UPMC for Life Plans for 2016 Offer Quality and Value

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- UPMC for Life – the Medicare Advantage product of UPMC Health Plan – remains committed in 2016 to offering high quality plans at premium costs that are among the lowest in the region.

UPMC for Life is offering six plans in 2016 – four HMO plans and two PPO plans – so that Medicare-eligible members can choose the one that best suits their needs.

All UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage members will have access to a provider network that includes over 9,000 doctors and 83 hospitals in Pennsylvania, including the doctors and hospitals of UPMC. For 16 years, UPMC has been one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation.*

All UPMC for Life HMO plans maintain an "Excellent" accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest honor a managed care plan can receive.^**  

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage members can also benefit from UPMC Health Plan's Health Care Concierge program. Concierges are local customer service representatives who are knowledgeable about Medicare and are dedicated to answering members' questions and to getting their problems solved with just one phone call. For the second time in four years, the UPMC Health Plan Call Center was named the Global Call Center of the Year in the large call center category by the International Customer Management Institute.^***

All of UPMC for Life's Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare alone, including low copays for primary care physician visits and complimentary membership at a participating fitness club through Silver&Fit^™. Also, most plans will offer preventive dental coverage.

The UPMC for Life HMO Deductible with Rx plan, UPMC for Life's most popular plan in 2014 and 2015, will have a monthly premium of $22. UPMC for Life HMO Rx has a premium cost of $83 per month and UPMC for Life Rx Enhanced plan will carry a $242 monthly premium.

In addition, UPMC for Life will continue to offer a $0 premium plan (UPMC for Life HMO) that does not include prescription drug coverage.^**** This plan is considered ideal for persons who have prescription coverage through the Veterans Administration. 

UPMC for Life PPO Rx Enhanced plan will have a monthly premium of $152 and the UPMC for Life PPO High Deductible with Rx plan has a $44 monthly premium.  

"UPMC for Life continues to offer great coverage and great value to the Medicare beneficiaries of western Pennsylvania," said Diane P. Holder, President of UPMC Health Plan. "Our members have the peace of mind of knowing that they have in-network access to the top-ranked hospitals as well as top-quality member services."

Most UPMC for Life plans include preventive dental coverage for cleanings and exams. The UPMC Dental Advantage Medicare benefit includes a $15 copay for one oral exam and cleaning every six months. It also offers a $15 copay for one bitewing x-ray every year. 

All UPMC for Life members can take advantage of the Silver&Fit Exercise and Healthy Aging Program. This program provides membership at participating fitness facilities at no additional cost to the member. Moreover, for those who prefer to work out at home, the program provides home fitness kits including walking, Pilates, yoga, dance, and cardio strength.

Additional benefits for all UPMC for Life plans include Assist America, which provides help when travelling more than 100 miles from home or to a foreign country. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

* U.S. News & World Report, America's Best Hospitals, 7-21-15.

** This award was not given by Medicare. For more information about UPMC for Life's CMS Star Rating go to www.Medicare.gov.

*** For more information about the ICMI award, visit www.icmi.com. This award was not given by Medicare. For more information about UPMC for Life's CMS Star Rating go to www.Medicare.gov.

**** Persons on this plan must continue to pay their Medicare Part B premium.

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premium, and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. The provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.

UPMC for Life has a contract with Medicare to provide HMO and PPO plans. Enrollment in UPMC for Life depends on contract renewal. UPMC for Life is a product of and operated by UPMC Health Plan Inc., UPMC Health Network Inc., and UPMC Health Benefits Inc.

About UPMC Health Plan

UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in western Pennsylvania, is owned by UPMC, an integrated global health enterprise. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, UPMC WorkPartners, LifeSolutions (EAP), UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health – offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, Special Needs, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to over 2.7 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 125 hospitals and more than 11,500 physicians throughout Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

SOURCE UPMC Health Plan

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