The Medicare plans you enroll your clients in provide unique benefits that can prolong and enhance their golden years.
It’s a huge misconception that people should only use health insurance if they become sick. While primary coverage is crucial when illness strikes, it’s not solely meant for reactive purposes.
Your clients should know that their Medicare coverage plans are designed to better manage their health. Let’s examine the preventive services, fitness benefits, and other incentives Medicare may offer beneficiaries.
Beyond Doctor Visits
Before diving into the specific benefits, it’s important to note which plans are the most beneficial to each client. When contracting with carriers and choosing which plans to add to your portfolio, you’ll notice not all plans are equal.
As you know, part of being a top agent is figuring out which plans best meet the needs of your individual clients. Whether or not a plan offers additional benefits doesn’t need to be a “deal breaker,” but instead, it can be a great incentive. If your client is between two plans, the additional health benefits offered may help them make their final decision.
As you know, part of being a top agent is figuring out which plans best meet the needs of your individual clients.
Some agents may think that OTC benefits that come along with primary health coverage are simply allowances for vitamins and bandages, when they’re so much more than that.
Here are some examples:
- If your client is diabetic, you might be able to find a plan that offers diabetic socks.
- If your client watches their grandchildren often, some plans cover children’s pain and allergy medications, and even personal care items like toothbrushes and toothpaste.
- If your client’s doctor has recommended they watch their weight, a plan may cover a digital scale they can keep in their home.
In addition to OTC benefits, some plans even offer services at low or no cost to the plan member. These could include meal delivery service to their home, transportation to the doctor’s office, caregiver support, and even some medical equipment like grab bars in their bathroom.
Plans may also offer additional innovative benefits, such as flexible options to choose from a list of available added services, or a healthy foods card/produce box. Numerous plans provide programs for clients to help them manage their needs, whether medical or personal.
Numerous plans provide programs for clients to help them manage their needs, whether medical or personal.
The key here is to take a step further when looking at which plan is right for your client. While cost and network are the major factors, don’t forget about the little things that may end up saving your clients money down the line.
Money Saved
While considering what OTC benefits may help with your clients’ specific conditions or personal needs, remember that some plans have OTC benefits that can be valuable to anyone. Some preventative care products that may be covered include:
- Neosporin
- Cotton balls
- Lotion
- Hand sanitizer
- Sunscreen
- Thermometers
Many carriers will often partner with pharmacies, like Walmart or CVS, where your clients can utilize the coverage of these items. Some Medicare Advantage plans may even give your clients the option of having these products delivered to their home. This is a great opportunity for seniors who may have trouble leaving their houses.
The exact coverage and cost of these benefits do vary from plan to plan, so be sure to thoroughly cover the details of the plan with your client.
Annual Wellness Visits
Upon chosing and enrolling in whichever Medicare plan best fits them, your clients will have access to one covered well-check known as their “Welcome to Medicare” visit. For every year that follows, they will have one covered annual wellness check.
When telling your clients about this benefit, make sure they understand these well-checks are not physicals. In fact, the physical contact between the doctor and patient during these visits is quite minimal.
Rather, the appointment is more of a conversation. The doctor will ask questions regarding your clients’ personal and family medical history, as well as check their mental health. They will also make sure your clients are still able to perform basic household tasks.
In addition, the doctor may discuss who your clients would like to appoint as their power of attorney if they ever become unable to advocate for themselves. If the doctor feels that a patient needs outside resources, they will make referrals to counselors, specialists, etc.
The physical part of these preventative health services includes checking the patient’s height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index, and vision.
Encourage your clients to take advantage of their annual covered well-checks.
It’s imperative that you encourage your clients to take advantage of these covered visits. They may keep their annual health care costs down and could end up saving their lives if their doctor catches something in the early stages.
Vaccines and Screenings
Along with well-checks, you should make your clients aware that their Medicare plans may also cover vaccines and screening tests, depending on the type of plan, the provider seen, and the client’s eligibility. These vaccines and screenings include, but are not limited to:
- Flu shots
- Diabetes screenings
- Alcohol misuse screenings
- STI tests
- Mammograms
- Prostate cancer screenings
Older adults may consider these screenings unnecessary, but it’s quite the opposite.
Let’s take flu shots for example. Compared to a young, healthy adult, people over the age of 65 have a greater risk of experiencing serious complications from the flu. A 20-year-old might have symptoms for only a few days. On the other hand, a person who is 70 years old could have severe symptoms for a longer period, causing hospitalization, and in the worst cases, death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 71 to 85 percent of flu-related deaths in recent years were among people over the age of 65. Though the flu shot doesn’t always prevent the flu, it can largely decrease someone’s chance of contracting the illness and the severity of its symptoms.
Fitness Benefits
While going to the doctor is imperative to your clients’ health, it’s also equally important for them to engage in physical activity. Even something as simple as a daily walk could slow the aging process.
The great thing about selling Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans is that many offer either SilverSneakers® or Silver&Fit® memberships or other fitness benefits. Your clients can utilize participating facilities to exercise, take fitness classes, and even meet new people their age.
This is a major benefit, especially considering some seniors can feel isolated. Taking advantage of fitness programs can boost their social interaction, as well as their overall physical health.
Taking advantage of fitness programs can boost a client’s social interaction, as well as their overall physical health.
SilverSneakers is of the most popular fitness programs in the United States, with more than 17,000 locations across the country. This means that, no matter where your client lives, they will most likely be able to find a SilverSneakers program near them! Members whose plans include SilverSneakers have access to gyms as well as specialized and community-based classes. Plans that don’t offer SilverSneakers may offer Silver&Fit. This program also covers gym memberships and home fitness kits, so your clients can get active in the comfort of their own home. These kits even have themes, ranging from yoga to cardio strength and dance to stress management.
Some of your clients may think that it’s dangerous for them to work out, for fear of pushing their bodies too hard or falling. Just make sure you encourage your clients to discuss any medical concerns with their doctor before beginning a workout regimen.
As an agent, you want to make sure your clients are getting the most out of their coverage. This means informing them of all the benefits their plans offer.
Even though you’re not your clients’ doctor or care provider, you can make it known to them that these types of resources are available through their Medicare plans. It’s never too late to start living a healthy life with the right plan!
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
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