FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Please Contact:
Deanna Weatherly, Arta Medicare Marketing Director,
949 260-6582 / Dweatherly@artamedicare.com
MAJOR EXPANSION NEWS:
ARTA MEDICARETM, ORANGE COUNTRY’S BOUTIQUE HMO, LAUNCHES NEW HEALTH PLAN FOR MEDICARE/MEDI-CAL BENEFICIARIES IN ORANGE COUNTY
IRVINE, CA (November 19, 2007) – ARTA MEDICARETM Healthplan, known as Orange County’s only physician – owned healthcare plan, today announced the first open enrollment of its two, new Medicare/Medical plans to beneficiaries in Orange County and the Coachella Valley. Arta Gold is a health plan designed to offer greater care with little out of pocket expenditures for people with Medicare, while Arta Select provides a similar health plan for those with Medicare and Medi-Cal. Both programs are designed by physicians to restore a sense of dignity and a level of service to those who, historically, receive a lower level of service from most medical providers.
Since 1995, ARTA MEDICARE has served Orange County’s culturally and linguistically diverse residents’ healthcare needs through its Independent Physician Network (IPA). Founded by Baruch Fogel, M.D. in 1995, ARTA MEDICARE is the only regional HMO owned by a physician and one of the few offering Medicare Advantage Treatment Plans (MATP) covering both treatment to those with Medicare and prescription drug coverage with no deductibles. Its unique healthcare plans are driven by its strong provider base: over 250 doctors, 800 specialists and 15 hospitals in the network, all committed to providing personalized care and attention to those they serve.
CEO Dr. Fogel states, “We are the only physician – owned Medicare health plan serving Orange County. Our goal is simple, our mission is clear: Put healthcare decisions back in the hands of the doctor and the patient and do it with a personal touch.”
With this strong base of physicians, ARTA has customized its two Medicare/Medical plans to offer beneficiaries better medical benefits. Arta Gold, a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan, has no monthly premium, no Part D deductible and no copayments for many basic health care services – including primary care doctor visits, annual routine physicals, preventive screenings, generic prescription medications and more. The Arta Gold plan includes dental and vision coverage. Arta Select, a plan for people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal, offers a full range of health care services at virtually no out-of-pocket cost.
“With our experience as a physicians network for the past twelve years contracting with healthcare plans, we realized the Medical/Medicare market was not being served adequately and we knew we could fill that need better than third party intermediaries by eliminating the corporate and overhead piece while providing more personalized and efficient customer service. ARTA MEDICARE’s plans now provide the expertise of our existing IPA to those who would not otherwise be getting very good medical care.
Karri Rodgers, executive director ARTA MEDICARE adds, “We are more of a boutique healthcare plan than a large, franchised plan. That works to our enrollees’ benefit in that we can offer more personal attention and supply any specialized services they want and need.”
ARTA MEDICARE began open enrollment to Orange County beneficiaries in November. Enrollment will remain open through early 2008.
For more information about Arta Gold and Arta Select health plans, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-844-2170, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or go to: www.GetArta.com.