SCAN to Provide Unlimited Coverage for Brand Drugs for Los Angeles County Members; SCAN...

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 2004

In addition to a significant enhancement of member benefits outlined earlier this month, SCAN(TM) Health Plan today announced that it will provide unlimited coverage for all Brand drugs

Effective April 1, 2004, for all SCAN members residing in Los Angeles County, the maximum benefit, or dollar limit, of $2400 per year for Brand drugs will be eliminated. Member co-payments will remain unchanged. For example, SCAN recently lowered generic co-payments for a 30-day prescription supply to $7.

"Providing unlimited coverage in Los Angeles County for all Brand drugs in our formulary is just the latest example of our efforts to provide the most comprehensive, cost-effective and predictable plan to best meet seniors' overall healthcare needs," said Dave Schmidt, chief executive officer of SCAN Health Plan. "There is no other plan that can match our range of benefits, which includes both health coverage and unique in-home personal care services."

Along with the benefit enhancements effective March 1st, comprehensive Brand drug coverage for formulary drugs will become effective April 1, 2004 and will extend through December 31, 2004, pending federal approval. Seniors with questions about the scope of benefits should contact SCAN Health Plan Member Services at 1-800-559-3500 (TDD for hearing impaired 1-800 735-2929) Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Since its inception in 1977, SCAN has made a unique and significant contribution to seniors' ability to remain healthy and independent and in control of where and how they live. SCAN is a not-for-profit senior health plan and is part of the Medicare Advantage program. SCAN now serves more than 55,000 seniors in Southern California.