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Spokane Community Care Receives 2007 Senior Choice Gold Award for Medicare Advantage Plan in Spokane Area
January 19, 2007, Spokane, Wash. – Spokane Community Care has been awarded the 2007 Senior Choice Gold Award from HealthMetrix Research, Inc., for its Plus and Premier Plans. Spokane Community Care, one of 38 Medicare plans nationally to be recognized, was honored for the cost-sharing effectiveness and value in the design of its medical and Part D prescription drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries and was the only Medicare Advantage plan in the Spokane area to qualify.
The award recipients were selected from over 200 Medicare managed care plans based on cost-sharing comparisons conducted by HealthMetrix Research Inc., a national independent managed care research firm.
“This award responds to the continued concerns and uncertainties that beneficiaries have with the out-of-pocket costs incurred when they enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Spokane Community Care has demonstrated a commitment to delivering maximum value in the design of their plan benefits, copayments, deductibles and premiums. We anticipate that informed beneficiaries will rely on this award as an indication of excellence just as they rely on other awards and consumer ratings that recognize excellence in quality of care, health outcomes and member satisfaction,” said HealthMetrix Research and MedicareNewsWatch.com president Alan Mittermaier.
While providing all of the same benefits as standard Medicare coverage for a lower cost, Spokane Community Care also offers much more, such as additional coverage for vision and preventive services including routine annual physical exams and cancer screenings. Extra value-added services like fitness center memberships, make Spokane Community Care a comprehensive and affordable health care plan.
“We are honored that HealthMetrix Research, Inc. has recognized Spokane Community Care with the Senior Gold Choice Award,” said Ken Bryan, Executive Director for Spokane Community Care. “We are proud to offer a plan with reduced costs and excellent care, and are dedicated to walking the Spokane community through all of their Medicare choices every step of the way.”
The award selections are based on the 2007 estimated cost-sharing comparisons conducted in over 120 cities during October 2006 by HealthMetrix Research Inc. The annual comparisons estimate the out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries based on health status categories and corresponding utilization of the most common plan benefits. The comparisons identify the Medicare plans with the lowest and highest annual out-of-pocket costs based on the approved 2007 member copayments, deductibles and premiums that appear in the Medicare Options Compare database (www.medicare.gov).
About Spokane Community Care
Spokane Community Care is a physician-led company dedicated to providing affordable health plan products to Medicare beneficiaries in Spokane County. For more information call toll-free 1-800-573-8609 (TTY/TDD 866-573-8613) or visit www.spokanecommunitycare.com.
About HealthMetrix
HealthMetrix Research Inc. has provided independent information to a national audience of managed care organizations and consumers since 1996. The COSTSHARE REPORT is the most extensive analysis of Medicare plan cost-sharing available. HealthMetrix Research Inc. neither recommends nor endorses specific Medicare managed care plans.