CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), have filed applications and have received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans to Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois, New Mexico and Texas, effective January 1, 2013. HCSC has received approval to offer MAPD HMO plans in Illinois and New Mexico, while HISC has been approved to offer MAPD PPO plans in Texas.

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans allow individuals to combine health and prescription drug coverage under one single plan. These plans offer comprehensive medical benefits to help Medicare-eligible individuals save money while providing greater choice and flexibility to access health care options that meet their changing needs.

"For more than 75 years we have offered security and peace of mind to customers by developing products and services that meet their diverse and changing needs," said Jeff Tikkanen, president, retail markets, HCSC. "This is a tremendous opportunity to continue to offer seamless MAPD plans to Medicare-eligible individuals in select counties of Illinois, New Mexico and Texas."

The annual open enrollment period starts October 15, 2012 and ends December 7, 2012. Enrollment in a MAPD plan is not automatic, and eligible beneficiaries must enroll to receive benefits. MAPDplans, generally,offer beneficiaries their choice of physicians through an HMO or PPOnetwork, low monthly plan premiums, low co-payments for doctor visits,annual routine physicals, coverage for most annual screenings and emergency coverage throughout in the United States.

"We listened to Medicare-eligible individuals in our communities and using our experience and expertise designed health benefits to give them more options that fit their health needs," said Scott Sarran, MD, Chief Medical Officer HCSC. "Providing these individuals with more choice in their health care options is important and benefits them by providing greater flexibility."

About Health Care Service CorporationHealth Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 13 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit http://www.HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/HCSC.

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HCSC To Expand Medicare Product Offerings