New Medicare advantage plans for affordable and quality health care

HealthPlus of Michigan today announced the launch of two new HealthPlus MedicarePlus plans designed for Medicare-eligible people looking for affordable benefit choices and convenient access to quality health care.

HealthPlus Medicare plans are the highest-ranked Medicare plans in Michigan, according to the "America's Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10" rankings by U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee on Quality Assurance.

"We are very pleased to offer a wider variety of competitively-priced health plans to those eligible for Medicare," says Nancy Jenkins, vice president of membership growth. "Our Medicare products offer the same great service and benefits that earned us the highest ranking in the state, as well as new features to help meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries today."

The new Medicare Advantage-type plans from HealthPlus come in PPO and HMO varieties:

HealthPlus MedicarePlus AdvantageHMO is offered as Option 1 at a monthly premium of $72, or Option 2 at $102. Both plans offer prescription coverage, but only Option 2 extends drug coverage through the Rx gap ("donut hole") and then just for generic medications. Option 2 has lower co-payments than Option 1 for most health-care services.

Residents of the following counties can enroll in the MedicarePlus AdvantageHMO plans offered by HealthPlus of Michigan: Arenac, Bay, Genesee, Lapeer, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola. Generally speaking, HMO plans are most attractive to people who prefer to have a primary-care physician serve as their health advocate and coordinate all of their medical care.

HealthPlus MedicarePlus AdvantagePPO is offered both as a Basic plan at a monthly premium of $72, and as an Enhanced plan with lower co-pays for $107 monthly -- for residents of Genesee and Saginaw Counties only. These two health plans also include prescription coverage, although only the Enhanced version extends coverage through the Rx gap, and only for generic drugs. PPO plans are most appealing to people who prefer the freedom and choice to see any doctor in or out of a preferred-provider network. HealthPlus MedicarePlus AdvantagePPO is offered by HealthPlus Insurance Company.

All four new HealthPlus MedicarePlus Advantage plans include emergency care worldwide, and all require Medicare beneficiaries to continue paying their Part B Medicare premium in order to qualify.

Medicare-eligible individuals can enroll in HealthPlus MedicarePlus online at www.HealthPlus.org -- or can get personal help in enrolling by calling HealthPlus Customer Service at 1-800-332-9161. (TTD/TTY users may call 1-800-9925070).