UnitedHealthcare Introduces Medicare Advantage Plan for Beneficiaries in DuPage County

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group UNH company, today introduced its first Medicare Advantage plan in DuPage County. Illinois Health Partners physicians in DuPage County will be the preferred care providers for beneficiaries who enroll in the new plan.

The more than 135,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the county can enroll in the AARP MedicareComplete Focus (HMO) Medicare Advantage plan during the Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7).ⁱ

The plan is designed to help people save money and enhance their health and well-being through additional benefits and health care services beyond those available with Original Medicare.

The AARP MedicareComplete Focus plan has a $0 monthly premium beyond the Part B premium and includes coverage of prescription drugs, a SilverSneakers fitness membership and UnitedHealthcare's Passport program, which gives consumers access to their benefits when they travel outside of the plan's service area.

The plan covers hearing aids, routine vision and hearing care as well as an annual physical – above and beyond the annual wellness visit available through Original Medicare – to encourage people to build relationships with their primary care physician and get recommended screenings and preventive care services.

AARP MedicareComplete Focus members can access care from more than 330 primary care physicians and nearly 500 specialists affiliated with Illinois Health Partners.^* Members can receive in-patient care at Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and Central DuPage Hospital.

“Medicare beneficiaries in DuPage County will find quality coverage at an exceptional value in our new Medicare Advantage plan, which is designed not just to help them get well when they're sick but also to help them stay healthy and vibrant so they can enjoy their retirement,” said Elena McFann, Central region president of UnitedHealthcare. “We look forward to collaborating with Illinois Health Partners in the years ahead as we pursue our shared goal of enhancing the health and well-being of seniors and other beneficiaries in the region.”

The new plan is the result of UnitedHealthcare's desire to serve DuPage County beneficiaries with a Medicare Advantage plan that facilitates access to care providers committed to delivering high-quality, cost-effective health care.

Illinois Health Partners was established in 2011 when DuPage Medical Group, the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the Chicagoland area, joined with Edward Hospital and Health Services to serve patients across suburban Chicago. In 2014, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and many of its physicians joined Illinois Health Partners. The expansion created one of the broadest networks for HMO patients in Illinois.^**

Illinois Health Partners' mission is to improve health care in Chicago's western and southwestern suburbs by delivering value through quality, access and efficiency. The group includes hundreds of physicians representing more than 50 specialties practicing at more than 50 locations throughout DuPage County.^**

“We're committed to delivering highly efficient and coordinated care as well as exceptional outcomes for our patients, and we believe that collaboration with health plans is critical to our success,” said Lee McGrath, president of Illinois Health Partners. “We're pleased to expand and strengthen our relationship with UnitedHealthcare and look forward to providing quality care to the Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in its new plan.”

The introduction of the AARP MedicareComplete Focus plan is the latest demonstration of UnitedHealthcare's commitment to collaboration with the doctors in its local networks to enable enhanced care coordination and improved health outcomes for members.

UnitedHealthcare and Illinois Health Partners recently established an accountable care organization to provide enhanced, coordinated care for the Illinois residents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans.

They intend to deepen their collaboration in the years ahead to increase the care providers' participation in UnitedHealthcare's primary care incentive and shared savings programs, with the goal of enabling more UnitedHealthcare Medicare members to experience the benefits of these patient-centered programs: better health outcomes, an improved member experience and lower costs.

Serving nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug plans nationally.^* UnitedHealthcare serves nearly 1.3 million people in Illinois, including nearly 443,000 Medicare beneficiaries.^*

To learn more about the AARP MedicareComplete Focus plan and UnitedHealthcare's full portfolio of Medicare plans, visit www.UHCMedicarePlans.com.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide.^* Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group UNH, a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.^*

About Illinois Health Partners

Illinois Health Partners (IHP) is a network of more than 1,600 primary and specialty care physicians who are affiliated with DuPage Medical Group, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare and Northwest Community Healthcare.^** IHP serves nearly 200,000 patients in the west, southwest and northwest suburbs of Chicago.^** For more information, visit www.illinoishealthpartners.com.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan's contract renewal with Medicare.

The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

Other Providers are available in our network.

Y0066_140918_101835 Accepted

ⁱ CMS Enrollment Data, 2014
*UnitedHealthcare Internal Enrollment Data, 2014
**Illinois Health Partners Internal Data, 2014

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