Why Medicare for AlohaCare?

AlohaCare is now Hawaii's third largest health plan with more than 55,000 health plan members (with more than 1,000 Medicare members) on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. AlohaCare decided to become a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan and a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan because of three driving factors.

First, AlohaCare's mission has always been to serve Hawaii's most fragile populations. AlohaCare recognized that Hawaii's population continues to age. Many Medicare beneficiaries are making decisions to purchase their prescription drugs or to buy food. Certainly, Hawaii's aging population is one of the most fragile groups of our community.

Second, AlohaCare's board designed a 5-year strategic plan in 2004 that outlined business diversification to include the care of the aging, disabled and long term care populations.

Third, in 2003, Congress passed into law the Medicare Modernization Act. This new law initiated the most significant changes to Medicare since its inception. Two of the most prominent components of this law are the introduction of Medicare Advantage health plans and Medicare Part D or drug insurance.