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PacifiCare Medicare HMO Premiums Will Increase

Tue, 09/26/2000 - 11:00pm — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

PacifiCare, which runs Secure Horizons, the largest Medicare HMO in the country, announced premium increases for its HMO members for 2001. In some cases premium increases will be quite significant. The company pointed out that this will vary widely from area to area, depending on the level of reimbursement the company gets from the federal government, which is different in each county. For instance, they said that in Los Angeles County beneficiaries will pay no monthly premium other than the regular Medicare Part B premium, and the copayment of $5 to see doctors, $7 for generic drugs, and $15 for brand-name drugs will remain unchanged for the second year in a row. In contrast, in Pueblo County, Colorado, where Secure Horizons will be the only Medicare+Choice health plan operating next year, beneficiaries will be charged a $99 monthly premium over and above the regular Medicare Part B premium. They will also pay $15 co-payments for doctor and specialist visits, and will receive a $750 annual prescription benefit for brand-name pharmaceuticals and an unlimited prescription benefit for formulary generics.

PacifiCare, which runs Secure Horizons, the largest Medicare HMO in the country, announced premium increases for its HMO members for 2001. In some cases premium increases will be quite significant. The company pointed out that this will vary widely from area to area, depending on the level of reimbursement the company gets from the federal government, which is different in each county. For instance, they said that in Los Angeles County beneficiaries will pay no monthly premium other than the regular Medicare Part B premium, and the copayment of $5 to see doctors, $7 for generic drugs, and $15 for brand-name drugs will remain unchanged for the second year in a row. In contrast, in Pueblo County, Colorado, where Secure Horizons will be the only Medicare+Choice health plan operating next year, beneficiaries will be charged a $99 monthly premium over and above the regular Medicare Part B premium. They will also pay $15 co-payments for doctor and specialist visits, and will receive a $750 annual prescription benefit for brand-name pharmaceuticals and an unlimited prescription benefit for formulary generics.