The time is just around the corner to re-register or adjust Medicare plans. We offer details on the three main improvements to Medicare Advantage plans for 2021 to help you prepare for them and make better choices to optimize the health benefits of the elderly adults. Now that we are closer to Medicare registration dates, details have recently been released on the upcoming changes in 2021.
The significant changes in Medicare Advantages are expanding tele–health services and coverage, long-term care coverage and additional referral options for end-stage renal disease. We will explain what seniors and family caregivers need to know about the 2021 changes to help more than 22 million people who have enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (a third of those receiving Medicare). Knowing these upcoming changes allows you to make the best decisions about re-registration or selecting a different scheme.
Extended scope and tele–health facilities
Medicare Transition programs will see an improvement in TV services and advertising so that the aged are treated in their home by medical professionals. This is extremely useful for patients who cannot visit the doctor’s office or for patients at significant risk who wish to reduce disease exposure. Telehealth enables senior citizens to attend video calls, both comfortable and secure, with their doctor at home. As part of the extension of coverage to include telehealth services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Programs (CMS) allows Medicare Benefit arrangements to include telehealth providers in some treatment areas, including:
- Main Treatment
- Heart treatment
- Dermatological
- Mental wellbeing
- Gynécsis
- Endocrine sciences
Coverage of long-term insurance by Medicare benefit
Medicare Benefit programs offer the same benefits as Standard Medicare, but they provide up to 100 days with qualified providers or rehabilitative treatment. Although they also provide coverage to mentally ill recipients for supplemental home care services. Any Medicare Preference programs will provide coverage for a range of expanded home care facilities beginning as early as this year. Although they do not currently offer compensation for assisted living costs (and benefits vary according to arrangement and location), these reforms will make a significant difference in treatment by encouraging more people to begin living independently.
Better solutions for end-stage renal disease sufferers (ESRD)
Seniors with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) will also enroll in Medicare Benefit programs beginning in January 2021 and have additional coverage opportunities for Medicare thanks to reforms made by the 21st Century Cures Act. In certain conditions, people with ESRD will only be enrolling in Medicare Benefit programs. Currently, instead of Medicare Advantage organizations, the organ acquisition costs of kidney transplants will have coverage under the fee-for-service scheme. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to these new changes, which should be known to both recipients and caregivers.
For example, a recognized beneficial feature of Medicare Advantage is that dialysis patients’ benefits provide case management programs to evaluate their conditions, define treatment priorities and provide continuing assistance with advantage plans for dialysis patients. Moreover, Medicare Benefit programs limit the cost of pocketing to $6,700 a year. In comparison, the risk share of up to $15,000 a year is provided to ESRD seniors who are participating in Medicare.
