Contact: Rebecca Normington
715-221-9726, normington.rebecca@securityhealth.org
Medicare beneficiaries in La Crosse County will have five new Medicare Advantage plan options for 2020 from Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc.
Security Health Plan has received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer its Medicare Advantage HMO-POS plans in La Crosse County. HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization, which highlights Security’s primary focus on enriching the lives of its members. Security Health Plan and its network of more than 12,000 Wisconsin doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals are committed to helping its members stay as healthy as possible.
Security Health Plan’s provider network includes Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare, Marshfield Clinic Health System, UW Health Systems and many other local doctors, facilities and other health care professionals.
POS or Point of Service means that Security Health Plan members can also see health care providers outside the network who have not opted out of Medicare. Members pay a deductible or slightly higher out-of-pocket costs to see non-network providers.
All Security Health Plan HMO-POS plans cover the full range of Medicare benefits plus additional features including:
- free health support
- preventive dental, hearing and vision exams
- allowances for over-the-counter items, hearing aids and eyeglasses
- free smoking cessation counseling and nicotine replacement products
- comprehensive dental coverage for an additional premium
- two weeks of free home-delivered meals to help members with congestive heart failure recuperate after an inpatient hospital or nursing home stay
The three plans named with Rx also cover Medicare Part D prescription drugs including no charge for all Part D vaccines including the shingles vaccines and routine tetanus shots.
Varied costs and features of each plan will appeal to Medicare beneficiaries based on their health needs, budget and lifestyle choices.
- Esteem Rx has a $0 premium but higher out-of-pocket costs when you use health care services
- Essence and Essence Rx feature low premiums and medium out-of-pocket costs
- Spirit and Spirit Rx balance higher monthly premiums with lower out-of-pocket costs
Security Health Plan also offers its Secure Saver Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plan throughout Wisconsin. Secure Saver MSA combines a high-deductible plan with a medical savings account, similar to a health savings account many individuals have through their employer.
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period that runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 is when most Medicare beneficiaries can change the way they receive their benefits. It will be the first opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries who live in La Crosse County to select an HMO-POS plan from Security Health Plan.
Security Health Plan is holding free, no-obligation Medicare information seminars in western Wisconsin during October and November. Plan representatives will discuss the advantages of each plan type and explain when people are allowed to enroll, what is and is not covered, and what charges they will incur.
Individuals who have or will soon be eligible for Medicare are invited to register for a seminar online at www.securityhealth.org/seminar. If you are unable to attend a seminar, you can find more information about 2020 Medicare plans at www.securityhealth.org/medicare20.
You can also call Security Health Plan 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to register for a seminar, request an appointment or get more information about Medicare plans at 1-844-679-9733. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please call TTY 711.
