Care Choices HMO Introduces Deductible Benefit Plans

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., November 19, 2004 – In response to rising health care costs, Care Choices HMO has introduced five deductible HMO benefit plans designed to reduce premiums -- up to 30 percent less than its traditional HMO product. The new Basic Plans are available to employer groups with coverage beginning on or after January 1, 2005. The Basic Plans feature a variety of copayments, coinsurances and deductibles designed to engage employees to be active participants in managing health care costs. Office visits and preventive care such as immunizations and prenatal care are covered at 100 percent after a copayment of either $20 or $25 per visit. These services, as well as emergency and urgent care, are not subject to a deductible.

Deductibles are available at the $500, $1,000 and $2,500 level for individuals, while coinsurance options range from 10 percent to 20 percent. Total out-of-pocket costs for individual members are capped at $1,000, $2,000 or $5,000, depending on the plan selected by the employer group. All five Basic Plans can be integrated with health reimbursement accounts.

According to Jelka Petrovic, Interim Chief Marketing Officer for Care Choices, the Basic Plans offer a solution for employers struggling to afford health care coverage. “As a result of the lower premium, the new plan designs will allow many employers to continue offering health care benefits,” she said. “Their employees get access to one of the highest quality health plans in the country, with top-rated disease management and prevention programs designed to help them stay healthy, while the employer saves on health care costs.”

About Care Choices HMO
Care Choices HMO is a nonprofit health care organization and a subsidiary of Trinity Health, one of the nation’s leading providers of health care services. Since 1986, Care Choices HMO has been providing quality health care to thousands of members throughout Southeast Michigan. Care Choices HMO maintains the highest rating available of “Excellent” by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). For the second year running, Care Choices HMO was the number one health plan in Michigan for clinical performance based on NCQA’s HEDIS® Effectiveness of Care measures.¹ The plan holds a B+ financial-strength rating from A.M. Best Co.

¹ The source for data contained in this publication is Quality Compass® 2004 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Any analysis, interpretation or conclusion based on this data is solely that of the authors, and the NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such analysis, interpretation or conclusion. Quality Compass and HEDIS are registered trademarks of the NCQA.