Seniors with chronic conditions can manage their health with the assistance of a chronic care management plan from their healthcare.
Chronic Conditions under Medicare
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has a list of chronic conditions recognized by Medicare for qualification purposes. These chronic conditions include alcohol abuse, Alzheimer’s and related dementia, arthritis, asthma, atrial fibrillation, autism spectrum disorders, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, drug abuse/substance abuse, heart failure, Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, and stroke.
Chronic Care Management Services
If you have two or more chronic conditions, your Medicare coverage will help you manage your health with personalized chronic care management services. These services are designed by your healthcare provider to make a plan for necessary services, providers, prescriptions, and more.
What can you expect from these management services? Your healthcare provider will sit down with you and talk you through upcoming plans for your care. They will provide you with a comprehensive care plan with information about your health, a list of your health problems and goals, other providers, your medications, and any community services you need.
When you decide to get chronic care management services, your provider will communicate these plans with you and your caregiver, with details for coordinating your medications and care with other providers. Your provider will ask you to sign an agreement that you will receive the services outlined in this plan on a monthly basis.
Once you have signed the agreement, your provider will help you follow the plan. After providing you and your caregiver with the plan, they will assist with medication management, review your medications and how you take them. They will also be available for urgent care 24/7, support you when you go from one health care setting to another, and help as otherwise needed for your chronic care needs.
Special Needs Plans
Another route of assistance tailored to your chronic conditions is available through a certain type of Medicare Advantage plan called a Special Needs Plan. The Chronic Condition special needs plans help you access the care services that are needed for people who have the conditions you do. If you have multiple chronic conditions, there may be a special needs plan for your group with common comorbidities.
Special needs plans have networks of healthcare providers and specialists that cater to the needs of your condition. These plans have prescription drug coverage as well, which pays for the prescriptions needed by members with your health conditions.
Medicare has many options to help you manage your health. To learn more about available plans in your area, work with a licensed agent at Magellan Healthcare Partners.
