NEW HMO FOR SENIORS.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Senior citizens in southeast Ventura County have a new health maintenance organization plan under Medicare Advantage, which could make medical services more convenient for many, officials said.

Universal Care based in Signal Hill is offering a partnership with the Community Medical Group of the West Valley, which has doctors affiliated with Simi Valley Hospital and Los Robles Regional Medical Center.

Katharine Raley, program manager for the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program in Ventura County, said the new Universal Care program is an option that will make medical care more convenient for many senior citizens in the Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks areas.

``I think it's very important to our Medicare beneficiaries in east Ventura County who have transportation problems because they will be able to use their own hospitals and own doctors,'' Raley said.

She said that until this year only Kaiser Permanente provided a Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization service in southeastern Ventura County.

About 28,000 people live in the area who use Medicare, she said.

Although Kaiser has clinics in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, its closest hospital is in Woodland Hills.

``Many of our seniors can't drive and it was really hard having Kaiser. This is going to help a great deal,'' Raley said.

Laura Gallardo, a Kaiser spokeswoman, said that Kaiser welcomed the Universal Care HMO to the Ventura County marketplace.

``It's important for seniors to have health care options,'' she said.

Jeremy Brewer, marketing director for Simi Valley Hospital, said the hospital was looking forward to the collaboration with Universal Care and Community Medical Group.

``The new relationship now gives seniors a much deserved choice in an HMO product that they haven't had in a long time,'' he said.

Jay Davis, executive vice president of Universal Care, said the new program will bring people in Medicare Advantage direct access to local community physicians and to the community hospitals.

``We have just begun our outreach and marketing efforts,'' he said. ``People are inquiring for more information. We expect it to be a very successful program.''

Most Medicare beneficiaries use the traditional fee-for-service program, but in California more than 25 percent are enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs, which include health maintenance organizations, officials said. This is a much higher percentage than in most other states.

The new service areas under the Universal Care plan include the following ZIP codes in Ventura County: 90265, 91301, 91304, 91307, 91311, 91319, 91320, 91358, 91359, 91360, 91361, 91362, 91377, 93063, 93064, 93065, 93094 and 93099.

People interested in enrollment information for Universal Care may call [phone].

Raley said there are many new developments in Medicare this year, including open enrollment in November for new prescription drug programs that go into effect in 2006.

There are counselors from the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program ready to help Medicare recipients sort through their new options in every Ventura County city and every senior center, including the centers in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, she said.

The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program in Ventura County can be reached at [phone].

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com