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Michigan-based
businesses partner to increase Dental
Coverage Access for Medicare beneficiaries
DETROIT, Feb. 14
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognizing the
value of oral health to overall health,
Detroit-based Health Alliance Plan (HAP), in
partnership with Delta Dental of Michigan,
successfully launched a dental coverage
option for the region's eligible Medicare
beneficiaries.
To date, more than
1,600 Medicare beneficiaries have enrolled
in one of HAP's 2008 Medicare Advantage
products with the Delta Dental benefit.
HAP formed the
partnership with Delta Dental as a result of
customer feedback indicating that members
would like to have access to medical,
prescription and dental benefits under a
single Medicare plan.
"We are pleased to
partner with Delta Dental--the state's
leader in dental benefits--to deliver
high-quality care, reduce out-of-pocket
costs and provide financial protection
against unexpected dental expenses for
Medicare beneficiaries," said Karen
Wintringham, Vice President, Medicare and
Public Sector Programs."
Beneficiaries who
enroll in HAP Senior Plus HMO or Alliance
Medicare PPO plans can add coverage for
dental services, including x-rays, oral
surgery, fillings, crowns and routine
cleanings.
An additional premium
for the dental option starts as low as
$22.20 per month. HAP has set up a seamless
billing and payment system so members only
have to submit one monthly payment to HAP
for medical, prescription and dental
benefits.
Under the Delta Dental
plan, enrollees can use any dentist, but
receive additional savings by visiting
dentists who participate with the Delta
Dental PPO network, among the largest in the
state and nation. Customer service is
supported by experienced staff within each
organization.
"We appreciate the
opportunity to work with HAP to bring dental
coverage to Michigan's Medicare
beneficiaries," said Charles D. Floyd,
Executive Vice President of Sales,
Actuarial, and Underwriting for Delta
Dental.
"HAP and Delta Dental
are committed to helping seniors take good
care of their total health."
HAP has more than
28,200 Medicare Advantage members, with over
22,800 in the HAP Senior Plus HMO; 1,600 in
the Alliance Medicare PPO; and 3,700 in the
Alliance Medicare Rx prescription drug plan.
IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION FOR MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES:
The Open Enrollment
Period for Medicare Advantage runs from
January 1 through March 31.
During this period,
anyone with Original Medicare or a Medicare
Advantage plan can switch plans once. Any
switch made during the Open Enrollment
Period generally will be effective on the
first day of the month following the date
the plan receives your request.
Enrollees must sign up
for a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO or PPO)
to be eligible for the dental coverage
option. These members will receive the
fitness benefit at no charge and can elect
to enroll in the dental plan throughout this
Period.
For more information
about the Open Enrollment Period, HAP's
Medicare Advantage Plans and the optional
dental and fitness benefits, call
1-800-868-3153.
About
HAP
Headquartered in
Detroit, Health Alliance Plan is a nonprofit
health plan serving 540,000 members and
2,000 employer groups. HAP is a subsidiary
of the Henry Ford Health System, one of the
nation's leading regional health care
systems.
HAP Senior Plus and
Alliance Medicare PPO are Medicare-approved
health plans. Alliance Medicare PPO is a
product of Alliance Health and Life
Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary
of HAP.
The National Committee
for Quality Assurance awarded HAP's
commercial HMO and HAP Senior Plus, its
Medicare Advantage HMO, Excellent
Accreditation.
About
Delta Dental of Michigan
Delta Dental of
Michigan, with affiliates in Ohio, Indiana,
and Tennessee, is one of the largest dental
plan administrators in the nation.
Offices are located in
Okemos and Farmington Hills, Michigan;
Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis
and Greenwood, Indiana; and, Nashville,
Knoxville, and Memphis, Tennessee. Delta
Dental plans are members of the Delta Dental
Plans Association, a nationwide system of
independently operated dental health service
plans.
Together, the
plans cover more than 50 million Americans
and operate the nation's largest network of
participating dentists.
The purpose of Delta
Dental is to advance and promote the
improvement of oral health by offering
innovative, cost-effective coverage that
meets the needs of customers and enrollees.
Source:
Health Alliance Plan
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