007; the effective coverage date is Jan. 1, 2008.
As in Minnesota, three levels of comprehensive coverage (Classic, Value, and Value Plus), an extensive network of leading providers and care systems, and worldwide emergency coverage and urgent care will be offered in UCare’s new Wisconsin service area. The UCare for Seniors Classic Plan includes hospital and medical coverage, and also Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) and coverage for eyewear, hearing aids, and preventive dental care. The UCare for Seniors Value Plan offers comprehensive hospital and medical coverage at a lower monthly premium than the Classic level. The Value Plus plan offers all the Value plan coverage benefits, plus Part D coverage.
UCare also announced the expansion of UCare for Seniors to nine additional Minnesota counties, making it available to all Medicare beneficiaries across the state.
On Oct. 1, benefits and premium information will be available from UCare marketing representatives by calling 1-877-523-1518 (toll free) or at www.ucare.org.
Information meetings scheduled in Wisconsin, Minnesota
Meetings to help Medicare-eligible citizens in western Wisconsin and Minnesota learn more about Medicare and their Medicare plan options are scheduled in August and September. UCare will visit scores of community sites in the entire service area to conduct these free information sessions, which are open to the public and offered by UCare as a service to the community.
Meetings specifically about UCare for Seniors are scheduled for October, November, and December 2007. At these sessions, UCare representatives will discuss and answer questions about the UCare for Seniors Classic, Value, and Value Plus plans. All Minnesota and Wisconsin meeting schedules will be posted Oct. 1 at www.ucare.org/visitors/healthplans/ufs/view/ufsmeetings.html. The schedules also can be obtained by calling 612-676-3500 or 1-877-523-1518 (toll free).
Medicare beneficiaries already enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan have one more opportunity to switch Part D plans in 2008 during the Open Enrollment Period between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2008, with some limitations.
About UCare
UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 130,000 members in 80 Minnesota counties. UCare provides health care programs for people with Medicare: UCare for Seniors, a Medicare Advantage product; Minnesota Senior Health Options, a program for seniors with Medical Assistance but who may or may not be eligible for Medicare; UCare Complete, a Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO) program for people with physical disabilities; and Partners Choice Network, a MnDHO pilot program for people with developmental disabilities. UCare also offers income-based health programs to people enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs, including Prepaid Medical Assistance, Prepaid General Assistance Medical Care, MinnesotaCare, and Minnesota Senior Care. For more information, visit www.ucare.org.
www.ucare.org August 2007UCARE FAST FACTS FOR WISCONSIN MEDIA
What is UCare?
UCare is an independent, nonprofit health plan serving more than 130,000 members in 80 Minnesota counties (it will be statewide in January 2008). Founded in 1984 by the Department of Family Practice and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School as a managed care demonstration project for Medical Assistance enrollees in Hennepin County. Today, UCare serves members in Minnesota Health Care Programs and offers programs for people on Medicare. Members have access to a large network of health care providers and care systems.
UCare’s offices are located at 500 Stinson Blvd. NE, in Minneapolis, Minn.
What is UCare’s mission?
UCare will improve the health of our members through innovative services and partnerships across communities.
Who are UCare’s members and how does UCare serve them?
UCare serves people of all ages and all cultures. UCare provides health care programs for people with Medicare: UCare for Seniors, a Medicare Advantage product; Minnesota Senior Health Options, a program for seniors with Medical Assistance but who may or may not be eligible for Medicare; UCare Complete, a Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO) program for people with physical disabilities; and Partners Choice Network, a MnDHO pilot program for people with developmental disabilities. UCare also offers income-based health programs to people enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs, including Prepaid Medical Assistance, Prepaid General Assistance Medical Care, MinnesotaCare, and Minnesota Senior Care. For more product, community involvement, and organizational information, visit www.ucare.org.
What is UCare for Seniors?
UCare for Seniors is UCare’s Medicare Advantage product. It provides Medicare-eligible people with an extensive network of leading providers, hospitals, and care systems, and worldwide emergency coverage and urgent care – at an affordable price.
Three levels of coverage are available: Classic, Value, and Value Plus. The UCare for Seniors Classic Plan features Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), and coverage for eyewear, hearing aids, and preventive dental care. The UCare for Seniors Value Plan also offers comprehensive medical and hospital coverage, but at a lower monthly premium than the Classic level. The Value Plus Plan offers all the Value Plan coverage benefits, plus Part D coverage (visit www.ucareforseniors.org for details).
How big is the UCare for Seniors provider network?
Our UCare for Seniors provider network includes 61 primary care clinics, 28 hospitals, 394 primary care physicians, and 1,245 specialists at 242 locations in Wisconsin, and 566 primary care clinics, 164 hospitals, 5,100 primary care practitioners, and 9,300 specialty practitioners at 2,441 locations in Minnesota.
Who are UCare’s leaders?
Nancy Feldman President and Chief Executive Officer
Barry Baines, M.D. Chief Medical Officer
Tom Mahowald Senior Vice President, Product Development
Terry Chism Senior Vice President, Administration
Mark Hudson Senior Vice President, Finance
Ghita Worcester Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing
