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September 30, 2007

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to New Mexico Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SANTA FE, N.M.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering New Mexico Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

2008 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans Offer Changes, Choices and the Challenges of No Complete Gap Coverage (PRWeb)
Medicare-PartD.com provides newly released information for Medicare Part D beneficiaries about 2008 Part D plans. Part D beneficiaries should prepare to reexamine their prescription drug coverage as many 2008 Part D plans are changing and no 2008 Part D prescription drug plan offers complete brand-name doughnut hole or gap coverage. (PRWeb Sep 30, 2007) Post Comment:Trackback URL: ...

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Missouri Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Hawaii Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
HONOLULU----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Hawaii Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
TAMPA, Fla.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. As a result of a successful bid process, WellCare will continue offering its prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

WellPoint Announces Pricing for Medicare Part D (The San Francisco Examiner)
Sep 28, 2007 2:21 PM (1 hr 4 mins ago) From WellPoint, Inc., Distributed by PR Newswire

Independence Blue Cross Finalizes New Multi-Year Agreements with Mercy Health


Independence Blue Cross Finalizes New Multi-Year Agreements with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center (The San Francisco Examiner)
PHILADELPHIA ( Map ) - Independence Blue Cross announces it has signed new three-year contracts with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center, both part of Catholic Health East health care system, effective July 1, 2007 .

Blue Cross announces layoffs, cuts in programs (The Providence Journal)
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island said yesterday it will lay off an unspecified number of employees and will eliminate several programs and functions.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield announces job cuts (WPRI 12 Providence)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island plans to lay off staff and eliminate several of its programs. The health insurer says in a statement that the job cuts are necessary to reduce operating expenses.

Blue Cross plans cuts in jobs, programs (Providence Business News)
PROVIDENCE Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has made the difficult but necessary decision to eliminate several programs and functions, as well as to reduce the number of staff, according to a statement issued late today by Kim Keough, the company s assistant vice president of public relations.

Medicare Part D - Prescription counseling offered for seniors (Battle Creek Enquirer) ALBION


Prescription counseling offered for seniors (Battle Creek Enquirer)
ALBION Calhoun County seniors 60 and older with questions about paying for their prescription medication costs can have a free consultation with trained counselors trained in Medicare, Medicaid, Part D, low-income subsidies and supplemental insurance.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Hawaii Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
HONOLULU----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Hawaii Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Michigan Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
LANSING, Mich.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Michigan Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Medicare Part D - WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via


WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
TAMPA, Fla.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. As a result of a successful bid process, WellCare will continue offering its prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Prescription counseling offered for seniors (Battle Creek Enquirer)
ALBION Calhoun County seniors 60 and older with questions about paying for their prescription medication costs can have a free consultation with trained counselors trained in Medicare, Medicaid, Part D, low-income subsidies and supplemental insurance.

2008 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans Offer Changes, Choices and the Challenges of No Complete Gap Coverage (PRWeb)
Medicare-PartD.com provides newly released information for Medicare Part D beneficiaries about 2008 Part D plans. Part D beneficiaries should prepare to reexamine their prescription drug coverage as many 2008 Part D plans are changing and no 2008 Part D prescription drug plan offers complete brand-name doughnut hole or gap coverage. (PRWeb Sep 30, 2007) Post Comment:Trackback URL: ...

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to New Mexico Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SANTA FE, N.M.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering New Mexico Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Retiring? Be sure to plan for health care costs (Telegraph-Forum)


Retiring? Be sure to plan for health care costs (Telegraph-Forum)
One thing that might not be in your retirement plans: an annual cashectomy. That's the amount you'll have to shell out each year for medical care. If you don't plan carefully for health care costs, your retirement dreams could end up in the emergency room.

Time to Prepare for Medicare s Open Enrollment Season Original or Advantage? (Senior Journal)
Sept. 17, 2007 - It s fall again, the season when health insurance companies begin marketing Medicare private health plans.

AARP not always best deal for seniors (Los Angeles Times)


AARP not always best deal for seniors (Los Angeles Times)
A financial planner says the senior advocacy group's offerings can be more costly than those available elsewhere. When financial planner Andrew Tignanelli's clients first came to him saying that they were planning to buy financial products from AARP, he said he was thrilled. He assumed that the products the group sold to its members, whether TVs or financial products such as insurance or ...

Study: Premiums for Medicare drug plans jumping 8.7% (USA Today)
Many seniors and the disabled enrolled in the Medicare drug program are likely to pay more next year, with the average premium for all stand-alone drug plans rising 8.7% to $40 a month, according to data released late Thursday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

September 29, 2007

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Missouri Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Michigan Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
LANSING, Mich.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Michigan Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Noticias Infobolsa / Titulares (InfoBolsa)
to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 28/09/2007 20:56:00 Business Wire WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) in 2008.

Bird Flu May Pass to Fetus via Womb (WebMD) The


Bird Flu May Pass to Fetus via Womb (WebMD)
The H5N1 bird flu virus may be able to pass from a pregnant woman to her fetus via the womb, researchers report.

Bird Flu Virus Can Infect Fetus (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus can pass through the placenta of pregnant women and into the fetus, Chinese scientists report.

Bird Flu Virus Can Infect Fetus (HealthCentral.com)
Copyright 2007 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved. FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus can pass through the placenta of pregnant women and into the fetus, Chinese scientists report.

A.M. Best Affirms Ratings on Centurion Life Insurance Company and


A.M. Best Affirms Ratings on Centurion Life Insurance Company and Centurion Casualty Company (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
OLDWICK, N.J.----A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of A and the issuer credit rating of "a" of Centurion Life Insurance Company , a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. , whose parent is Wells Fargo & Company .

September stresses life insurance awareness (Edwardsville Journal)
According to LIMRA, 68-million Americans have no life insurance coverage. Because of this, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has declared this September Life Insurance Awareness Month in Illinois.

Smokers Can Afford Life Insurance (The Bradford Era)
(ARA) - If you've been putting off shopping for life insurance because you're a smoker, or think you are paying exorbitant premiums because of your habit, it's time to start shopping around.

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Hawaii Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
HONOLULU----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Hawaii Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Missouri Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
TAMPA, Fla.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. As a result of a successful bid process, WellCare will continue offering its prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association Survey Shows Consumer Driven


Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association Survey Shows Consumer Driven Health Plan Enrollees Are Taking More Control of ... (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
Participants enrolled in consumer directed health plan (CDHP) offerings are more engaged in wellness programs and are more likely to plan and save for healthcare expenses than those in traditional healthcare coverage, according to new survey findings released today by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).

Independence Blue Cross Finalizes New Multi-Year Agreements with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center (The San Francisco Examiner)
PHILADELPHIA ( Map ) - Independence Blue Cross announces it has signed new three-year contracts with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center, both part of Catholic Health East health care system, effective July 1, 2007 .

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to New Mexico Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
SANTA FE, N.M.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering New Mexico Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Missouri Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

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Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Michigan Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
LANSING, Mich.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Michigan Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Many Medicare Beneficiaries with Limited Means Still Not Taking Advantage of Generous Benefit (PRWeb)
Two years after Medicare prescription drug coverage was introduced, up to 4.2 million people with Medicare who have limited income and resources have not signed up for the Extra Help available through the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (also known as Medicare Part D). The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers an easy way for people to find out if they qualify and to apply for that ...

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Louisiana Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BATON ROUGE, La.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Louisiana Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

September 28, 2007

Medicare Part D - WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans


WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Louisiana Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
BATON ROUGE, La.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Louisiana Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Many Medicare Beneficiaries with Limited Means Still Not Taking Advantage of Generous Benefit (PRWeb)
Two years after Medicare prescription drug coverage was introduced, up to 4.2 million people with Medicare who have limited income and resources have not signed up for the Extra Help available through the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (also known as Medicare Part D). The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers an easy way for people to find out if they qualify and to apply for that ...

WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
TAMPA, Fla.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. As a result of a successful bid process, WellCare will continue offering its prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield announces job cuts (Boston Globe)


Blue Cross and Blue Shield announces job cuts (Boston Globe)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island plans to lay off staff and eliminate several of its programs.

Moses Cone, Blue Cross resume negotiations (The Reidsville Review)
After months of dispute, Moses Cone Health Systems and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina have resumed negotiations. Moses Cone operates Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville.

Blue Cross coverage still good at Libertyville hospital for now (Chicago Tribune)
Lake County patients have a reprieve until at least Tuesday before a disagreement between Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois could interrupt their medical coverage.

Independence Blue Cross Finalizes New Multi-Year Agreements with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center (The San Francisco Examiner)
PHILADELPHIA ( Map ) - Independence Blue Cross announces it has signed new three-year contracts with Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center, both part of Catholic Health East health care system, effective July 1, 2007 .

Medicare Part D - The Medicare Part D donut hole (Williston Herald) Greetings from


The Medicare Part D donut hole (Williston Herald)
Greetings from the Heritage Center! As September winds its way into October we look to the winding road of bus trips that are fast approaching. Tentatively Oct. 1 we will have a bus trip to the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park to view the fall foliage.

WellCare to Continue Offering Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans to Missouri Medicare Recipients in 2008 (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. WellCare will continue offering Missouri Medicare beneficiaries two of its most popular plans, WellCare Signature and WellCare Classic, both featuring $0 generic drug co-pays.

Medicare drug plans raise prices (Akron Beacon Journal)
Many elderly and disabled residents in Ohio who get their medicine through Medicare prescription drug plans can expect to pay more next year if they want the same coverage.

WellCare Announces Successful Medicare Part D Bid (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
TAMPA, Fla.----WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today announced the results of its bid for participation in the national Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2008. As a result of a successful bid process, WellCare will continue offering its prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Medicare Part D - Medicare drug plans raise prices (Akron Beacon Journal) Many elderly


Medicare drug plans raise prices (Akron Beacon Journal)
Many elderly and disabled residents in Ohio who get their medicine through Medicare prescription drug plans can expect to pay more next year if they want the same coverage.

Money Saving Advisor Mary Hunt Teams Up With Timothy Tucker, Pharmacist and Medicare Expert, to Help Members Make the ... (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Understanding the true out- of-pocket costs of medications can help millions of patients save on their healthcare spending without sacrificing quality care. As people with Medicare enroll for 2008 Part D prescription coverage, financial and pharmacist experts explain how to stretch this health insurance coverage to make the most of it.

Many Medicare Beneficiaries with Limited Means Still Not Taking Advantage of Generous Benefit (PRWeb)
Two years after Medicare prescription drug coverage was introduced, up to 4.2 million people with Medicare who have limited income and resources have not signed up for the Extra Help available through the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (also known as Medicare Part D). The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers an easy way for people to find out if they qualify and to apply for that ...

Medicare auditing program is halted (The Sacramento Bee)
Medicare officials have declared a temporary "pause" in a controversial auditing program that has put a strain on dozens of California rehabilitation hospitals forced to surrender tens of millions of dollars on allegations that the care they provided elderly patients was medically unnecessary.

Medicare Part D - Hospital lobby sees some relief from Medicare fee cuts as


Hospital lobby sees some relief from Medicare fee cuts as Congress acts (The Hill)
The hospital industry scored a significant victory over the Bush administration Wednesday as Congress took steps to scale back changes to Medicare s payment system for the facilities.

Medicare drug plans raise prices (Akron Beacon Journal)
Many elderly and disabled residents in Ohio who get their medicine through Medicare prescription drug plans can expect to pay more next year if they want the same coverage.

Delmarva Foundation Implements Medication Therapy Management Program in Maryland and DC (PR Newswire via Yahoo! News)
Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) across the country are working in partnership with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage plans (MA-PDs) to improve the quality of prescription drug therapy for Medicare beneficiaries. Delmarva Foundation, Medicare's QIO for Maryland and the District of Columbia, implemented a program aimed at helping Medicare beneficiaries ...

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