Washington, DC – July 16, 2010 – The National Council on Aging (NCOA) today announced the addition of Independent Living Systems (ILS) as the newest partner to sponsor a Private Label version of BenefitsCheckUp, NCOA’s online screening service for senior benefits. The Private Label version of BenefitsCheckUp will allow ILS to enhance the care management services the company currently provides to its clients, many of whom are frail and underprivileged individuals who require chronic care or other special needs.

“We’re excited to have this new resource to assist members of our customer health plans remain in the community,” said Nestor Plana, president and CEO of ILS. “Partnering with NCOA will expand our capability to help provide the quality of health and life they deserve.”

Developed and maintained by the National Council on Aging, BenefitsCheckUp is a free online service that helps older adults with limited income and resources find assistance with the cost of health care, prescription drugs, food, housing, utility bills, and more. Seniors and their caregivers can conduct a self-screening survey to determine eligibility for more than 2,000 federal, state, local, and private benefits programs. Enrollment forms for most programs are provided as part of BenefitsCheckUp’s interactive screening process.

By acquiring a Private Label version of BenefitsCheckUp, ILS now has its own customized version of the standard online screening service. This version includes the ILS name and logo, making the site more recognizable for ILS’ clients. Additionally, ILS has the capability to track the number of individuals who have been helped, or have completed certain application forms for benefits programs through the company’s private version of BenefitsCheckUp. A special URL, www.benefitscheckup.org/ILS, has been established for ILS.

“We are pleased to have ILS join our growing list of partners and affiliated agencies that help provide this valuable service to seniors,” said Stuart Spector, senior vice president at NCOA. “BenefitsCheckUp supports over 100,000 visitors each month with the most up-to-date information and eligibility requirements for thousands of benefits programs.”

A Private Label sponsorship is one of the ways organizations who seek to improve the lives of seniors can use the online technology of BenefitsCheckUp. Additionally, organizations may select from a variety of other fully customizable versions of BenefitsCheckUp to provide screening services. Overall, more than 400 organizations are utilizing BenefitsCheckUp to provide their local communities with greater access to benefits. A proven resource for consumers, more than 2.5 million people have used the service since 2001, identifying benefits valued at more than $8.6 billion.

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About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged – and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities. For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org.

About Independent Living Systems
Independent Living Systems (ILS) is a management services company, founded in 2001, focused on introducing managed care to the delivery of long term care and to administering care to populations with chronic care and other special care needs. The company has developed significant capabilities in case and disease management, nutrition, and social services and was ranked as one of the top 10 small companies in South Florida per Business Leader Magazine. For more information, please visit www.ilshealth.com.

Filed under: News by Michael ONeil
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Washington, DC – July 6, 2010 – The National Council on Aging (NCOA) today announced Pfizer’s continued sponsorship of its popular BenefitsCheckUp® program. Pfizer has supported the free consumer information program since 2002, and is part of a team of over 20 sponsors including pharmaceutical companies, healthcare organizations, foundations, corporations, and government partners.

Developed and maintained by NCOA, BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s most comprehensive online service that helps older adults with limited resources search for benefits programs for which they may be eligible. Since 2001, more than two and a half million people have used the free service to identify benefits valued at more than $8.5 billion.

“We are pleased Pfizer has re-signed as a sponsor of BenefitsCheckUp,” said Stuart Spector, senior vice president at NCOA. “In these troubled economic times, BenefitsCheckUp provides an increasingly needed public service and support from companies like Pfizer is an important way for NCOA to maintain this free service that now receives over 100,000 visitors on a monthly basis.”

BenefitsCheckUp helps older Americans find and enroll in federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care and other needs. The program also provides information on Medicare prescription drug coverage and offers tips to seniors on cutting costs. Older adults, caregivers, and organizations working one on one with seniors can use BenefitsCheckUp to check program eligibility for almost 2,000 benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and identify programs that best fit their needs.

“Pfizer is proud to continue to support with NCOA to help America’s older adults maintain their healthcare independence,” said Freda Lewis-Hall, chief medical officer of Pfizer. “Providing this valuable information in an easy to use manner helps seniors get the right information at the right time to assure they are able to access the health care benefits they deserve and continued medical care they need.”

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About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged – and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities.

About Pfizer
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world’s best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Learn more at www.pfizer.com.

Filed under: News by Michael ONeil
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