On October 15th, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved MetroPlus Health Plan's request to offer managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens.

"New Yorkers who are eligible for Medicare can now get the same top-quality health coverage satisfied MetroPlus members have been receiving for more than two decades," said MetroPlus Executive Director Dr. Arnold Saperstein. "By offering Medicare benefits, we are extending health insurance coverage to an even wider audience of eligible New Yorkers."

MetroPlus Health Plan, rated by the New York State Health Department as the top Medicaid managed care plan in New York City for the past two years, is the managed care subsidiary of New York City's extensive public hospital system, HHC. Under the new MetroPlus Medicare Advantage and MetroPlus Medicare Advantage Select plans, Medicare patients will receive health care from the broad MetroPlus network of nearly 9,000 primary care doctors and specialists, 11 HHC hospitals, and dozens of community health clinics throughout the city.

MetroPlus Medicare Advantage Partnership in Care will also be available for people with HIV/AIDS, who are eligible for Medicare, with or without Medicaid. The original MetroPlus Partnership in Care program is currently the largest Medicaid Special Needs Program for people with HIV/AIDS in the country, offering patients extensive expertise for the effective management of HIV-related health issues.

As the "baby-boomer" generation of New Yorkers enters the golden years, more Medicare-eligible New Yorkers will be turning to New York's public hospital system for their healthcare needs. With Medicare health plans now available, MetroPlus is ready to meet those needs and help more New Yorkers lead longer and healthier lives.

"Expanding coverage to Medicare beneficiaries is a natural progression of the MetroPlus mission to promote the health and welfare of all of New York City’s diverse populations," adds Dr. Saperstein.

New Yorkers can contact MetroPlus now to enroll in a Medicare program. Coverage will begin January 1, 2008.

For more information about MetroPlus, call 1-800-475-METRO or visit www.metroplus.org.