UPDATE: HAP Expands Medicare Advantage Options to Include Acupuncture and Chiropracti...( Growing list of wellness services ava...),Health

Growing list of wellness services available to seniors

DETROIT, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is adding acupuncture and chiropractic services to its Flexible Health Options Benefit for individual Medicare Advantage members beginning January 1, 2009. HAP's growing list of services to promote wellness encourages Medicare beneficiaries to choose activities and services they want, while putting money back in their wallets.

HAP offers a Flexible Health Options Benefit to members of HAP Senior Plus and Alliance Medicare PPO plans that reimburses members up to $20 monthly ($240 annually) toward the cost of fitness classes, swimming, yoga, Tai Chi, weight training, or other activities at any gym, fitness facility or health club either at home or abroad. Members may also choose a qualified weight management program, such as Weight Watchers(R).

"With the holiday season upon us, this is a great time to be thinking about wellness resolutions for 2009," said Karen Wintringham, vice president, Medicare and Public Sector Programs, Health Alliance Plan. "So, if you just can't resist a second helping -- know that in January, you can take advantage of HAP's weight loss or exercise Flexible Health Options Benefit to help shed those holiday pounds."

Since the Flexible Benefit was first launched in January 2008, more than 600 HAP Medicare Advantage members have used it. This number is expected to grow in 2009 with the addition of two reimbursable complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services.

Beginning January 1, 2009, HAP Medicare Advantage individual members can elect to use their benefit reimbursement of up to $20 per month for acupuncture or chiropractic services not otherwise covered by Medicare.

Approximately 20 percent of American adults have received chiropractic care, and an estimated 8.2 million adults
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