West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) officials announced today that Humana, Inc. has been selected to provide health insurance coverage for the state’s 36,000 Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents, effective January 1, 2010.
“Humana is recognized as a national leader in Medicare Advantage, with 25 years of experience working with Medicare beneficiaries,” said Ted Cheatham, PEIA Executive Director. “By partnering with Humana, the state expects to continue the high level of service we provide to our retirees while simultaneously realizing savings for health care expenditures, which results in a direct cost savings for West Virginia retirees and taxpayers.”
In preparation to administer West Virginia’s retiree health plan, Humana will work closely with PEIA staff for the next four months to ensure a smooth transition from the existing provider, Coventry Health Care, Inc., to Humana, Inc. on Jan. 1. Humana will dedicate associates, located in Charleston, who will solely serve the PEIA retirees’ health plan.
Under the new, customized retiree benefit plan, designed by PEIA, retirees and their dependents will receive the same health plan benefits they currently receive, at a lower cost to the state. All PEIA retiree health plan members will have access to health care that is consistent with or better than services required by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The Humana plan will provide the freedom for retiree-members to choose any doctor, clinic, hospital or other health care provider, who accepts Medicare Advantage and Humana’s terms of payment. Other benefits which PEIA will continue to offer, through Humana, include access to a 24-hour nurse line; enhanced clinical programs (voluntary disease and case-management programs); and wellness programs, such as free memberships to gyms and other fitness facilities. The retiree benefit plan also offers free health-risk assessments, social workers support and targeted support for those with serious health care needs.
“We, at Humana, are thrilled to be selected by West Virginia’s PEIA to begin administering health benefits for the state’s retirees in January,” said Kevin Meriwether, Humana’s senior-segment market president for the company’s East Region, which includes West Virginia. “We’re confident that West Virginia retirees will be impressed with Humana’s day-in / day-out commitment to providing outstanding customer service for our members. As one of the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage health plans, with a long history working with the Medicare program, Humana is committed to serving our health plan members just as we ourselves want to be served well by our own health plans.”
In addition to the PEIA retirees health plan, Humana serves more than 33,000 other West Virginians through its Medicare Advantage plans. Humana is a national leader in Medicare, with 3.5 million Medicare members in all 50 states.
“We’re looking forward to the collaboration with Humana, with expectations of a seamless transition for our state retirees. Our goal at PEIA is to strive to not only offer a positive experience to our valuable retired public employees with their health care plan, but also to focus on healthy living, so that they can enjoy their retirement years to their fullest,” Cheatham said.