Health Net Reminds Consumers: It’s Time to Choose or Renew Covered California Coverage
Covered California open-enrollment period runs through January 31,
2016
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Health
Net, Inc. reminds California consumers that they have until January
31, 2016, to enroll in new Covered
California health insurance coverage, or renew or change their
existing coverage.
Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange, allows most
enrollment, renewals and changes each year during its open enrollment
period, which began on November 1 this year.
“Health Net wants to help spread the word that this is the time of year
to get Covered California coverage,” said Jennifer A. Moore, Health Net
vice president, Individual Market and Health Care Exchanges. “If you
don’t sign up for coverage by the end of January, you’ll be unable to
enroll in Covered California coverage for 2016, unless you qualify for a
special enrollment.”
Helping Spread the Word
To help educate consumers about the importance of having health
insurance coverage, Health Net held an educational program on Oct. 30,
2015, at its Community Resource Center in East Los Angeles. Click
here to see a video of the event.
Participants in the program learned about Health
Net on the Move, in which licensed, certified enrollment counselors
travel throughout Southern California in specially outfitted RVs to help
individuals make informed decisions about their health insurance –
whether it’s through Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare or the Cal
MediConnect program for those who are dually eligible for Medi-Cal and
Medicare.
Health Net: Making Coverage Easy
Moore said Health Net works to help make health insurance coverage and
service easy, including through these features:
-
An online Welcome Center where members may pay their first month’s
premium, schedule subsequent payments and view educational videos on
how to get the most out their Health Net coverage. The educational
videos are available in English
and Spanish; -
Convenient premium payment locations at participating Walmart stores
(plus the ability to pay online, over the phone or by automatic bank
draft); -
Up-to-date company news and health and wellness tips on Health
Net’s member blog; and -
A comprehensive website
providing a wide range of capabilities that allows members to find
contracting doctors and pharmacies, determine their copayments and
deductibles, download medical forms, view claims and authorizations,
learn about their Health Net benefits, and much more.
“We pride ourselves on listening to our members and providing them with
culturally sensitive materials and options,” said Moore. “Whether it’s
convenient payment choices, easy access to forms and benefit
information, educational videos or news they can use in their daily
lives, we strive to put much of it right at their fingertips.”
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) is a publicly traded managed care
organization that delivers managed health care services through health
plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its mission is to
help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. Health Net provides and
administers health benefits to approximately 6.1 million individuals
across the country through group, individual, Medicare (including the
Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”),
Medicaid and dual eligible programs, as well as programs with the U.S.
Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Health
Net also offers behavioral health, substance abuse and employee
assistance programs, and managed health care products related to
prescription drugs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health Net’s
website at www.healthnet.com.
Cautionary Statements
The company and its representatives may from time to time make written
and oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”) of 1995, including statements
in this and other press releases, in presentations, filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), reports to stockholders and
in meetings with investors and analysts. All statements in this press
release, other than statements of historical information provided
herein, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements and as such are
intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking
statements” provided by PSLRA. These statements are based on
management’s analysis, judgment, belief and expectation only as of the
date hereof, and are subject to changes in circumstances and a number of
risks and uncertainties. Without limiting the foregoing, statements
including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,”
“may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate,” “intend,” “feels,” “will,”
“projects” and other similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from
those expressed in, or implied or projected by the forward-looking
information and statements due to a number of factors, variables or
events. Certain of these factors relate to the company’s proposed
business combination with Centene Corporation (“Centene”), including,
among other things, the expected closing date of the transaction; the
possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the
proposed merger will not be realized, or will not be realized within the
expected time period; the risk that the businesses will not be
integrated successfully; disruption from the merger making it more
difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk
that unexpected costs will be incurred; the possibility that the merger
does not close, including, but not limited to, due to the failure to
satisfy the closing conditions, including the receipt of approval of
both Centene’s stockholders and Health Net’s stockholders; the risk that
financing for the transaction may not be available on favorable terms;
and certain other risks associated with the merger, as more fully
discussed in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus that is
included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that has been filed
with the SEC on September 21, 2015, in connection with the merger. Other
factors include, among others, health care reform and other increased
government participation in and taxation or regulation of health
benefits and managed care operations, including but not limited to the
implementation of, and subsequent modifications to, the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “ACA”) as well as any related fees, assessments and
taxes; the company’s ability to successfully participate in California’s
Coordinated Care Initiative, which is subject to a number of risks
inherent in untested health care initiatives and requires the company to
adequately predict the costs of providing benefits to individuals that
are generally among the most chronically ill within each of Medicare and
Medi-Cal and implement delivery systems for benefits with which the
company has limited operating experience; the company’s ability to
successfully participate in the federal and state health insurance
exchanges under the ACA, which involve uncertainties related to the mix
and volume of business that could negatively impact the adequacy of the
company’s premium rates and may not be sufficiently offset by the risk
apportionment provisions of the ACA; increasing health care costs,
including but not limited to costs associated with the introduction of
new treatments or therapies; the company’s ability to reduce
administrative expenses while maintaining targeted levels of service and
operating performance; the recompetition of the company’s T-3 contract
for the TRICARE North region; negative prior period claims reserve
developments; rate cuts and other risks and uncertainties affecting the
company’s Medicare or Medicaid businesses; trends in medical care
ratios; membership declines or negative changes in the company’s health
care product mix; unexpected utilization patterns or unexpectedly severe
or widespread illnesses; failure to effectively oversee the company’s
third-party vendors; noncompliance by the company or the company’s
business associates with any privacy laws or any security breach
involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized use or
disclosure of confidential information; the timing of collections on
amounts receivable from state and federal governments and agencies;
litigation costs; regulatory issues with federal and state agencies
including, but not limited to, the California Department of Managed
Health Care and Department of Health Care Services, the Arizona Health
Care Cost Containment System, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services and state departments of insurance; operational
issues; changes in political, economic or market conditions; investment
portfolio impairment charges; volatility in the financial markets; and
general business and market conditions. The factors described in the
context of such forward-looking statements in this press release could
cause the company or Centene’s plans with respect to the proposed
merger, actual results, performance or achievements, industry results
and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks
discussed in the “Risk Factors” section included within the company’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and the other risks discussed in
the company’s filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as may be
required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to address or
publicly update any of its forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.
This release contains references and links to other websites that may
contain content that is not owned or controlled by Health Net. Please be
aware that references or links to other websites are provided for the
user’s convenience and that Health Net is not responsible for any such
content that is not owned or controlled by Health Net. Health Net
does not express an opinion on any such content and disclaims any
liability in connection therewith.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Health Net, Inc.
Brad Kieffer, (818)
676-6833
brad.kieffer@healthnet.com
www.twitter.com/hn_bradkieffer
