MARSHFIELD, Wis. — St. Luke’s, a health care system with St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth and 36 clinics in Duluth and the region, has contracted with Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc. to join the provider network for Advocare, expanding access to doctors in a plan that serves Medicare-eligible patients and is nationally recognized for quality.

“Thousands of people in northern, central and western Wisconsin rely on Advocare for high-quality, affordable Medicare Advantage coverage,” said Steve Youso, chief administrative officer for Security Health Plan. “We are pleased that the addition of St. Luke’s hospital and clinics to our provider network will offer another excellent choice for our Advocare members.”

St. Luke’s hospital and clinics, including St. Luke’s Home Health Services, serves patients throughout the region. The agreement announced today will add more than 150 doctors and other medical professionals to Security Health Plan’s Advocare provider network.

The affiliation with St. Luke’s will help Advocare provide better access to care to its members in northwest Wisconsin, including the communities of Superior, Ashland, Bayfield, Washburn, Spooner and Hayward and surrounding areas. The Advocare provider network also includes SMDC Health System, which encompasses four hospitals — including St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth — and 12 regional clinics.

Security Health Plan has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s/NCQA America's Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10* ranking for five consecutive years for both Advocare and commercial plans. Security Health Plan is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Seniors and other people who are eligible for Medicare can sign up for Medicare Advantage plans like Advocare between Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, for coverage to go into effect on January 1, 2010. They can also switch between plans but keep the same type of coverage they already have between January 1 and March 31. Security Health Plan has scheduled more than two dozen informational seminars in the Superior and Ashland area in November and December. For details and more information on Advocare, visit www.securityhealthplan.org and click on Medicare Advantage 2010, or call Advocare Customer Service at 1-877-998-0998, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

About Security Heath Plan and Advocare

Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc. is a physician-led health maintenance organization, sponsored by Marshfield Clinic, which serves more than 177,000 members in a 32-county service area of Wisconsin. Security Health Plan is the fourth largest health maintenance organization in Wisconsin and provides insured and self-funded plans to a variety of large and small employers, as well as to individuals and families.

Advocare, Medicare Advantage coverage by Security Health Plan, refers to a family of health insurance plans designed especially for people who are eligible for Medicare — primarily people who are older than 65 or under 65 and disabled. Advocare is a Medicare health plan designed to give people the flexibility to live the way they wish. Members can count on Advocare to provide worry-free coverage and service from a team of trusted experts, at a cost that fits their budget.

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