Recently Humana Inc. (HUM) announced that its Medicare coverage in 3 California countries is expanding. Members eligible for Medicare in Fresno , San Bernardino and Riverside can enroll in a Humana Gold Plus health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. Coverage would be effective from Jan. 1, 2010.

The expansion has been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The gold plus plan acts as a supplemental coverage to Medicare. Members can choose a primary care physician in the plan network.

The other benefits of the plan include no or low monthly plan premiums, low co-payments for visits to doctors and annual routine physicals, coverage for most annual screenings at no charge, and worldwide emergency coverage. The persons opting for this plan will enjoy discounts on vision and hearing care, prescriptions, and complimentary and alternative medicine.

The period for enrollment to the Humana Gold Plus HMO plan stretches from November 15 till Dec. 31, 2009. However, participants in the Medicare Part D program can enroll till March 31, 2010. The Medicare program is a federal program offering hospital and medical insurance benefits to persons aged 65 and above, in addition to some disabled persons below 65 years of age.

Through this expansion, Humana is looking to provide wider choice to meet the changing needs of senior citizens and disabled people. Humana, which provides health and supplemental benefit plans for employer groups, government benefit programs and individuals in the US, competes with players such as Aetna Inc. (AET), Cigna Corp. (CI) and Unitedhealth Group, Inc. (UNH).

Currently, we are Neutral on Humana.

Zacks Investment Research
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