photo by: John McCabe

WVU Medicine President and CEO Albert Wright Albert Wright, president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, discusses the new regional cancer center that will be built on the old OVMC campus.

WHEELING — Since 2021, WVU Medicine has been growing its new health insurance services company, Peak Health. Now, after serving WVU Medicine employees, the organization is expanding its offerings to thousands of Medicare-eligible West Virginians.

West Virginia residents in 29 counties who are eligible for Medicare can now sign up for Peak Health’s Medicare Advantage plans. Open enrollment will last until December 7.

Eligible counties in the Northern Panhandle include Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel. Residents in those counties can sign up.

WVU Medicine President and CEO Albert Wright, who also serves as Peak Health’s board chair, said the goal of Peak Health is to create a seamless synergy between health care provider and insurance provider by putting it all under one umbrella.

“There was a time where in your house you had a telephone, you had a computer that you did Word Perfect or your emails on and you had a camera that you took pictures with,” Wright said. “And then your smartphone came along and put all of those things together in an interoperable, interchangeable way that you would have never imagined, where your email and your pictures and your music and your telephone and your ability to communicate and send those images to your friends is more than you would ever imagine.

“We are now essentially taking what’s historically been completely separate, which is the health care system and the insurance provider,” he continued, “and we’re going to put them together kind of like the iPhone put those other things together.”

And now this opportunity will be available to many more Medicare-eligible West Virginians. Peak Health President and CEO Ben Gerber said there are several advantages for those eligible to sign up, the first being affordability and value for the price.

Peak Advantage offers both a zero premium plan and a plan that costs $18 monthly. Gerber said the zero premium plan offers several benefits such as a flexible spending card, dental care, drug benefits and fitness benefits.

It’s also a locally created plan, he added.

“I think it’s really important that the plan was created by West Virginia doctors and as a locally led plan, so we really understand the needs and concerns of West Virginians,” Gerber said

Another advantage Gerber mentioned was a fully integrated experience for patients and members, which should reduce frustrations for both. Any member who already uses the WVU Medicine provider portal will be able to manage their health care plan in the same way.

“I think it’s incredibly important that we take a holistic view,” Gerber said, “and, really, what seniors are looking for is a one-stop place where they seem to have all of their needs met.

“I think it’s part of the simplification that you can get almost all of your healthcare needs satisfied through our plan, together with WVU Medicine, and the flexibility, too,” he continued. “Some other Medicare Advantage plans have things like dental and drug benefits incorporated. Almost no zero premium plans have a $250 Flex card. So that’s something that we’re really excited about, seniors’ ability, if things fall through the cracks, there’s some support for them to get them through the year.”

Wright and Gerber are hopeful that within three to four years, Peak Health’s Medicare Advantage plan will be expanded to all 55 West Virginia counties. Any Medicare-eligible West Virginian in the 29 eligible counties can find more information or sign up for the plan at medicare.peakhealth.org or by calling 1-866-850-2603.