HealthMetrix Research Selects Medicare Advantage Plans for Best Overall 2007 Benefit Value
Wednesday November 1, 3:00 pm ET
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicare plans in 82 cities will be recognized for best overall value in the design of their 2007 medical and Part D prescription drug benefits for seniors. The 2007 Senior Choice Gold Award recipients were selected from over 200 Medicare Advantage managed care plans based on independent cost-sharing comparisons conducted annually by HealthMetrix Research Inc. and MedicareNewsWatch.com. According to HealthMetrix Research Inc. president Alan Mittermaier:
"These forward-looking independent comparisons provide Medicare beneficiaries with true out-of-pocket costs associated with joining a Medicare Advantage plan. Each award recipient has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in the design of their 2007 Medicare plan benefits, copayments, deductibles and premiums including the Part D prescription drug benefits. HealthMetrix Research applauds these organizations and we are delighted that informed seniors can rely on the Senior Choice Gold Award recognition when selecting a Medicare Advantage plan."
The award criteria were based on 2007 benefits and cost-sharing approved by Medicare for the selected plans. Estimated annual out-of-pocket costs consider beneficiaries' health status (healthy, episodic, chronic) and utilization of the most common health plan benefits (physician office visits, emergency care, hospital care, prevention care, prescriptions). HealthMetrix Research cost-sharing comparisons for over 100 cities are available at www.MedicareNewsWatch.com. HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans.
Contact: Alan Mittermaier 614-236-8345 614-236-8034 Fax
2007 Senior Choice Gold Award Recipients
East
Albany Empire Blue Cross
Allentown Unison Health Plan
Baltimore Elder Health
Boston Area
(Essex county) Tufts Health Plan
(Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk) Fallon Community Health Plan
Bradenton Universal Health Care
Buffalo Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western NY
Charlotte Partners National Health Plans
Fort Lauderdale HealthSun
Universal Health Care
Fort Myers Universal Health Care
Greensboro Partners National Health Plans
Greenville South East Community Care
Jacksonville Quality Health Plans
Universal Health Care
Kissimmee Quality Health Plans
Universal Health Care
Miami Leon Medical Center Health Plan
Universal Health Care
New Jersey
(Ocean, Sussex, Union) Aetna
(Bergen, Essex, Hudson,
Passaic) Unison Health Plan
New York Metro
(Bronx, Kings, Queens,
Manhattan, Nassau, Staten
Island) Liberty Health Advantage
(Rockland, Suffolk,
Westchester) GHI Health Plan
Ocala Freedom Health
Universal Health Care
Orlando Freedom Health
Pensacola PartnerCare
Philadelphia Elder Health
Pittsburgh Unison Health Plan
Portland, ME Northeast Community Care
Providence United HealthCare
Raleigh Partners National Health Plans
Rochester WellCare
Sarasota Universal Health Care
Savannah South East Community Care
St. Petersburg Freedom Health
Universal Health Care
Tampa Freedom Health
Universal Health Care
Washington DC Elder Health
West Palm Beach Universal Health Care
Worcester Fallon Community Health Plan
Midwest
Akron/Canton The Health Plan
Baton Rouge Peoples Health
Birmingham VIVA Health
Chicago WellCare
Cincinnati Anthem
Cleveland Anthem
Dayton Anthem
Des Moines Coventry Health Care
Detroit Blue Care Network
Fayetteville, AR Arkansas Community Care
Kansas City Coventry Health Care
Indianapolis Anthem
Little Rock Arkansas Community Care
Louisville Anthem
Memphis Unison Health Plan
Milwaukee Today's Health
Minneapolis/St. Paul UCare Minnesota
Mobile HealthSpring
Montgomery VIVA Health
New Orleans Peoples Health
Peoria United Healthcare
Toledo Anthem
West
Albuquerque Lovelace Health Plan
Austin Texas Community Care
Bakersfield Blue Cross of California
Colorado Springs Secure Horizons/UnitedHealthcare
Corpus Christi Physicians Health Choice
Dallas/Fort Worth Secure Horizons/UnitedHealthcare
Denver Kaiser Permanente
El Paso Elder Health
Fresno Secure Horizons/UnitedHealthcare
Golden Aetna
Houston Elder Health
Las Vegas Health Plan of Nevada
Los Angeles
(Los Angeles, Orange) CareMore
(Riverside, San Bernardino) Aetna
Oakland Health Net
Phoenix CIGNA
Reno Health Plan of Nevada
Sacramento Health Net
San Antonio Humana
San Diego SCAN
San Francisco Health Net
San Jose Secure Horizons/United Healthcare
Santa Fe Lovelace Health Plan
Spokane Spokane Community Care
Tucson Health Net
Tulsa CommunityCare HMO
Vancouver Secure Horizons/United Healthcare
Yakima/Tri-Cities Columbia Community Care
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Source: HealthMetrix Research Inc.
