America's Benefit Specialist November 2023

MEDICARE MATTERS

roadside assistance and tools to help keep members safe and independent on the road. For more information, visit blueshieldcamedicare.com. ELEVANCE HEALTH’S AFFILIATED 2024 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE Elevance Health recently announced that its affiliated health plans will offer simplified and flexible Medicare Advantage plans with customizable supplemental benefits to respond to the preferences of nearly 38.5 million Medicare-eligible consumers in the company’s service area, which includes 22 states and Puerto Rico. “When consumers are empowered to choose the benefits they value most, they are more likely to be satisfied custom ers,” said Elena McFann, president of Medicare for Elevance Health. “Consumers told us they want choice, simplicity, affordability and support to achieve better health. We are proud that our investments in our 2024 Medicare Advantage plans respond to those needs. Ninety-three percent (93%) of Medicare-eligible individuals in the states and territories we serve will have access to our Medicare Advantage plans as part of our 91-county expansion.” In 2024, Elevance plans will continue to emphasize a broader, whole-health approach, with a focus on choice, sim plicity, affordability and the benefits consumers want from their health plan: Expanded options for even more affordable access to care with nine out of 10 plans at $0 premium. Nearly all Medicare Advantage Plans will offer a $0 copay for Primary Care Provider visits to help members stay con nected to their care team and strengthen their health and well-being. More plans than ever have improved prescription drug coverage with more top drugs at a $0 copay and more plans offering $0 cost shares for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs. This enhancement will provide affordable access to essential medications to help members achieve better health. Many plans will provide a combined dental allowance for covered preventive and comprehensive dental services so members can use their dental benefits according to their specific needs. Improved access to hearing aids by providing an allowance toward the purchase of over-the-counter hearing aids on many plans. Continue to streamline member access to care and reduce care provider administrative burden by eliminating prior authorization requirements on the most common healthcare services and providing real-time approvals for many others. Through continued simplification of offerings to address the key drivers of health, enhanced supplemental benefits, known as Essential Extras, will provide consumers with the flexibility that will help them tailor their plan to their specific needs – members choose how they spend their allowance.

With Essential Extras, consumers have a choice among den tal, vision and hearing, transportation to medical appoint ments, assistive devices, utilities such as gas and electric bills, and groceries. A single pre-paid card will enable members to pay for these benefits. Members can access these valued benefits in a way that is most convenient for them – in-store, online, or by app or phone. In 2024, Elevance Health affiliated health plans will support members with a personalized customer service model, establishing a single point of contact to serve as a champion for members’ needs and issue resolution. Plans also offer Elevance Health’s Member Connect program, which includes clinical, proactive interventions to improve outcomes among older adults, who are particularly at risk of experiencing lone liness or social isolation. This year, Elevance Health’s affiliated health plans in Arizo na, Washington, Texas, Iowa, Tennessee and New Jersey will have a new name, Wellpoint, formerly Amerigroup. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by affiliates of Elevance Health under brands that include Wellpoint, HealthSun, Simply Healthcare, Freedom Health, Optimum HealthCare and, in Puerto Rico, MMM. For more information, visit www.elevancehealth.com. WELLCARE EXPANDS 2024 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN OFFERINGS Wellcare, the Medicare brand and wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, will expand its range of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan offerings during the 2024 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. This includes the addition of Delaware and expansion into 21 new counties, increasing its total Medicare Advantage footprint to 37 states and 1,808 counties. Wellcare will also now offer the 23 newly designed plans as well as new Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP), accepting all dual eligible beneficiaries, and introduce a Wellcare Spendables debit card that will allow pre-loaded funds to be used across 55,000 nationwide retailers in 37 states. For 2024, Wellcare will be offering plans to more than 52 million eligible beneficiaries, accounting for 80% of eligible beneficiaries in 37 states. More than 1.5 million beneficiaries are currently enrolled in an Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan. In addition to Delaware, Wellcare also added 21 new coun ties in four markets: California, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington. Wellcare will offer 23 newly designed plans as well as new D-SNP, accepting all dual eligible beneficiaries, even those who are not cost-share protected in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.

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