Group Health Offers New Medicare Plans in Five Washington Counties

SEATTLE — Group Health is offering two new Medicare Advantage plans in Benton, Franklin, and Yakima counties in Central Washington and in the eastern parts of Clallam and Jefferson counties on the Kitsap Peninsula. Consumers may sign up for the plans Nov. 15, 2009 through the end of the year. Coverage will start Jan. 1, 2010.

The PPO (preferred provider organization) plans, called Clear Care PPO, allow members to benefit from Group Health's extensive expertise in caring for seniors without having to switch doctors. The Clear Care Elite PPO will cost $78 a month in premiums, and the Clear Care Prestige PPO is priced at $37 a month.

Pam MacEwan, Group Health's executive vice president for public affairs and governance, said the organization is able to offer these plans as a result of several converging factors including rising numbers of retirees living in the five counties and favorable projected cost trends.

"We are very excited about offering affordable Medicare plans to the people of Benton, Franklin, Yakima, Clallam, and Jefferson counties," MacEwan said. "Group Health has served Medicare patients for more than 30 years — longer than any other health plan in Washington State. Thirty percent of the state's Medicare Advantage enrollees receive their care through Group Health — more Medicare patients than any other health plan in the state. Our coordinated approach to care and our focus on prevention make us well-suited for meeting the healthy aging and chronic care needs of seniors."

While participating PPO doctors will have access to Group Health's chronic care management expertise and continuing education programs in gerontology and healthy aging, PPO members will benefit from Group Health's comprehensive preventive care checkups, mail-order pharmacy, 24-hour Consulting Nurse Service, supplemental dental plan, and a wealth of information about health and healthy aging offered at www.ghc.org.

Group Health will continue offering Medicare Advantage HMO plans, called Clear Care HMO, in the 13 Western and Eastern Washington counties mainly served by Group Health medical centers.

"We look forward to serving our state's growing number of retirees," MacEwan said. "We have a long tradition of seniors being actively involved in our governance. We know that the Baby Boomers are savvy about their health and their health care, and we know from experience that we can give them the care that they both need and want, for a very affordable price."

For more information, see Medicare Advantage Plans or call 1-800-446-8882, ext. 100.

Marking its 62nd year, Group Health Cooperative is an innovative, consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that integrates care and coverage. Along with its subsidiary carriers, Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, Group Health works to improve the health of more than 612,000 plan members in Washington and Idaho.

More than 9,000 staff employed by Group Health and Group Health Permanente, its contracted, multispecialty group practice, provide patient-centered, evidence-based care to members and the broader community through medical centers, a charitable foundation, and a nationally recognized research center.