Empire to Expand Medicare PPO Offerings to 10 New York Counties

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire BlueCross BlueShield is expanding its Medicare Advantage PPO offerings to 10 counties in New York in an effort to better serve seniors, including the growing "Baby Boomer" population. The plans are being offered during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2011.

In 2011, the first of the Baby Boomers will be aging into Medicare, including nearly 169,000 people in New York.

Empire is expanding its Medicare Advantage PPO plans to Clinton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Delaware, Greene and Columbia counties. Three Medicare Advantage PPO plans will be offered in these counties with premiums ranging from $0 to $99 a month and including a wide range of benefits.

Additionally, Empire will continue to offer a variety of Medicare plan options, including Medicare Supplement plans, in the following counties: Saratoga, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Putman, Rockland, Westchester, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.

"We are committed to doing business in New York by providing affordable health care solutions to the region's seniors with benefits above and beyond Original Medicare," said Mark Wagar, President and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield.

In addition to being offered in new counties, some of Empire's Medicare Advantage plans have innovative benefits in 2011, including the following:

• Plans with no additional cost share for using out-of-network hospital providers for covered services.
• Plans with optional supplemental benefits, which can be purchased for a small additional premium, including a preventive dental benefit, and an acupuncture and chiropractic benefit.
• Plans with a "personal service advocate." With this feature, beneficiaries will have the benefit of having their own customer service representative who is familiar with their plan, benefits and needs.

Empire has served New Yorkers for more than 75 years and has provided innovative Medicare solutions for nearly 15 years. The company serves about 143,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the state.

The Medicare Advantage annual enrollment season begins Nov. 15 and runs through Dec. 31. It is a time when people eligible for Medicare can choose or change their plan.

For more information, visit Empire's online store at www.empireblue.com/shop where visitors can learn about products, compare plans, get a quote and even enroll in the plan that best suits their needs.

Terms and conditions may vary. Please consult the individual policy for complete details. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

Services provided by Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. and/or Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield

Serving New Yorkers for over 75 years, Empire BlueCross BlueShield is the largest health insurer in New York supporting nearly six million members and more than 38,000 business, union and small employers in New York. Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com

SOURCE Empire BlueCross BlueShield