Retiree puts faith in Fidelis

Michael Devlin, a 69-year-old parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Schenectady, is too busy to worry about healthcare paperwork. Retired and involved in volunteer activities, he also enjoys travel and playing golf.

So, since January, Mr. Devlin has enjoyed the benefits of Medicare Advantage from Fidelis Care.

"There is peace of mind and ease of utilization," he said of Fidelis, the New York State Catholic Health Plan. "I was impressed with the enrollment [process] and the prompt follow-up."

Simple to use

Prior to joining Fidelis Care, Mr. Devlin tried utilizing prescription benefits from Medicare Part D.

"I tried to go through Part D," he said. "It was so complex. I get two prescriptions a month, but this Part D thing is so complex. I don't understand the paper flow."

With Medicare Advantage from Fidelis Care, he is able to get his prescriptions from the small local pharmacy he has used for years.

Benefits

Some of the benefits of the 2008 Medicare Advantage plan from Fidelis Care include:

* $0 monthly plan premiums and $0 co-pays for visits to network primary care physicians;

* a flexible spending account that can be used for over-the-counter drugs, fitness club memberships and transportation or other services that meet their needs;

* $10 co-pays for visits to network specialists and outpatient rehabilitation services; and

* co-pays as low as $1 for generic drugs.

No 'pinch'

"In a time when most healthcare consumers are experiencing the annual pinch in their healthcare premiums and co-pays, Fidelis Care is proud to share these significant cost savings with our members," said Dominic Hawkins, Fidelis Care's director of Medicare sales.

Medicare Advantage from Fidelis Care is available to Medicare-eligible seniors in 22 New York State counties, including Albany, Columbia, Greene, Herkimer, Montgomery, Rensselaer and Schenectady.

Complex topic

The increasing cost of health insurance is something Mr. Devlin is familiar with. He has watched as friends' health insurance premiums have sometimes increased as services decreased.

A former benefits manager, Mr. Devlin understands the complexity of health insurance benefits and said, "You can't cover everything. It's a complex issue, and there are serious flaws."

While he is pleased with Medicare Advantage from Fidelis Care, he said that not every doctor is part of the network and not every type of medical service is covered. However, the ease of use has been a benefit in itself.

(Through the end of the year, Fidelis Care will offer a series of free seminars about the program benefits and coverage. For information on the open enrollment period and the meetings, call 1-800-860-8707.)

(12/06/07) [[In-content Ad]]