PITTSBURGH (November 15, 2007) UPMC Health Plan announced today that it had reached an agreement with the USW-Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel VEBA (Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association) to provide Medicare health insurance benefits to eligible Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation retirees.
Under the terms of the agreement, UPMC Health Plan will provide services through its UPMC for Life Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan. The UPMC for Life PFFS is a non-network plan, which means that retirees enrolled in the PFFS plan can obtain plan-covered health care services from any Medicare eligible provider who is willing to accept the terms and payment from UPMC for Life as noted on the UPMC Health Plan website.
Providers are considered eligible if they are licensed or certified by their state and have a Medicare billing number, or are eligible to obtain one. A UPMC for Life PFFS member may use any health care facility that is Medicare-certified. Health care providers can call the UPMC Health Plan Provider Services Department at 1-877-539-3080, option 2, if they have questions regarding the new coverage.
Starting in mid-November, UPMC for Life representatives will be available to meet with eligible Wheeling-Pitt retirees on a one-on-one basis at a number of area locations, at the times and locations listed below.
Wheeling-Pitt retirees with questions can call UPMC Health Plan at 1-800-818-8762 and state they are from the Wheeling-Pitt retiree group.
Wheeling-Pitt retirees need to hand in their election form as of December 7, 2007, in order for the plan to be effective January 1, 2008.
Schedule for Wheeling-Pitt Meetings
Date |
Location |
Presentation Times |
November 16 |
Martins Ferry Union Hall
705 Main St.
Martins Ferry, OH |
|
November 16 |
McMechen Fire Hall
McMechen, WV |
|
November 19 |
Knights of Columbus
Mingo Junction, OH |
|
November 20 |
Knights of Columbus
Mingo Junction, OH |
|
November 21 |
Yorkville Union Hall
Yorkville, OH |
|
November 26 |
Follansbee Community House
Follansbee, WV |
|
November 28 |
Washington Township Fire Hall
Dull St.
Belle Vernon, PA |
|
November 29 |
Washington Township Fire Hall
Dull St.
Belle Vernon, PA |
|
November 30 |
Wheeling Civic Center |
|
About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in Western Pennsylvania, is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the nation's top-ranked health systems. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division which includes UPMC Health Plan, Work Partners, EAP Solutions, UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to nearly 1 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 80 hospitals and more than 7,500 physicians in a 29-county region. For more information, visit http://www.upmchealthplan.com.