PacifiCare To Launch Fee-For-Service Medicare Advantage Plans
Cypress-based PacifiCare Health Systems on Thursday announced that it has received CMS approval to sell new fee-for-service Medicare Advantage plans in 16 states, including California, the Orange County Register reports (Wolfson, Orange County Register, 7/15).
The fee-for-service plan, called Secure Horizons Direct, will be available beginning Sept. 1. Medicare beneficiaries will have a choice of five different plan designs, depending on their county of residence, with three plans having no monthly premiums. All of the plans include office visit copayments, ranging from $5 to $12 for a primary care physician visit and $20 to $25 for a visit to a specialist (Portland Business Journal, 7/15).
The plans will not offer prescription drug coverage. Under the new Medicare drug benefit -- which takes effect Jan. 1, 2006 -- prescription drug coverage will be available separately or through other managed care plans.
In California, PacifiCare will sell the plans in 18 counties, primarily in Northern California (Orange County Register, 7/15).
CMS approval is pending in 33 additional states and the District of Columbia (Portland Business Journal, 7/15).