UPMC Health Plan Expands Medicare and Special Needs Plan Into Additional Western...

UPMC Health Plan Expands Medicare and Special Needs Plan Into Additional
Western Pennsylvania Counties

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- UPMC Health Plan announced it has
expanded both its UPMC for Life Medicare HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
and its UPMC for Life Specialty Plan into Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, and
McKean counties. The Health Plan also announced the expansion of its Medicare
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) into Clearfield and Greene counties.
"Expanding our footprint in Western Pennsylvania helps us continue to meet
the health needs of our aging population," said Catherine Batteer, UPMC Health
Plan's vice president for Medicare. "We are pleased to now serve seven
additional counties, which brings the current service area for our Medicare
and Special Needs plans to 25 counties in Western Pennsylvania."
UPMC for Life offers a variety of Medicare plans with and without
prescription drug coverage. The $0 monthly premium plan option, which offers
members richer benefits for no cost beyond traditional Medicare payments, is a
popular choice.
The UPMC for Life Specialty Plan is for individuals with complex health
issues who carry both Medicare Parts A and B and Medical Assistance. Combining
the coverage and protection offered by both programs, UPMC Health Plan
provides coordinated care designed to meet the unique needs of this dual-
eligible population. UPMC for Life Specialty Plan members receive Medicare
Part D prescription drug benefits, including a $0 copayment for generic
prescriptions.
"By offering the UPMC for Life Specialty Plan in additional counties, we
are now able to better serve those with special needs in Western
Pennsylvania," said John Lovelace, UPMC Health Plan's vice president for
Medicaid Services and Special Needs Plans.
The UPMC for Life Medicare and Specialty Plan service area includes
Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clearfield,
Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer,
Somerset, Venango, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, as well as Cameron,
Clarion, Elk, Forest, and McKean counties.
UPMC for Life Medicare and Special Needs Plan members are assigned a
personal Health Care Concierge to provide ongoing assistance regarding their
benefits. The member's assigned concierge welcomes the member by phone, is
available when the member calls him or her, and calls to "check in" regularly.
Members can enroll in UPMC for Life Medicare plans up to March 31, 2008.
For more information, call the UPMC for Life Medicare Sales Department at 1-
877-381-3765 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call
1-800-361-2629.
Applications for enrollment in the UPMC for Life Special Needs Plan are
accepted at all times. For more information, call 1-866-405-8762 Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call 1-800-407-8762.
Information regarding Medicare and Special Needs Plans is also available
at the Health Plan's website at upmchealthplan.com.
About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in Western
Pennsylvania, is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC),
one of the nation's top-ranked health systems. The integrated partner
companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division - which includes UPMC Health
Plan, Work Partners, EAP Solutions, UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and
Community Care Behavioral Health -- offer a full range of group health
insurance, Medicare, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee
assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to nearly 1
million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community
providers, totaling more than 80 hospitals and more than 7,500 physicians in a
29-county region. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.
SOURCE UPMC Health Plan

Gina Pferdehirt, Director, Public Relations and Community Relations, UPMC
Health Plan, +1-412-454-4953, pferdehirtgm@upmc.edu