New Medicare choice for Northwest Alabama

Key to VIVA MEDICARE's decision to move into Northwest Alabama is its partnership with Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and Shoals Hospital. VIVA has located a retail site, known as a VIVA HEALTH "Café," inside ECM Hospital to educate Medicare recipients about their health coverage choices.  The Café, located just past the hospital's entrance, will not only serve as a sales location, but it will also be a resource to VIVA members throughout the year where they can attend health-related events and seek answers if they have questions about their coverage.  

For 2018, VIVA MEDICARE earned 4.5 out of 5 stars from Medicare on its quality performance, the first and only Alabama based health plan to achieve that distinction.  In addition, VIVA MEDICARE has earned the top customer satisfaction survey score in the state for the past eight years, according to the Medicare & You handbook. 

"Quality and customer service are two of our biggest strengths," said Brad Rollow, VIVA's CEO.  "We are an Alabama based company that has spent the last 22 years making sure we deliver the best coverage possible to our members at an affordable price to help improve the health of our community." 

As a health plan focused on Alabama, VIVA works to join forces with health care providers in each community where it offers coverage. 

"Having VIVA in the Shoals gives beneficiaries another option in our area," said Russell Pigg, ECM Hospital's CEO. "Also, the one-on-one attention people will receive at the VIVA HEALTH Café, along with the outstanding rating VIVA MEDICARE received, should allow people to confidently explore the plans VIVA offers." 

The VIVA MEDICARE network includes 60 hospitals and more than 7,000 doctors and other providers across Alabama as well as worldwide emergency coverage. 

For 2018, VIVA MEDICARE offers affordable Medicare Advantage plans with and without prescription drug coverage in Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin Counties.  Choices include a plan just for people with both Medicare and Medicaid and a plan with no monthly premium above the Medicare Part B premium in Lauderdale and Colbert Counties.  Extra benefits that VIVA MEDICARE offers next year beyond traditional Medicare include allowances for dental care and fitness center membership.  

Medicare's annual open enrollment period began Oct. 15 and lasts until Dec. 7.  This enrollment period is usually the only chance Medicare recipients have each year to choose a new health plan — either switching between traditional Medicare and a private Medicare Advantage plan, changing from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or adding or changing prescription drug coverage. 

Medicare Advantage plans like VIVA MEDICARE cover all the benefits of traditional Medicare, typically offer additional benefits, and usually include prescription drug coverage.  Unlike traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans cap the amount of yearly out-of-pocket costs members pay for medical care, and most charge set copays for doctors' visits and hospital stays.  

Medicare recipients should visit www.medicare.gov to review their coverage choices for next year.  The website shows the health plan choices by zip code, the health plans' Medicare quality ratings and their monthly premiums, copayments, deductibles, and the network of hospitals, doctors and other providers from whom a member can seek care.  Plans change every year, so even Medicare recipients happy with their current coverage should study the 2018 choices. 

About VIVA HEALTH:

Founded in 1995, VIVA HEALTH has a contract with the federal government to offer Medicare Advantage plans in 27 counties in Alabama and is licensed by the state to offer employer-sponsored coverage in 59 counties.  Part of the UAB Health System, VIVA HEALTH has more than 46,000 VIVA MEDICARE members and provides or administers health benefits to more than 55,000 members in employer group health plans. VIVA MEDICARE has earned the top customer satisfaction survey score in the state for the past eight years in the Medicare & You handbook and was recently named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best Medicare Advantage health plans in the country. VIVA HEALTH is headquartered in Birmingham, and customer service questions are answered by employees in Alabama.  

Contact: Anna Velasco – 205-558-7641 for photos or an interview with a VIVA representative

SOURCE VIVA MEDICARE