America's Benefit Specialist November 2023

MEDICARE MATTERS

off the briefing to announce his legislation and continued commitment to the program. “This commonsense legislation employs the basic princi ples of value-based healthcare,” said Bilirakis. “We must look at the big picture. It is impossible to improve the population health of communities without addressing the factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. Prevention, education and access are essential components of effective healthcare programs such as Medicare. Allowing Medicare Advantage programs to tailor supplemental programs based upon these factors can both help save money in the long run and, more importantly, improve patient outcomes for high-risk seniors. This is not just a pragmatic approach – it is the right thing to do as we work to ensure all seniors receive the best possible care.” “Supplemental benefits are a key component of the Medi care Advantage program,” added Representative Blumenauer. “We know that the health of a patient is affected by not just the medical system but access to things like transportation, healthy food and clean air. Expanding who can receive these services is a commonsense solution to invest in whole health.” “As noted in our report, supplemental benefits are being used by the vast majority of our Medicare Advantage plan UNITEDHEALTHCARE’S 2024 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS OFFER ENHANCEMENTS TO BENEFITS UnitedHealthcare recently introduced its 2024 Medicare Advantage plans, delivering a simpler member experi ence with enhanced benefits, broad network access and cost-savings through valuable specialty and prescription drug coverage. UnitedHealthcare will expand its coverage area and reach 96% of all Medicare consumers with benefits designed to meet the broad needs of individuals nation wide. Highlights of UnitedHealthcare’s 2024 Individual Medicare Advantage plans: UCard is the all-in-one access point for members to use their benefits and is integrated with UnitedHealthcare’s member website and mobile app. UCard includes all the features of a traditional health ID card. All members can use their UCard to check in at any network provider’s office or pharmacy and can spend earned rewards in-store or online. And Dual Special Needs (D-SNP) members can buy eligible healthy food and over-the-counter products. In 2023, more than 6.3 million members are using UCard. Members spent more than $3 billion on health and well-being. Members can visit the UCard Hub on the member web site and mobile app for real-time access to available bal ances and a store locator. In 2024, it will be even easier for

enrollees, with most using multiple benefits. This suggests that these benefits are helping CMS and plans address bene ficiaries’ health-related social needs,” noted Jennifer Kowals ki, vice president of Elevance Health Public Policy Institute. “Supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans address barriers to good health that exist outside of the hospital room or physician’s office,” said Sohini Gupta, AHIP executive vice president of government affairs & inno vations. “We thank Rep. Bilirakis for the introduction of this bill. By giving Medicare Advantage plans more flexibility, we can dramatically improve the well-being of seniors who are chronically ill, which will result in important savings in the Medicare program for taxpayers.” Medicare Advantage serves a population of people who are more diverse and have more clinically complex condi tions when compared to traditional Medicare enrollees. With Medicare Advantage enrollees coming from more diverse backgrounds than enrollees in traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans can use supplemental benefits to reduce health inequities. By keeping seniors and people with disabil ities healthier, Medicare Advantage plans help to lower costs, reducing the burden on taxpayers as well as seniors. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members to shop with their UCard with: • a new mobile product scanner they can use when shop ping in-store to confirm benefit eligibility for thousands of covered products • a mobile UCard with a barcode that merchants can scan for payment once a member is ready to check out • an expanded retail network with more than 55,000 store locations, including many of the largest in-store and online retailers, and an expanding home delivery network • a new opportunity to earn rewards for eligible members by viewing the “Meet Your 2024 UCard” video that teaches members how to use UCard. Dental: UnitedHealthcare standard Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage including no annual deductible and $0 copays up to the plan’s annual maximum on preven tive and most covered comprehensive services like cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings, crowns, extractions and root canals - services not covered by Original Medicare. Hearing and Vision: UnitedHealthcare standard Medicare Advantage plans cover more than 2,000 hearing aids and devices not covered by Original Medicare with new coverage for OTC devices added in 2024. Per device copays will start at

MEDICARE PRODUCT UPDATES

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