Humana Bolsters Portfolio of Medicare Advantage Plans for 2010

Humana Inc. said that it will offer many new Medicare plans across the U.S. in 2010, providing consumers a wide variety of choices, including Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that feature affordable monthly premiums while offering health-and-wellness benefits and cost savings compared to what's available through Original Medicare.

The Medicare enrollment period began Sunday, November 15, for plans that take effect as soon as January 1, 2010.

Humana, an administrator of MA medical plans and Medicare prescription-drug plans (PDPs), said that it will continue to offer MA plans that feature benefits not available to people enrolled in Original Medicare - at a cost that, in many cases, is lower than Original Medicare. Humana will also offer more than 100 PDP plans in 2010, including a new cost-saving "Value PDP" - which will be available in nearly half of Medicare's 34 regions in 2010, replacing one of the 2009 plans in those areas.

"Some people are most concerned with getting the lowest premium possible, while others want the richest benefits available in a Medicare plan. At Humana, we have products across this spectrum - which is an important reason why Humana plans have proven so popular with seniors," said Tom Liston, senior vice president of senior products at Humana. "Although the cost of health care services has continued to outpace the overall inflation rate in 2009, Humana has worked to keep our premiums and other plan-related costs affordable for 2010. Once again, seniors will have access to comprehensive benefits, including many features they can't get through Original Medicare."

Humana added that it will continue to transition to more network-based Medicare products in 2010, entering nearly 20 new markets with Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) products and nearly 50 new markets with Local Preferred Provider Organization (LPPO) products. In addition to new markets, Humana is expanding to eight new counties in six existing HMO markets and more than 200 new counties in approximately 40 existing LPPO markets.

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