• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Health Net's Medicare Store Opens in Fiesta Mall; Seniors Invited to ''Make Medicare Simple''

Posted on: Friday, 17 March 2006, 21:00 CST

Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) this week opened a Medicare store in a Phoenix-area mall as part of the company's commitment to take its 'Making Medicare Simple' message to places where seniors can get questions answered face-to-face. Health Net believes its Medicare store is the first of its kind in Arizona and possibly in the nation.

Seniors can sign up for Health Net plans to cover their health care costs, including the costs of prescription drugs, at their convenience by stopping by the retail store at Fiesta Mall in Mesa, Ariz.

Roger Greaves, chairman of the board for Health Net, Inc., and Elizabeth Seaman, a Health Net Medicare member, cut the ribbon Wednesday morning, officially inaugurating the store with a welcoming crowd on hand.

"The response from seniors has been very positive," said Mark El-Tawil, president of Health Net of Arizona, Inc., who officiated the opening. "Our retail Medicare store helps make Medicare simple because many seniors prefer to do business face-to-face at their leisure. This location provides them that opportunity, especially since a large number of seniors use this mall as a location for indoor walking as well as shopping."

With a multitude of options now available to seniors under Medicare, including the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, seniors want to sit down with someone to help determine their best option for improved coverage and lower costs.

Health Net's licensed Medicare Advantage sales staff is available at the store from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Staff will also hold regularly scheduled "Why you should choose Health Net" presentations at 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily, Monday through Saturday. Medicare Advantage and Part D materials will be available at the store in both English and Spanish.

The "Health Net Medicare Store" is a 2,500-square-foot retail space located near Robinsons-May on the lower level of Fiesta Mall. The mall is just north of Interstate 60 on Alma School Road in Mesa, about 15 minutes from Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport.

In keeping with its mission to "help people be healthy," the Health Net Medicare Store will open at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday to accommodate the early bird mall-walking crowd. Likewise, Health Net Medicare Advantage members receive a complimentary membership to SilverSneakers, a fitness program delivered through local health clubs that is specifically designed to help seniors be healthy.

About Health Net of Arizona, Inc.

Health Net of Arizona, Inc. is a subsidiary of Health Net Inc. (NYSE:HNT). Health Net, Inc. is among the nation's largest publicly traded managed health care companies and the nation's fifth-largest Medicare Advantage contractor, based on membership. Health Net's mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The company's HMO, POS, insured PPO and government contracts subsidiaries provide health benefits to approximately 6.3 million individuals in 27 states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE programs, including 150,000 in Arizona. Health Net Inc.'s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health benefits to approximately 7.3 million individuals in all 50 states. The company's subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs. For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the company's Web site at www.healthnet.com.

Cautionary Statements

Certain matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical information provided herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the date hereof, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes,""anticipates,""plans,""expects,""may,""should,""could,""estimate,""intend" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to, among other things, rising health care costs, negative prior period claims reserve developments, trends in medical care ratios, issues relating to provider contracts, operational issues, health care reform and general business conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the "Risk Factors" section included within the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and the risks discussed in the company's other periodic filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category