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UPMC Health Plan Expands Medicare and Special Needs Plan into Additional Western Pennsylvania counties

PITTSBURGH (January 22, 2008) — UPMC Health Plan announced it has expanded both its UPMC for Life Medicare HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and its UPMC for Life Specialty Plan into Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, and McKean counties. The Health Plan also announced the expansion of its Medicare PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) into Clearfield and Greene counties.

 “Expanding our footprint in Western Pennsylvania helps us continue to meet the health needs of our aging population,” said Catherine Batteer, UPMC Health Plan’s vice president for Medicare. “We are pleased to now serve seven additional counties, which brings the current service area for our Medicare and Special Needs plans to 25 counties in Western Pennsylvania.”

UPMC for Life offers a variety of Medicare plans with and without prescription drug coverage. The $0 monthly premium plan option, which offers members richer benefits for no cost beyond traditional Medicare payments, is a popular choice.

The UPMC for Life Specialty Plan is for individuals with complex health issues who carry both Medicare Parts A and B and Medical Assistance. Combining the coverage and protection offered by both programs, UPMC Health Plan provides coordinated care designed to meet the unique needs of this dual-eligible population. UPMC for Life Specialty Plan members receive Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits, including a $0 copayment for generic prescriptions.

“By offering the UPMC for Life Specialty Plan in additional counties, we are now able to better serve those with special needs in Western Pennsylvania,” said John Lovelace, UPMC Health Plan’s vice president for Medicaid Services and Special Needs Plans.

The UPMC for Life Medicare and Specialty Plan service area includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clearfield, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, as well as Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, and McKean counties.

UPMC for Life Medicare and Special Needs Plan members are assigned a personal Health Care Concierge to provide ongoing assistance regarding their benefits. The member’s assigned concierge welcomes the member by phone, is available when the member calls him or her, and calls to “check in” regularly.

Members can enroll in UPMC for Life Medicare plans up to March 31, 2008. For more information, call the UPMC for Life Medicare Sales Department at 1-877-381-3765 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call 1-800-361-2629.

Applications for enrollment in the UPMC for Life Special Needs Plan are accepted at all times. For more information, call 1-866-405-8762 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users should call 1-800-407-8762.

Information regarding Medicare and Special Needs Plans is also available at the Health Plan’s website at upmchealthplan.com.

About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in Western Pennsylvania, is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the nation's top-ranked health systems. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, Work Partners, EAP Solutions, UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health – offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to nearly 1 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 80 hospitals and more than 7,500 physicians in a 29-county region. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

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