“Medicare Advantage plans banking on non-medical home care needs,” by Kimberly Marselas,McKnight’s Senior Living

Quote:

“The open enrollment season starting next month will allow participants to choose from 730 plans providing supplemental benefits, such as adult day health services, caregiver support, massage and home-based palliative care. Another 920 plans will offer benefits for people living with chronic conditions so that they can better manage their disease. Those types of support include anything from meal delivery to pest control services. About 500 plans will target participants with diagnoses such as diabetes and congestive heart failure, offering lower copayments and new benefits such as meals and transportation. CMS said that Medicare Advantage enrollment is expected to increase to 26.9 million beneficiaries next year, a 44% jump since 2017. Average premiums also are expected to be the lowest in 14 years as insurers compete for sign-ups.”

LTC Comment:   Real benefits or politically induced promotional hype?