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MANAGED CARE PLAN OFFERED TO INCLUDE BENEFICIARIES IN 2 CENTRAL N.Y. COUNTIES

 

MANAGED CARE PLAN OFFERED TO INCLUDE BENEFICIARIES IN 2 CENTRAL N.Y. COUNTIES

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a request by Fidelis Care New York to offer managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in two central New York counties.

 

Fidelis Care New York is operated by the New York State Catholic Health Plan, based in Queens, N.Y.  The plan is now serving beneficiaries in Herkimer and Oneida counties, including the cities of Herkimer, Rome and Utica.  Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for the plan during the current open enrollment in Medicare Advantage, formerly known as Medicare+Choice. About 55,000 beneficiaries live in the two counties.

            

"We are pleased Fidelis Care New York decided to offer this health plan to beneficiaries in Herkimer and Oneida counties,” HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.  "Under the Medicare reform law signed by President Bush, Medicare will provide all seniors - no matter where they live - with better health insurance options, including prescription drug coverage and preventive care.  The law is achieving the President's goals of strengthening and modernizing Medicare.”

 

The plan will give another health care option to beneficiaries living in these two counties.  Beneficiaries in Oneida County currently are served by United Healthcare Insurance Co. of New York Inc. and United Healthcare of New York Inc. The Fidelis Care New York plan will be the first Medicare Advantage plan operating in Herkimer County.

 

"We want to make sure all Medicare beneficiaries, whether in a Medicare Advantage plan or fee-for-service, are receiving the highest quality health care," said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D.  "We are doing more to guarantee that beneficiaries understand the Medicare coverage options available to them.  We also are reminding beneficiaries of the need to work closely with the doctors and other health care providers that give them medical care."

 

Medicare Advantage HMOs and fee-for-service plans are available where private companies choose to offer them.  Currently, about 4.6 million Medicare beneficiaries -- out of a total of about 40 million aged and disabled Americans -- have enrolled in Medicare HMOs.  Original fee-for-service Medicare, currently chosen by more than 35 million beneficiaries, is available to all beneficiaries.

 

Medicare has a far-reaching consumer information program that includes a national toll-free phone number -- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY/TDD, at 877-486-2048 -- an Internet site -- www.medicare.gov -- and a coalition of more than 200 national and local organizations to provide seniors more information.