FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 02, 2008

CONTACT:
Cindy Hickey, 330-489-1212
cindy.hickey@cantonmercy.org

Mercy Sponsors Free Medicare Fair In July
Fair Will Feature Advantage Plan Representatives and Mercy's Medicare Advisor

Canton, Ohio: Mercy Medical Center will sponsor a Medicare Fair that is free and open to the public on Tues., July 22 in the Mercy Medical Office Building Auditorium, Lower Level.

Terri Gursky, Mercy's Medicare advisor, will begin the event at 9 a.m. with a Medicare overview. The fair, which concludes at 11 a.m., will also feature Medicare Advantage Plan representatives from Anthem, Health Plan – HomeTown Region, Humana Insurance Company, Medical Mutual, SummaCare and United Healthcare.

The Medicare annual coordination election period will begin on Nov. 15, 2008. At that time, individuals can select a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides "one–stop shopping" for all Medicare benefits.

"In Stark County alone, there are 56 different Medicare Part D plans to pick from," said Gursky, who also offers one-on-one Medicare discussions by appointment. "Mercy's Medicare Fair allows individuals to explore their options and ask questions prior to the election period."

Mercy will offer another Medicare Fair on Tues., Sept. 2. For more information about the Mercy Medicare Fair or to set up a one-on-one session, call the Mercy Healthcare Connection at (330) 489-1333.

Mercy Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation of the Sisters of Charity Health System and University Hospitals Health System, operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas Counties and parts of Southeastern Ohio. It has 550 physicians on its Medical Staff and employs 2,500 people. Mercy operates outpatient health centers in Carrollton, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Louisville and North Canton. A Catholic hospital, Mercy Medical Center upholds the mission and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and continues to be responsive to the needs of the community, including the provision of care to all, regardless of their ability to pay.