PHS Pacificare Hlth Sys

* Visitors Can Compare Benefits and Costs and Enroll in a PacifiCare Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan - All Online CYPRESS, Calif., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. (NYSE:PHS) has launched a new, innovative Web site, http://www.prescriptionsolutions.com/, that offers an array of Medicare Part D benefit-comparison tools and other helpful services for consumers, brokers, pharmacists, physicians, business partners and the general public. Powered by PacifiCare's Medicare Part D prescription drug program, Prescription Solutions from PacifiCare, PrescriptionSolutions.com is a user-friendly online resource that enables prospective members, caregivers and their families to evaluate and compare Medicare prescription drug plans. The site features a personalized comparison function that helps visitors determine eligibility and evaluate current medications and provides complete prescription-drug cost information. Starting Nov. 15, consumers can enroll in a PacifiCare Medicare Part D prescription drug plan online. Visitors can also review formulary information and compare estimated premiums, co-payments and total annual costs for each of PacifiCare's three prescription drug plans. They can find a favorite local pharmacy, order a pre-enrollment kit and access additional contact information for PacifiCare service centers. PacifiCare's PartDandMe.com site, which was launched in August and provides educational information about the federal government's new Medicare Part D benefit, will remain available through November. PrescriptionSolutions.com's array of personalized, customizable features expands upon the educational functions of PartDandMe.com, according to Jacqueline Kosecoff, Ph.D., PacifiCare's executive vice president, Specialty Companies. "With PartDandMe.com, we offered Medicare beneficiaries a learning module to help them better understand the Part D prescription drug benefit; PrescriptionSolutions.com takes consumers to the next level with tools and features that help them compare and select Part D benefit plans that best meet their individual needs," she said. "By enhancing the site to serve brokers and sales professionals as well, we designed PrescriptionSolutions.com to be a one-stop shopping solution for everyone who shares our commitment to deliver affordable, flexible Part D prescription drug benefits." In addition to the consumer components, PrescriptionSolutions.com also features sections specifically designed to serve authorized PacifiCare brokers and sales professionals. Brokers can log on and order co-branded marketing and sales materials and review the current status of their sales commissions. Additionally, brokers and sales professionals can access customized Medicare Part D learning modules designed to help them in becoming PacifiCare-certified, licensed sales professionals. In the future, PrescriptionSolutions.com will include a section for health care providers, including pharmacists and physicians. Through Part D, Medicare beneficiaries are guaranteed access to prescription drug benefits. Those enrolled in traditional Medicare can sign up for the Part D drug benefit as a standalone program or choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage HMO or private fee-for-service plan. About PacifiCare PacifiCare Health Systems is one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations with nearly 3.3 million health plan members and approximately 11.3 million specialty plan members nationwide. PacifiCare offers individuals, employers and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products. Today PacifiCare is the nation's second-largest senior health insurance company with more than 20 years' experience delivering affordable, quality health care coverage to America's seniors. PacifiCare's specialty plan operations include behavioral health and dental and vision, as well as complete pharmacy benefit management with more than a decade of experience specializing in the senior prescription-drug market. More information on PacifiCare Health Systems is available at http://www.pacificare.com/. DATASOURCE: PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. CONTACT: Tyler Mason, +1-714-226-3530, , or Cheryl Randolph, +1-714-226-3441, , both of PHS Media Relations Web site: http://www.prescriptionsolutions.com/ Web site: http://www.partdandme.com/ Web site: http://www.pacificare.com/

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