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For Immediate Release

Welcoming the Year of the Ox
Health Plus Sponsor’s Chinese New Year Parade in Flushing

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - February 14, 2009 — This past Saturday, thousands lined the sidewalks along the parade route, in Flushing, Queens, home of the largest Asian population in New York, to welcome the “Year of the Ox” during the 2009 Lunar New Year Parade.  Back for another year, managed care organization Health Plus joined the procession of dragons and drums with its vivacious staff and volunteers -- and was once again, one of the crowd’s favorites. 

The parade, which began at Union Street and 47th Avenue , made its way along Main Street, past the Flushing Library and ended at 39th Ave, where throngs of spectators watched and cheered. While Health Plus participates in many Lunar New Year Celebrations and Parades, the Flushing parade, in its 14th year, is by far the largest.

“We sponsor and march in quite a few parades,” said Health Plus Executive Director, Tom Early, “but there are few that are this much fun for the whole family.  We certainly intend to be back next year, with even more people ready to celebrate Chinese culture and the Lunar New Year.”




Health Plus staff stop to pose with spectators on Main Street, during the 14th annual Flushing Queens Chinese New Year Parade.

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.