Fidelis Care approved to offer Medicare Advantage products in Western New York

Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 900,000 members, today announced the expansion of its Medicare coverage area for 2014 into 12 new counties, including five in Western New York. Fidelis Care recently received approval for the expansion by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

When Medicare open enrollment for 2014 begins on Oct. 15, eligible seniors in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming counties will have the option of selecting Fidelis Care as their Medicare Advantage plan. Fidelis Care will offer the following Medicare and Dual Advantage products that focus on a variety of key benefits and services: Medicare Advantage Flex, Medicare Advantage $0 Premium, Medicare Advantage without Rx, Medicare Dual Advantage, and Medicare Dual Advantage Flex.

"Expanding our Medicare Advantage products into Western New York extends the Fidelis Care mission to provide quality, affordable health insurance coverage," said Pamela Hassen, chief marketing officer. "Fidelis Care has a long history of serving local children and adults, and we look forward to helping senior citizens in Western New York with their health care needs."

Today, Fidelis Care has a membership of more than 85,000 across the eight-county Western New York region.

With this expansion, Fidelis Care's Medicare Advantage products will be available to eligible seniors in 34 counties across the state. In addition to the five local counties recently added to the service area, Fidelis Care will also offer Medicare Advantage products for the first time in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Hamilton, Putnam and Sullivan counties.

As the New York State Catholic Health Plan, Fidelis Care offers coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit www.fideliscare.org.

Open enrollment for coverage in 2014 begins on Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7.