Medicare Advantage Update

Universal American Financial Corp. says it will be expanding its health insurance program for older Americans.

Universal American, Rye Brook, N.Y., plans to sell 4 Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plans in 35 states in 2007, up from 16 in 2006, the company says.

The menu will include 2 plans without prescription drug coverage and 2 plans with drug coverage, and 1 of the plans will cover generic drugs for Medicare beneficiaries who have exhausted routine Medicare drug benefits but have not yet spent enough on drugs to qualify for catastrophic benefits, Universal American says.

Universal American PFFS plans will be available in all counties in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.