New for '09: Two Plans Give Seniors More Choice in Their Coverage and No Co-pay on Select Generic Prescription Drugs

(October 1, 2008) — SCAN Health Plan will soon give Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles County more health care options from which to choose. The health plan announced today that it is adding a second Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan to its highly successful Los Angeles County offerings for 2009. Both plans – SCAN Classic and SCAN Options – include comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage with no monthly premiums and no deductibles.

“We are excited to offer for the first time two distinct plans in L.A. County because we know that not all seniors are looking for the same thing when it comes to their health coverage,” said David Schmidt, chief executive officer of SCAN Health Plan. “Both plans focus on affordability and access, but now provide the added benefit of allowing members to choose the plan that best meets their individual health care needs.”

As always, all SCAN members will receive all of the basic benefits traditionally covered under Medicare, including doctor visits, hospital care, emergency/urgent care, skilled nursing facility care and more. In addition, both SCAN plans include annual routine physical exams and preventive screenings; eye exams; in-home recovery benefits, including home-delivered meals and personal care services; and SCAN On-Call™, a 24-hour nurse advice line. There is no co-payment for annual routine physical exams, and there is no co-payment on 12 of the most widely used generic prescription drugs.

SCAN Classic also includes a generous prescription drug benefit, lower pharmacy co-pays, hearing exams, and transportation to and from doctor visits. Primary care physician office visit co-payments are just $5. SCAN Options includes a no-cost fitness club membership and routine chiropractic and acupuncture services. With SCAN Options there is no co-payment for physician or hospital visits.

“In addition to the health benefits, one of the biggest benefits members continue to praise is the personal service they receive day in and day out,” said Schmidt. All of SCAN employees undergo an “age sensitivity program” to better help them understand the process of aging and better identify with members’ needs. In addition, calls into SCAN during business hours are answered by one of SCAN’s specially trained member service representatives, not by an automated recording. “This all adds up to the special SCAN touch, which we believe truly helps differentiate us and is one of the reasons for our excellent retention rate,” said Schmidt.

In Los Angeles County SCAN also offers plans for individuals with Medicare and Medi-Cal.

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare and today is the fourth largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage Plan in the United States. The company currently serves nearly 105,000 members in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura and Kern counties. In Arizona, SCAN offers a health plan for Medicare and Medicaid-eligible individuals and also provides long-term care services to individuals enrolled in the state’s long-term care system in Maricopa County. In 2009, SCAN will also offer an MAPD in Maricopa County. Further information may be obtained at www.scanhealthplan.com.

Medicare beneficiaries interested in joining SCAN may call 800-915-7226 for more information.