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Medica Brings New Competition to Wisconsin Individual and Family Health Insurance Market

The plans are available for effective dates of July 1, 2011 or later in the following Wisconsin counties: Ashland, Baron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Polk, Sawyer, St. Clair and Washburn.

The move is both a strategic opportunity for Medica and a boon to Wisconsinites, who will now have more affordable and appealing plans, in their market. Although Medica is not new to the Wisconsin market - the company has been providing health coverage through Wisconsin employers and Medicare beneficiaries for more than 13 years - July 1 marks the first time Medica individual and family products have been available in Wisconsin. Currently, about 31,000 Wisconsin residents receive their health coverage through a Medica group or Medicare beneficiary plan.

"Introducing Medica's popular line of individual and family plans to Wisconsinites is part of our long term strategy to become a stronger presence in this important Midwest state," said Dannette Coleman, Medica vice president and general manager of individual and family business. "We already have a foothold in Wisconsin and we believe our individual and family offerings will bring real competition to this market through affordable plans that adapt to consumers' life stages and ages. We are excited to be here and look forward to developing long term relationships with our new Wisconsin customers."

Affordable, value-packed plans
Medica Solo offers plans at low cost with value-packed benefits. The cost of the plan starts at about $60 - $90 per month, depending on county of residence, health history and the deductible selected. Medica Solo includes 100 percent immediate preventive care coverage (before deductible or copayment), $10 copayments for generic drugs, an eyewear allowance, several other immediate benefits not subject to a deductible, and a range of deductible and premium options.

Medica's newest product, Medica Symphony, was released for sales in Minnesota and North Dakota on January 1, 2011, and is already widely sold in those markets. Symphony is a full family plan that combines several of the "immediate coverage" features that make Solo so popular (including copays for office calls and prescription drugs) with a high-deductible framework that helps to control the monthly premium for the plan. In addition, Symphony for the Wisconsin market features an aggregate family deductible with no individual deductible.

Medica Symphony for HSA provides a range of deductible and price options. It gives individuals and families the option to open a federally qualified health savings account into which tax-deductible contributions can be made. Individuals can invest their HSA funds and keep any earnings tax-free at the federal level as long as withdrawals are made to cover qualified medical expenses.

More information about Medica's individual and family plans is available at Medica's website.

About Medica
Medica is a health services company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. With approximately 1.66 million members, the non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota and a growing number of counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.

Medica has the highest accreditation status, Excellent, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its Minnesota Medicaid HMO plans and commercial health plans in Minnesota and North Dakota. Medica's vision is to become the community's health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency.

Medica
Greg Bury, 952-992-8437
E-mail: greg.bury@medica.com