* Offers Zero Premium Products for Medicare-Eligible Individuals
TRUMBULL, Conn., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Health Plans, LLC, A
UnitedHealthcare Company, today announced that it will extend its Medicare
Advantage coverage area to include Westchester County in New York, in addition
to Rockland and Orange counties and the five boroughs of New York City.
Pending final approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS), the company will begin offering two Oxford Medicare Advantage (OMA)
plans in Westchester for April 1, 2005 enrollment.
"We continue to fulfill the commitment we made in late 2003 with the
passage of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) by continuing to develop
products and increase our geographic reach to allow more seniors and other
Medicare-eligible individuals to have access to affordable, quality
healthcare," said Charles G. Berg, chief executive officer of Oxford. "With
continued predictable and stable pricing in the Medicare Advantage program, we
can continue to explore benefit design, value-added programs and geographic
expansion to provide seniors with the healthcare coverage choices they need
and deserve."
Individuals in Westchester County who are eligible to receive Medicare
will be able to choose from two OMA zero premium products, which include a
range of benefits such as prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing and
other services, some at no additional expense. OMA Signature features an
unlimited generic drug benefit, while OMA Balance also includes a $600 brand
drug benefit.
"Based on the great interest that we received when we expanded into other
counties in mid-2004, we are optimistic that this new Medicare Advantage
offering will be well received among seniors in Westchester County," said Marc
S. Russo, regional vice president of government programs at Oxford. "We will
continue to look at ways to diversify our Medicare Advantage product
portfolio, in addition to expanding our coverage area."
As a result of the Medicare act, Oxford has increased its service area
from seven to 18 counties in less than a year, more than doubling the number
of Medicare-eligible individuals who now have access to the OMA products. In
addition to eight counties in New York (Orange, Rockland and Westchester
counties, and the five boroughs of New York City), Oxford also offers OMA
products in nine New Jersey counties -- Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer,
Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, Ocean and Union -- and maintains coverage in New
Haven County in Connecticut. Oxford now serves more than 73,000 Medicare-
eligible members in the tri-state.
Eligible Medicare beneficiaries interested in enrolling in OMA plans can
call 800-303-6720. For additional information, eligible Medicare
beneficiaries also can visit Oxford's OMA Web site
http://www.oxfordhealth.com/oxford_medicare_advantage), which provides
information about healthcare coverage options, including OMA plans, as well as
related information concerning Medigap and traditional Medicare.
Oxford offers members a host of health promotion programs and benefits
including exercise classes, walking clubs, diabetes and lung disease
workshops, nutrition consultations, and podiatry, vision and hearing benefits,
through its various plans. OMA members also receive access to Oxford's
extensive OMA network of providers and specialists, and access to Oxford's
credentialed network of complementary and alternative medicine practitioners.
About Oxford Health Plans, LLC
Founded in 1984, Oxford Health Plans, LLC, a UnitedHealthcare Company,
provides health plans to employers and individuals primarily in New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut, through its direct sales force, independent insurance
agents and brokers. Oxford's commercial insured products and services include
traditional health maintenance organizations, preferred and exclusive provider
organizations, point-of-service plans and consumer-directed health plans. The
company also offers Medicare plans and third-party administration of employer-
funded benefits plans.
Following the completion of its merger with UnitedHealthcare in July 2004,
Oxford will oversee UnitedHealthcare plans and programs in New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut. The companies' Medicare Advantage programs will be
managed in the region by Oxford. More information about Oxford Health Plans
is available at http://www.oxfordhealth.com.
SOURCE Oxford Health Plans, LLC
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Related links:
http://www.oxfordhealth.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/104612.html
CONTACT:
Maria Gordon Shydlo of Oxford Health Plans,
LLC, +1-212-805-3420, or +1-203-459-7674,
mshydlo@oxfordhealth.com
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