Medicare Advantage plan options, service area

Addition of new plan and eight new counties

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – October 5, 2009)  Priority Health announced today it is expanding both its Medicare Advantage service area and the Medicare Advantage products it will offer effective Jan. 1, 2010. Residents in 31 Michigan counties will be able to choose Priority Health Medicare Advantage coverage in 2010, up from 23 counties in 2009.

Priority Health's Medicare Advantage plans are now available in Allegan, Antrim, Barry, Benzie, Cass, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Leelanau, Livingston, Manistee, Mecosta, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa, Roscommon, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wexford counties.

Affordable plans available throughout Michigan

"While other companies have reduced their Medicare offerings, Priority Health has expanded its Medicare Advantage program, including some plans with premiums as low as $0 per-month," said Joan Budden, chief marketing officer at Priority Health."Today’s customers are market-savvy. They want high-quality, affordable health care that’s easy to use and understand. By expanding both our service area and product offerings, we are able to provide those eligible for Medicare with convenient, affordable coverage."

Those eligible for Medicare may choose from four Priority Health Medicare Advantage plans, all of which include prescription coverage or a prescription drug-only plan. The plans vary in price, depending on benefit design, out-of-pocket costs and geographical location. Priority Health also offers several Medigap (Medicare Supplement insurance) plans, which are available statewide.

New PPO offers the most comprehensive coverage

PriorityMedicare Choice^SM (PPO) is the newest and most comprehensive Medicare Advantage plan offered by Priority Health.

Priority Health continues to offer the following three Medicare Advantage plans and one prescription drug plan including:

• PriorityMedicare Value^SM – offers the lowest monthly premiums, making it ideal for those individuals who don’t use their medical benefits very often.
• PriorityMedicare^SM – offers a slightly higher premium than PriorityMedicare Value with lower copays and out-of-pocket costs.
• PriorityMedicare Plus^SM – offers medical coverage that’s similar to PriorityMedicare with enhanced prescription-drug coverage in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, called the "donut hole."
• PriorityMedicare Rx^SM – is a stand-alone prescription-drug plan. It is available to Medicare-eligible individuals throughout the state of Michigan.

All Priority Health Medicare Advantage plans offer:

• Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage with no deductible
• Low out-of-pocket costs
• Preventive care
• Worldwide emergency and urgent care coverage
• Local in-Michigan customer service  

Highest quality rating, two years in a row

For the second year in a row, the Priority Health Medicare Advantage plans earned a five-star rating from the national Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) based on a survey of Medicare participants. The report is published in the Medicare & You booklet each year by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

About Priority Health

Priority Health is a nationally recognized health benefits company based in Michigan. It serves 500,000 members with a broad portfolio of products, including commercial and government health plans. A nonprofit dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, Priority Health continues to be recognized as one of America’s Best Health Plans by U.S. News & World Report and NCQA. Priority Health employs 900 people throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula with offices in Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Traverse City.