Extra insurance help available for eligible Nebraskans
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The open enrollment period for Medicare and Medicaid is happening now, many Nebraskans who are eligible for extra coverage may not know it.
Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans are available for Nebraskans who need more support because of income, disability or health needs Medicare and Medicaid don't cover.
Marian Cabanillas, Community and State CEO for UnitedHealthcare, said the plans cover far more than just basic medical needs.
"You may be able to get vision coverage, hearing coverage and dental care," Cabanillas outlined. "The other things that these Dual-SNP plans may offer are rides to doctor's visits, so you may be able to get transportation to help you get to the doctor's appointment."
Cabanillas acknowledged Medicare and Medicaid recipients who need additional coverage often face a maze of confusing choices, and added dual plans coordinate and meet their needs with help from health insurance providers.
Cabanillas noted only half of Nebraskans who are eligible for dual plans actually enroll, mostly because they are unaware the option exists.
Hannah Diamond, senior policy advocate for the advocacy group Justice in Aging, said health care has changed since the inception of Medicare and Medicaid, and dual plans can help fill gaps between the two which were not an issue in the past.
"Their purpose is to improve integration and coordination of Medicare and Medicaid to programs that, when they initially came about, were never designed to work together," Diamond explained.
The plans can also coordinate doctors' appointments, wellness visits, preventive screenings and vaccines. The Medicare and Medicaid open enrollment period runs until Dec. 7.
