ALEXANDRIA, Va. The United Motorcoach Association is partnering with Association Health Programs of Overland Park, Kan., to bring UMA members a program designed to reduce the cost of health insurance coverage.

The program, available nationwide, includes health insurance, life insurance, long-term care insurance, cancer coverage, accident insurance, disability income, critical illness, dental insurance, vision coverage and other aspects.

"These benefits will allow UMA members to take advantage of better insurance coverage at the lowest possible rates," said UMA President and CEO Victor Parra. "This new, comprehensive health insurance program is for individuals, families, groups and businesses.

"Long-term care and life insurance also are being offered, with savings up to 40 percent below market rates, to UMA members and associates, Parra adeed.

Association Health Programs, a nationally known company, has been retained to administer the program.

Stuart Pase, president of Association Health Programs, said his company welcomes all UMA members to take advantage of the special benefits, protection, underwriting and pricing.

"UMA members will join other clients of Association Health Programs, which includes more than 130 associations with up to two million members over the past 17 years," said Pase.

UMA members that purchase their own insurance, or offer health coverage to their employees, should take a moment to compare their existing plan to a plan that utilizes the UMA/Association Health Programs buying power, said Pase.

"All national A-rated insurance companies are available. UMA members can receive enhanced benefits for themselves, their families and their employees --both full and part time," he said.

"Programs are comprehensive and all inclusive, and include health saving accounts, co-pays, choice of deductibles, routine care and prescription drug coverage," Pace noted.

In addition to health insurance, UMA members between the ages of 45-75 also may be eligible for comprehensive long-term care insurance. All policies include home health care, assisted living and nursing home care.

"As average life expectancy lengthens, people do not want to lose their assets, their freedom of living environments, or become a burden to their family and friends. With the proper funding now, you will have the money in the future to provide for very expensive services in your home and/or assisted living or nursing home care - at a time when financial ruin can take all your assets and choices away," said Pase.

UMA/Association Health Programs offers members access to every long-term care insurance company on a national basis with savings that cannot be obtained by yourself in the marketplace, according to Pase, noting that Medicare does not cover long-term care services.

UMA insurance programs include term life insurance, universal life insurance, whole life insurance, key person, and buy-sell insurance.

"People who smoke, have diabetes, are overweight or have other high-risk medical conditions can be helped many times with preferred rates," said Pase. "We specialize in hard-to-insure high-risk cases. As a member benefit, UMA/ Association Health Programs will compare your current rates and 95 percent of the time we guarantee better coverage and lower costs."

For more information, including a free evaluation of your current health and insurance benefits, call Association Health Programs at (913) 341-2868 or (888) 450-3040. Or, go to www.uma.miquotes.com.