FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KEY DATES APPROACHING FOR ENROLLMENT IN MEDICARE HEALTH PLANS
Medicare Offers Timelines for Beneficiaries to Enroll

EAST LOS ANGELES - If you have Medicare Parts A and B there are some key dates coming up that may require your attention.
Just like those who enroll in their company's health insurance program, there is now an "Annual Election" period for Medicare, which begins November 15, 2006. This marks the first day to begin enrolling into a Medicare Advantage Plan for 2007. Coverage with the health plan that Medicare beneficiaries select will take effect January 1, 2007.

The last day to enroll for a 2007 Medicare Advantage Plan during the "Annual Election" period is December 31, 2006. However, on January 1, 2007, the "Open Enrollment" period begins. This means Medicare beneficiaries will have an additional 3 months to switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan. This "Open Enrollment" period ends on March 31, 2007 and at this point beneficiaries with Medicare only are locked into their selected plan for the remainder of the calendar year.
"Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan can be very confusing and we have been busy helping seniors and providers understand these Medicare changes and deadlines," said Elizabeth S. Tejada, General Manager of Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO, a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug benefits (MA-PD). Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO has specialized in providing Medicare benefits to the Hispanic community.

"Seniors have to make sure they select a plan that best meets their health care needs. The amount of time they have to make this very important decision is limited to the timelines set forth by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)."
Mrs. Tejada mentions that Citizens Choice Healthplan HMO offers seniors variety by partnering with thousands of primary care physicians and specialists as well as 31 hospitals which serve the Los Angeles and Northern Orange County communities.

For more information, please call 1 (866) 646-2247.