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Seattle Doctors Launch Unique New Health Plan for Medicare Patients

Posted on: Friday, 9 November 2007, 15:00 CST

Seattle seniors have an unprecedented new option for health insurance during this year's Medicare open enrollment period that promises to deliver more benefits and better quality of care at a competitive price. Local medical group The Polyclinic introduced a new Medicare Advantage plan called Essence, designed and managed by The Polyclinic doctors. The Essence plan gives doctors -- not large insurance companies -- control over healthcare decisions.

"The Essence plan puts healthcare decisions back into the hands of doctors and their patients. This means that your doctors will make the important decisions about your healthcare," said Debra Gribble, president of Essence Healthcare. "With doctors designing and managing the plan, you get care you can trust, from doctors you know."

Special Benefits from a Special Plan -- The Essence Difference for Seattle Seniors

Localized Design: Seattle physicians, not insurance administrators, designed and will manage the plan.

Lowest Out of Pocket Expenses: Essence offers the lowest maximum out of pocket expense of any plan on the market.

More Benefits: Essence offers more benefits than traditional Medicare, including preventive dental care and eye exams.

Low Monthly Premiums and Co-pays: In the standard plan, enrollees do not pay a monthly premium, and enjoy a $5 co-pay for doctor visits.

Free Transportation to the Doctor: Enrollees receive up to ten complimentary round trips for non-urgent doctor visits each year.

Prescription Drug Coverage: Essence automatically includes Medicare brand-name and generic prescription drug coverage, along with the lowest initial prescription drug coverage limits. There is no need to sign up for a stand-alone drug plan.

Exceptional Service and Quality: The Essence plan gives doctors -- not large insurance companies -- control over healthcare decisions, which helps them deliver the best care possible to their patients.

To help seniors understand their healthcare choices, Essence will offer free Medicare Advantage informational meetings in the Seattle area throughout November and December. Seniors can learn about their choices in Medicare, the pros and cons of each plan, costs involved, and how to make a plan decision that is right for them. Seattle seniors are reminded that the Medicare open enrollment period ends on December 31, 2007. To find a free meeting in your area please call 1-877-392-3849 (TTY 1-866-597-9561). Complimentary refreshments and/or meal will be served.

"At The Polyclinic we have incorporated our deep knowledge of our patients and local community into the design of the plan to provide members with affordable coverage, including prescription drug coverage," said Lloyd David, CEO of The Polyclinic. "We see ourselves as partners with our patients, and as one of the largest clinics in western Washington, we're in a position to work as advocates for our patients when it comes to finding creative solutions for their health care and insurance needs."

Essence Healthcare is dedicated to transforming healthcare, and the Essence Medicare Advantage Plan is one example of improving care while lowering costs. Essence is like no other Medicare plan in the country. It empowers participating doctors to make important healthcare decisions for their patients, reinventing the way health insurance is managed and eliminating the typical adversarial relationship between insurance companies and doctors. The Essence plan provides superior services that benefit both the patient and physician and allows the physician to spend more time providing quality care.

Medicare Open Enrollment Information -- December 31, 2007 Deadline

This year, the annual Medicare open enrollment period begins on November 15 and ends on December 31, 2007. Now is the time for people with Medicare to enroll in a new plan or make changes to their existing plan.

For more information and a free, no-obligation information kit about Essence Healthcare, please call 1-866-597-9560 (TTY/TDD 1-866-597-9561). The Essence Healthcare Plan from The Polyclinic is available to all Medicare-eligible individuals in Washington state.

About The Polyclinic

The Polyclinic is made up of over 130 physicians, including internal medicine, family practice, OB/Gyn, pediatrics, and 22 additional medical and surgical specialties. Since its inception in 1917, The Polyclinic's mission has been to promote the health of its patients through quality, comprehensive and personalized care. The Polyclinic now has 10 locations in the Seattle area. For more information, visit www.polyclinic.com.

About Essence Healthcare

Essence Healthcare is a physician directed and managed health plan focused exclusively on Medicare Advantage products. The Essence plan is a radical reinvention of health insurance promoting and rewarding high quality and cost effective care. Unique to the Essence model is its focus on the physician/patient relationship whereby health plan benefits are directed by physicians within the local community, care is driven by the latest medical evidence, and patient outcomes are paramount. The Essence health plan is currently available in selected areas within Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana and the state of Washington. In the 2005 Medicare Advantage Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study (MA-CAHPS), Essence scored highest of all Missouri Medicare Advantage plans in numerous categories including Overall Health Care, Overall Rating of Health Plan, Health Plan Customer Service, among several others. For more information, visit www.essencehealthcare.com.

Source: Business Wire

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