Fidelis Care Informational Video On Medicare 2012 Now Available

QUEENS, NY (11/16/2011)(readMedia)-- Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, is pleased to announce the launch of an informational video series, part of Fidelis Care's focus on providing quality care and educating the public on important health care issues. The inaugural video in the series focuses on important changes to Medicare for 2012, and addresses a number of health topics of particular interest to seniors.

The goal of Fidelis Care's quality care initiative is to forge partnerships between Fidelis Care's providers, patients, and the company's Quality Health Care Management Department to improve health outcomes for members, as well as their quality of life. Fidelis Care encourages members, and non-members alike, to see their doctor on a routine basis, obtain recommended preventive screenings, and adopt healthy lifestyle choices. A key component of this quality care initiative is to make important health information easily accessible and understandable, while presenting it in an engaging manner.

The Medicare 2012 video features a kitchen table discussion between Jane Schramm, Executive Director of Senior Services of Albany; Dr. Sanjiv Shah, Fidelis Care's Chief Medical Officer; and Pamela Hassen, Fidelis Care's Chief Marketing Officer.

Jane Schramm, Executive Director of Senior Services of Albany said, "We are proud to work with Fidelis Care in their mission of educating the senior community, and appreciate this opportunity to help educate seniors about their Medicare options, the variety of resources available to them, and the steps they should consider to maintain their health."

Senior Services of Albany has been a leading not-for-profit provider of aging services in the Capital Region for nearly 60 years. Some of their programs and services include: Meals on Wheels home-delivered meals, transportation services, senior dining programs, health and wellness classes, adult day care, caregiver counseling, and support and referral services that assist seniors and their caregivers in accessing needed resources within the community. These services allow seniors to live independently for as long as possible, in the comfort of their own homes.

The Medicare informational video is approximately 10 minutes in length, and covers issues such as: changes in the Open Enrollment dates for 2012, plan selection and the ability to switch plans after Open Enrollment ends, the differences between Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, the types of benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans, what seniors should consider when evaluating Medicare Advantage plans, preventive health care for seniors, and the importance of working closely with doctors to ensure that seniors receive the most appropriate and effective medical care.

The video is available in Time Warner Cable's Syracuse, Albany, Hudson Valley, and New York City markets through Time Warner Cable's Video on Demand feature, found on channel 1278 in all markets.

Individuals living in Telecare TV's viewing area can watch the video at the following times:

Thursday, November 17 at 8:30pm

Friday, November 18 at 11:30am

Saturday, November 19 at 8:30pm

Monday, November 21 at 8:30pm

Tuesday, November 22 at 11:30am

Wednesday, November 23 at 8:30pm

Thursday, November 24 at 11:30am

Friday, November 25 at 8:30pm

Tuesday, November 29 at 11:30am

Wednesday, November 30 at 8:30pm

Telecare TV is the largest Diocesan Television Station in North America, reaching 3.9 million households. Telecare TV is available on the following cable networks:

Cablevision, channel 29 on Long Island

Cablevision, channel 137 in the 5 boroughs of New York City, Westchester and Rockland counties

Verizon FiOS, channel 296 on Long Island, the 5 boroughs of New York City, Westchester and Rockland counties, and portions of Upstate, NY

In addition, Telecare TV offers live streaming of their broadcasts at www.telecaretv.org

Fidelis Care offers free or low-cost health insurance through New York State's Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, and Medicaid Managed Care programs. Members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, routine screenings, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care, and more. In addition, Fidelis Care also offers a variety of benefit options for seniors through Fidelis Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Fidelis Care at Home programs, available in select counties.

With more than 700,000 members in 58 counties statewide, Fidelis Care is the largest government programs-based health insurance provider in New York State. Members have access to a provider network of more than 48,000 health care professionals statewide. Regional offices are located in Albany, Syracuse, Amherst, and Rego Park (Queens), with satellite offices in Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Suffern.

For more information on Medicare 2012, please call 1-800-860-8707 or 1-800-558-1125 for the speech or hearing impaired. Medicare information is also available at www.fideliscare.org, or www.medicare.gov.

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