More Medicare Advantage plans, including Health First Health Plans, are extending supplemental benefits to boost members' overall health, covering products and services that help keep them out of the emergency room.

When you think about healthcare coverage, transportation and over-the-counter expenses probably don't pop into your mind. But perks like these can put you on the right path to overall wellness — and with the best health plan, can be a regular asset to keeping you healthy.

In 2019, Medicare Advantage plans began expanding supplemental benefits not traditionally covered by original Medicare. The thought? Focus more on wellness measures that help prevent emergency room visits for health plan members with chronic conditions.

And these supplemental benefits are fueling seniors' buying decisions, said Jason Alford, Health First Health Plans Vice President of Sales and Business Development.

"Dental, vision and hearing benefits were the most popular offerings and became a staple within Medicare Advantage plans across the country," Alford explained. "For seniors accustomed to group health insurance through an employer plan, these pairings aligned with what many now selecting Medicare Advantage plans purchased before retirement."

That's changed the game for many Medicare Advantage shoppers, Alford said.

"Since 2019, competitors in the industry have begun to offer a much wider variety of additional benefits to differentiate their plans, and in consideration of how supplemental benefits impact overall wellness," Alford said.

Insurers have heard what their customers want, and many have responded by bolstering their offerings. Some supplemental benefits now commonly include over-the-counter allowances, transportation, fitness center memberships, meal delivery services and more.

"Under the new guidelines, Medicare Advantage plans have greater flexibility to offer supplemental benefits for members with chronic conditions. Medicare Advantage plans may now offer benefits that are not necessarily health-related but have a reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall function of the enrollees," Alford said.

An example of new supplemental benefits is non-medical transportation — such as trips to the grocery store for beneficiaries with chronic conditions. Health plans recognize that access to care includes reasonable access to reliable transportation, a challenge for many seniors.

"The rise in supplemental offerings reflects a broader narrative regarding the impact of lifestyle and social factors on overall health," Alford said. "Many health systems, including Health First, are proactively addressing these and other socio-economic factors. As health systems continue to focus on value and risk-based models, these influencing factors on health will continue to expand supplemental benefits."

These factors — and adding in the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic's social isolation — are shifting insurers' approaches to comprehensive benefit offerings. They're also compelling insurers to form strategic partnerships with other companies, such as Uber and Lyft for transportation and delivery services, and many others now offered in supplemental benefit packages.

To learn if our Medicare Advantage plan may provide the supplemental benefits you are looking for, visit myHFHP.org, or call 1.800.716.7737 (TTY 1.800.955.8771). We're available October 1 to March 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. From April 1 to September 30, we're available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Health First Health Plans is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health First Health Plans depends on contract renewal. Y0089_MPINFO9164_C(03/2021)