New Bedford, Massachusetts- Today, Mayor Scott W. Lang made an important announcement regarding health insurance for City of New Bedford retirees.  Hawthorn Medical Associates, one of the largest multi-specialty medical group practices in greater New Bedford has agreed to accept patients insured by First Seniority Freedom, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care’s Medicare plan, one of the two health insurance options available to City of New Bedford retirees.  The inclusion of Hawthorn Medical Associates in the First Seniority Freedom plan will allow retirees to continue seeing their current physicians with this new health insurance plan. 

Mayor Scott W. Lang was pleased with the adjustment, “I appreciate Hawthorn Medical Associates and their excellent physicians and staff’s willingness to work with the city to ensure the highest quality medical care through Harvard Pilgrim Health Care insurance.  Harvard Pilgrim has been accommodating and cooperative while working through the process to provide the finest medical coverage for our city employees and retirees.  As retirees and employees raise specific health care issues we will continue to attempt to resolve them expeditiously.”
“Hawthorn Medical Associates is pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care to continue to provide quality health care to the retirees of the City of New Bedford. Without the efforts of Mayor Lang this may not have been possible,” said James J. Gularek, Executive Director of Hawthorn Medical Associates.
 
Jim Tollner of Harvard Pilgrim said of the agreement, “We are delighted that Hawthorn Medical Associates has decided to join thousands of other physicians in accepting First Seniority Freedom,”

The Mayor has made arrangements for Harvard Pilgrim representatives to be available to assist retirees at the New Bedford Retirement Board Office located in Howland Place at 651 Orchard Street- Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM from now through the last date for enrollment, July 27, 2007.

Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)

View all articles by Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)