FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HealthMetrix Research Finds Medicare Advantage Plans Offering Seniors Opportunity to Lower Their 2007 Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs | Monday January 15, 3:00 pm ET
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- There may be handsome dividends for seniors who take a closer look before April 1st at the Part D drug coverage offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Numerous Medicare HMO, PPO and PFFS plans feature $0 monthly premiums and $0 deductibles with either complete or partial coverage throughout the "gap" or "donut hole" (when beneficiaries pay 100% of their drug bills until reaching $3,850 in out-of-pocket costs). HealthMetrix Research Inc. and MedicareNewsWatch.com screened over 200 such Medicare Advantage plans to identify which ones offer the lowest out-of-pocket costs for Part D drugs in 2007.

According to HealthMetrix Research Inc. president Alan Mittermaier, "We were more surprised than we expected with the findings. For 2007, there are no $0 premium drug-only Part D plans available except for low-income seniors who qualify for premium subsidies. Most drug-only plans featuring $0 annual deductible plus gap coverage will cost seniors $40 or more in monthly premiums. That is on top of premiums for Medigap or supplemental insurance for medical and hospital coverage. Seniors who are willing to bundle all of their Medicare coverage by enrolling in a Medicare HMO, PPO, or PFFS plan can realize considerable savings in annual expenses even with pre-existing conditions. The strategy and savings would be similar to bundling auto, property, and life insurance policies with a single insurer."

Seniors can be reluctant to enroll in managed care plans for a variety of reasons. Alan Mittermaier notes that "what may not register with all seniors is that the same Medicare regulatory protections apply to enrollees in both drug-only and Medicare Advantage Part D plans with respect to required drug formulary lists and the rules for switching or dropping drugs. The reality is that drug-only Part D plan sponsors will manage their drug benefits just as aggressively as Medicare Advantage plan sponsors."

HealthMetrix Research delivers independent decision-support information for Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers and healthcare professionals. HealthMetrix Research neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare plans or products.

Best 2007 Part D Benefit Values Among Medicare Advantage Plans Offering $0 Premium $0 Deductible with Gap Coverage

Anthem – Indianapolis, Louisville, Toledo
CIGNA - Phoenix
Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO - Los Angeles
Coventry Health Care - Kansas City
Freedom Health - Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tampa
GemCare - Bakersfield
HealthSpring - Memphis
HealthSun Health Plans - Fort Lauderdale, Miami
Health Plan of Nevada - Las Vegas, Reno
Humana - Corpus Christi
Intervalley Health Plan - San Bernardino
Liberty Health Advantage - New York City
Optimum HealthCare - Hernando & Sumter (FL) counties
Peoples Health Network - Baton Rouge, New Orleans
Quality Health Plans - Bradenton, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Sarasota
SCAN - San Diego
SelectCare - Houston
SunCoast Physicians - West Palm Beach
Texas Community Care - Austin
Today' s Health - Milwaukee
Unison Health Plan - Allentown
WellCare - Atlanta, Chicago, Rochester

Source: HealthMetrix Research Inc.