Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services opens in new window
CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Main header

  • About Us
  • Newsroom
  • Data & Research
Newsroom

Newsroom_Navigation

  • Press Kit
  • Data
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Podcast

 

 

 

Press release

MEDICARE MANAGED CARE PLAN EXPANDS TO INCLUDE BENEFICIARIES THROUGHOUT PUERTO RICO

Sep 09, 2003
  • Medicare Parts A & B
  • Medicare Part C
  • Medicare Part D
  • Prescription drugs
  • Eligibility & enrollment
  • Coverage
  • Billing & payments
  • Legislation

Share

opens in new window opens in new window opens in new window
MEDICARE MANAGED CARE PLAN EXPANDS TO INCLUDE BENEFICIARIES THROUGHOUT PUERTO RICO

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a request by MMM Healthcare Inc. to expand managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in 19 Puerto Rican municipalities. As a result, the company's plan now covers beneficiaries throughout Puerto Rico.

MMM Healthcare, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is now serving beneficiaries in the 19 municipalities. The newly approved service area includes about 115,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the island's western region. Beneficiaries can sign up for the plan during the current Medicare+Choice open enrollment.

The plan will expand into the municipalities of Aguada, Aguadilla, Anasco, Cabo Rojo, Camuy, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Isabela, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Moca, Quebradillas, Rincon, Sabana Grande, San German and San Sebastian.

"We are pleased MMM Healthcare decided to expand this health plan to include 19 more municipalities so it now covers the entire island of Puerto Rico," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "The reality is, Medicare should provide all seniors - no matter where they live - with better health insurance options, including prescription drug coverage and preventive care. The President's goals for strengthening and modernizing Medicare will move us closer to that goal."

The plan began serving beneficiaries in September 2001, in 19 municipalities including Arecibo, Manati and Ponce. The plan expanded in December 2001, to include 14 more municipalities, including San Juan, and in October 2002, to include 26 other municipalities, mostly on the eastern part of the island.

"We want to make sure all Medicare beneficiaries, whether in a Medicare+Choice plan or fee-for-service, are receiving the highest quality health care," CMS Administrator Tom Scully said. "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."

MMM Healthcare, the only Medicare+Choice plan in Puerto Rico, operates as Medicare y Mucho Mas (Medicare and Much More).

Medicare+Choice 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.

Congress created Medicare+Choice in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to expand the types of health care options available to Medicare beneficiaries, who in addition can now receive new preventive benefits and patient protections. There also is 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.

  • Previous
  • Next

Related Releases

  • CMS Solicits Public Comment for a New Demonstration to Offer Inpatient Rehabilitation Providers Flexibilities and Reduce Medicare Fraud
    Dec 14, 2020
  • FACT SHEET: Most Favored Nation Model for Medicare Part B Drugs and Biologicals Interim Final Rule with Comment Period
    Nov 20, 2020
  • Trump Administration Announces Prescription Drug Payment Model to Put American Patients First
    Nov 20, 2020
  • Trump Administration Announces Medicare Fee-For-Service Estimated Improper Payments Decline by $15 Billion Since 2016
    Nov 16, 2020
  • 2020 Estimated Improper Payment Rates for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Programs
    Nov 16, 2020

Contact us

CMS News and Media Group
Catherine Howden, Director
Brian Leshak, Deputy Director
Jason Tross, Deputy Director

Media Inquiries Form
202-690-6145

Get email updates

Sign up to get the latest information about your choice of CMS topics in your inbox. Also, you can decide how often you want to get updates.

CMS & HHS WEBSITES

  • Medicare.govopens in new window
  • Medicaid.govopens in new window
  • InsureKidsNow.govopens in new window
  • HealthCare.govopens in new window
  • HHS.govopens in new window

HELPFUL LINKS

  • Acronyms
  • Archive
  • Contacts
  • Glossary
  • Privacy policy
  • Privacy settings

RSS FEEDS

  • Newsroom
  • Blog
  • Podcast
U.S. Department of Health & Human Servicesopens in new window Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicesopens in new window

A federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244

opens in new window opens in new window opens in new window

TOOLS

  • Web policiesopens in new window
  • Plain languageopens in new window
  • No Fear Actopens in new window
  • Freedom of Information Actopens in new window
  • Inspector Generalopens in new window