Benefits Include Unlimited Coverage for Generic Drugs on the SCAN Formulary

(October 2, 2006) — SCAN Health Plan today announced that it will continue to offer Medicare-eligible individuals in Ventura County comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage in 2007 for the same low $30 monthly premium. “We continue to be dedicated to offering seniors and others on Medicare in Ventura County the best possible value when it comes to benefits and services,” said David Schmidt, chief executive officer of SCAN Health Plan. “We are also committed to providing benefits that make a difference to our members. That is why we are especially pleased to offer an improved hearing aid benefit in 2007.” SCAN has increased the amount it will cover on hearing aids from $250 to $400 with the benefit being 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 prescription drugs from a SCAN-approved pharmacy will remain unchanged in 2007, which means a 31-day supply of a generic drug is still available to SCAN members for just $10. Co-payments for 90-day drug supplies have increased slightly. SCAN members will also 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, SCAN members will still 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 members who currently see a Buenaventura Medical Group (BMG) physician will be asked to select a new primary care physician for 2007 from the health plan’s provider network. As of January 1, SCAN's provider network will no longer include BMG due to its acquisition by Kaiser Permanente earlier this summer. 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.