Most People Will Buy Plans during the Annual Election Period
WellPoint Affiliates Expand Medicare Advantage Plans to 46 New Counties in 2013
Media Contact:WellPoint, Inc.Doug Bennett, (502) 889-2103
WellPoint affiliated plans are adding Medicare Advantage (MA) products in 46 new counties in eight states for the 2013 Annual Election Period (AEP), which is when most people purchase their Medicare coverage.
MA plans incorporate Medicare Parts A (hospital) and B (medical) into one convenient product that may include additional benefits. Part D also can be added for drug coverage (MAPD). Millions of people have chosen these plans, which offer certain preventive health care services at no cost to help keep beneficiaries healthy, detect diseases at an early stage and avoid preventable illnesses.
“Our focus with this expansion is really about offering people the right plans in the right places,” said Leeba Leesin, president of WellPoint’s senior business.
WellPoint affiliated MA plans are being launched in 13 counties in Maine, covering most of the state, and three counties in New Hampshire. Other expansions include 13 counties in Georgia, nine counties in eastern Wisconsin, three counties in Missouri, two counties in California and Colorado, and one in Virginia.
In addition to the expansion, people in many counties that were already served by WellPoint affiliated plans will have access to new products, including the first-ever products on the east coast with access to the CareMore health delivery system. These “special needs plans” will be offered in the Richmond, Va., and Brooklyn, N.Y., areas.
CareMore, a WellPoint subsidiary, is expanding into California’s Alameda County and is opening four Neighborhood Care Centers in southern California.
WellPoint affiliates also offer Medicare Supplement products in all states in their service area.
“People who are eligible for Medicare are a very diverse group with very different needs,” said Leesin. “Some are strong and independent and plan to travel the country or world. Others need a little support getting their health back. Our objective is to offer a variety of plans so everyone reaches their goals, no matter what they are.”
The AEP runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. The plans are effective Jan. 1, 2013.
At WellPoint, we believe there is an important connection between our members’ health and well-being—and the value we bring our customers and shareholders. So each day we work to improve the health of our members and their communities. And, we can make a real difference since we have nearly 34 million people in our branded health plans, and more than 62 million people served through our subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers throughout the country as UniCare and in certain California, Arizona and Nevada markets through our CareMore subsidiary. Additional information about WellPoint is available at