Mercy Health Plans Announces New Name for Their Medicare Advantage Plans: Mercy Medicare...( ST. LOUIS July 23 /- Mercy Health...),Health

ST. LOUIS, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercy Health Plans, the St. Louis-based health benefits management company founded in 1994 by the Sisters of Mercy Health System, has announced it has changed the name of its Medicare Advantage plans to: Mercy MedicareAdvantage. The plans, which serve Medicare members in St. Louis, Illinois and Southwest Missouri, previously were offered using the names PremierPlus, PremierPlus Options, St. John's PremierPlus and St. John's PremierPlus Options.

In the Springfield, Mo., area, the plan is now known as Mercy MedicareAdvantage, in partnership with St. John's. Mercy Health Plans and St. John's Health System, a system of hospitals and physician clinics also sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy Health System, have partnered for more than 10 years to serve Medicare enrollees in the Springfield areas.

Mercy Health Plans also markets its Medicare Advantage plans in Northwest and Central Arkansas. These plans were introduced in 2007 with the Mercy MedicareAdvantage plan name.

Medicare Advantage plans are benefit plans that serve as a replacement to Medicare coverage. The plans are available to persons entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B by age or disability living in the service area.

Mercy Health Plans has contracts with the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) to offer these plans to Medicare enrollees. Mercy's Medicare Advantage Plans include HMO and PPO plans with comprehensive benefits, many value-added programs, and are available with or without prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D).

According to the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey, Mercy's plans consistently top the national average and are recognized by their members for their achievements in health plan overall, health care overall and customer service.