Aetna® and North Mississippi Health Services Announce New Collaboration in Mississippi to Offer Medicare Advantage Plan

TUPELO, Mississippi--Aetna, a CVS Health® company, (NYSE: CVS) and North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) announce a Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan that will be available to Medicare beneficiaries in Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Webster counties.

The plan will be offered starting in the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period between October 15 and December 7. Coverage will become effective January 1, 2024.

The Aetna Medicare North Mississippi Health (HMO) plan was designed based on insights from NMHS physician leaders who understand the community and who have deepened the level of trust with their patients and the communities where they live. “This plan was designed based on insights from our Connected Care Partners, a network of local physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants,” said Shane Spees, North Mississippi Health Services President and Chief Executive Officer. “These providers understand our community and are highly trusted by the people we serve.” Both Aetna and NMHS believe that a national insurance carrier and a local physician network working together can improve quality, make the health care experience easier, make health care more efficient and reduce health care costs.

The Aetna Medicare North Mississippi Health (HMO) plan combines national expertise in health plan administration from Aetna with the NMHS health care management model, which encompasses an expansive network of providers and medical facilities. This new product will be available to approximately 100,000 Medicare-eligible individuals in much of the northern and central regions of Mississippi. The goal is to connect consumers with an integrated solution to their health care needs. The focus is to improve the coordination, clinical performance and efficiency of care for members of this plan.

Medicare Advantage plans provide the same benefits as Original Medicare Parts A and B. However, consumers may choose this new Medicare Advantage plan for additional benefits, lower cost-sharing and an annual out-of-pocket cost limit on covered medical services.

This medical and prescription drug plan gives members access to in-network care with North Mississippi Health Services physicians and facilities. Aetna Medicare North Mississippi Health (HMO) plan includes:

• $0 monthly premium
• $30 monthly credit through our Medicare Part B premium reduction
• A limit on the maximum out-of-pocket expenses for in-network covered medical services for members to no more than $5,900 per year
• $2,550 annually for preventive and comprehensive dental coverage at an in-network dental provider
• $0 copays for primary care visits and $25 copays for specialist visits — no referral required
• $0 copays on certain Tier 1 and 2 prescription drugs for up to 100-day supply with preferred mail-order delivery, even through the coverage gap
• $105 quarterly for select health and wellness items available in our over-the-counter (OTC) catalog
• 12 one-way rides to doctor appointments, pharmacies and more
• $300 annually for prescription glasses or contacts, plus a $0 in-network routine eye exam
• $600 annual direct member reimbursement (DMR) allowance for activities like pickleball, golf and swimming, entrance fees for national and state parks, plus fitness supplies like tennis rackets, golf clubs, athletic shoes and more
• Personalized help finding services and resources in your community

"This Medicare Advantage collaboration between North Mississippi Health Services and Aetna is the first of its kind in Mississippi,” said Josh Fraum, Chief Medicare Officer for Aetna Georgia Gulf States. “Our shared vision for a healthier and happier Mississippi is that much closer with the launch of this new Medicare Advantage plan designed specifically for North Mississippi Health Services patients. Aetna Medicare North Mississippi Health (HMO) plan is an option for patients currently on Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare. This plan allows them to keep their NMHS doctors, while enjoying potentially richer benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs.”

About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 36 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit Aetna.com.

Aetna Medicare is an HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Participating physicians, hospitals and other health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change. The provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Other physicians/providers are available in our network.

About North Mississippi Heath Services
North Mississippi Health Services connects patients and their families with convenient access to care that is cost efficient and of the highest quality. NMHS provides acute, diagnostic, therapeutic and emergency services, with the sole trauma center (Level 2) in our service area, through North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. The health care system also includes community hospital locations in Amory, Eupora, Iuka, Pontotoc and West Point, Mississippi, and Hamilton, Alabama, a regional network of more than 60 primary and specialty clinics; nursing homes and telehealth services.

NMHS serves 24 counties in north Mississippi and northwest Alabama from headquarters in Tupelo.