HMO choices sought for Ojai seniors
by Bret Bradigan

Signatures of Ojai's seniors will soon be sought for a petition calling for more choices in health maintenance organization providers.
With escalating prescription costs and lowered reimbursements, lack of HMO choice is hitting home for local Medicare recipients. This was the focus of an April 3 meeting seeking to expand the Medicare Plus Choice providers in Ojai.
Currently, Ojai's senior citizens have only Secure Horizons available. Kaiser Permanente serves all of Ventura County, except for zip code 93023.
"All we're asking is that the number of options be expanded," said Nita Whaley, one of the organizers of this effort.
The goal, said Whaley, is 2,000 signatures within 30 days.
Katharine Raley, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program manager for Ventura County, will present those petitions to Kaiser Permanente and to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
"Seniors need to have the opportunity to participate in any available plan" she said. "Ojai's been omitted from that."
Even with the active effort to bring more choice in HMO plans to Ojai, "It's not going to be a short process," said Raley. Should Kaiser or others add Ojai to their coverage areas, those plans won't be available until 2003.
She said that Kaiser's exclusion of Ojai was mystifying, and that, if nothing else, this petition push will get some clarification. "I think it's a fluke," she said.
Petition signing stands will be set up at Starr Market and Vons on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help, and local businesses are being asked to post petitions. This effort is assisted by HELP of Ojai. For more information or to join in, call 649-1294.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

Back to the news