Ovations, the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) company dedicated to improving health and well-being among Americans age 50 and older, today announced that one of its members, legendary Hall-of-Fame quarterback Bart Starr, MVP of Super Bowls I and II, and his wife Cherry Starr will serve as official spokespeople for SecureHorizons® by UnitedHealthcare, the leading name in Medicare Advantage.
The Starrs are both current enrollees in SecureHorizons Medicare Complete plans, which, for years, have been the national leader in serving Medicare beneficiaries. Most SecureHorizons plans are available at no extra monthly cost beyond what a person would typically pay for traditional Medicare. At the same time, they provide more choice and generally greater value for health care and prescription drug coverage than standard Medicare coverage. SecureHorizons plans are available in all 50 states.
"As a former quarterback and coach for 25 years, I'm used to calling the plays," said Bart Starr. "Cherry and I chose SecureHorizons Medicare Complete plans because we knew we could win with them on our team. Both of us look forward to helping our fellow seniors understand the importance of making good health care decisions and how SecureHorizons MedicareComplete plans are a great choice for beneficiaries."
SecureHorizons CEO Rick Jelinek said, "We're happy to announce that Bart and Cherry Starr are the official spokespeople for SecureHorizons by UnitedHealtcare. It is great to see that one of our members, who is also one of football's greatest quarterbacks, is reaching out to educate seniors about the benefits of SecureHorizons and Medicare Advantage plans. Bart Starr is a natural leader and a well-respected decision-maker. Together, he and his wife Cherry can speak from their own experience about the importance of teamwork and sound advice when it comes to making informed decisions about Medicare. And of course we are delighted to have Bart and Cherry as SecureHorizons Medicare Complete members, and we can't think of anyone better to represent the brand to America's seniors."
This is the first year beneficiaries will be required to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans during a limited period of time "" from November 15 until December 31 "" and the Starrs will provide valuable guidance for seniors during this critical time. Bart Starr will be featured in a SecureHorizons commercial to begin airing in mid-December in which he will explain how the plan has helped him "Live Secure, Be Secure." The advertising campaign will also include a series of commercials featuring other satisfied members.
"My husband was protected by an outstanding offensive line during his football career; but in the game of life, I'm glad that we're both protected by SecureHorizons coverage," said Cherry Starr. "Bart has always been a true leader, both on the field and on the sidelines. Both of us are excited to continue that tradition of leadership by sharing our own experiences to help America's seniors make better health care coverage decisions when it comes to Medicare."
About Bart and Cherry Starr
Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Bart Starr began his football career playing for the University of Alabama. The 200th pick in the 1956 draft, Starr played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers for 16 seasons under coach Vince Lombardi and quickly rose to become one the greatest players the team, and even the sport itself, has ever seen. During that time:
- Starr led the Packers to five NFL titles, including two Super Bowl Championships.
- He was honored three times as Most Valuable Player, once as a Green Bay Packer MVP in 1966 and as MVP of Super Bowls I and II.
After his playing career ended in 1971, he remained with the team as head coach and general manager from 1975 to 1983. In 1977 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has also won a number of awards, including the NFL Award for Citizenship and the Byron White Award.
Starr recently retired from Healthcare Realty Services and is Co-Founder of the Rawhide Boys Ranch, a 500-acre campus in Wisconsin that offers one of the country's most effective youth training programs for at-risk, court-referred young men, for whom the Starrs endow the Bret Starr Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Cherry Starr is also heavily involved in Rawhide Boys Ranch, having donated countless hours to raising funds, visiting with the boys at the ranch and producing dozens of public service announcements for radio and TV that have resulted in hundreds of young lives being changed for the better.
Bart and Cherry Starr were high school sweethearts, have been married for 52 years and enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren. They live in Birmingham, Alabama.
About SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare
SecureHorizons® by UnitedHealthcare is the country's leading Medicare Advantage brand serving the needs of Medicare beneficiaries. Focused on simplifying health care coverage and helping beneficiaries get the most out of Medicare, SecureHorizons helps people 65 and older and other individuals eligible for Medicare, "Live Secure, Be Secure." SecureHorizons is nationally recognized for offering an extensive range of Medicare Advantage plans and other products.
About Ovations
Ovations is the UnitedHealth Group Company dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Americans ages 50 and older. Through its diverse and comprehensive array of products, Ovations delivers simple, affordable, effective health care coverage solutions shaped to meet the needs of older Americans.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group ( www.unitedhealthgroup.com ) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, Specialized Care Services and Ingenix. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million individuals nationwide.
