Benefits Include Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Doctor Visits

(October 2, 2006) — SCAN Health Plan today announced its 2007 benefits package for Orange County, which includes lower out-of-pocket costs for office visits as well as reduced co-payments for generic and preferred brand name drugs. In addition, SCAN announced that it will continue to offer Medicare-eligible individuals in the county comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage with no monthly premiums and no deductibles. “We continue to be dedicated to offering seniors and others on Medicare the best possible value when it comes to benefits and services,” said David Schmidt, chief executive officer of SCAN Health Plan. “As evidence of this commitment we are especially pleased in 2007 to offer our members in the county reduced co- payments for visits to their SCAN physician.” Primary care physician office visit co-payments are being reduced to just $5 for members in Orange County. Another significant benefit improvement at SCAN involves hearing aids. The health plan has increased the amount it will cover on hearing aids from $250 to $400, and the benefit is now available every three years as opposed to every two. Under Medicare Part D, SCAN will continue to offer a generous prescription drug benefit that includes unlimited coverage for generic medications on the SCAN formulary. SCAN will cover up to $3,000 for brand name drugs. Co-payments for non-preferred formulary drugs have increased slightly while co-payments for generic and preferred brand name formulary drugs – retail and mail order – have been reduced. The co-payment for a 31-day supply of a generic drug from a SCAN- approved pharmacy is now just $5. SCAN members will continue to receive all of the basic benefits covered under Medicare including doctor visits, hospital care, emergency/urgent care, skilled nursing facility care and more. Beyond these core Medicare benefits, plus Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, SCAN members in 2007 will continue to enjoy coverage for routine eye and hearing exams and transportation to the doctor’s office, plus SCAN On-Call™, a 24-hour nurse advice line, in-home assistance services, and access to emergency care worldwide. SCAN is one of California’s fastest-growing senior-focused health plans currently serving more than 90,000 Medicare-eligible individuals in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties. Effective January 1, 2007, SCAN will begin serving members in San Diego County through a partnership with Scripps Health. In addition, the plan was recently awarded a three-year contract by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System to provide long-term care services to low-income elderly and physically disabled Arizonans enrolled in the Arizona Long-Term Care System program in Maricopa County. Since its founding nearly 30 years ago, SCAN has demonstrated a unique passion for finding innovative ways to enhance its members’ abilities to manage their own health and continue to control how and where they live. Further information may be obtained at www.scanhealthplan.com. Medicare-eligible individuals interested in joining should call toll-free 1-877-452-5896.