How to make telehealth more accessible for seniors
Driving to a healthcare appointment can be more difficult for a senior-aged person, as can acquiring a ride to a doctor’s office. Difficulty with mobility, decreased eyesight, and increased fatigue can all pose an obstacle to keeping appointments with medical providers. For this reason (and many others), telehealth has been a viable and welcomed option for many seniors and their family members. According to the Journal of Applied Gerontology in 2022, older adult utilization of video-based telehealth in place of “in-person” primary care physician visits has increased by 21% since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally consequent to the Covid-19 pandemic has been an increased interest on the part of older adults in acquiring online communication skills. The Pew Research Center (PRC) in 2022 reported that 95% of all adults aged 30-49 (and 44% of all adults aged 65 and older) now own a Smartphone. Meanwhile, the PRC also reported that 44% of adults aged 65 and older own a tablet computer (as compared to 53% for those aged 50-64). However, telehealth is inaccessible to many seniors for reasons other than lessened mental sharpness (although decreased cognitive ability can lessen telehealth accessibility for affected elderly adults).
The following are five ways to make telehealth more accessible to adults who are senior-aged:
1. Simplify Interface Interactions to Only Pressing One or Two Keys to Start the Telehealth Communication
Joint pain in the hands and fingers due to arthritis is common in older-aged adults, and around 47% of seniors aged 65+ have been diagnosed with arthritis. This can make manipulating keyboards and pressing buttons on computerized devices painful and difficult. Likewise, the common vision disorder of presbyopia – that makes reading small print more difficult – affects most older-aged people. When there are many keys or buttons to press to turn on (or turn off) the telehealth communication, this can increase the likelihood that an incorrect key or button will be pressed. Due to the frustration experienced in starting the software program, utilizing a wearable device, or needing significant manual dexterity to engage in the telehealth communication, a senior-aged person may simply give up.
2. Set the Audio to the Loudness Required by the Senior to Hear the Telehealth Communication
Hearing loss affects one in every three people aged 65-74 in the US, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDOCD). Many adults aged 65 and older wear hearing aids, but these can increase the overall decibel level without enabling a better ability to hear words over background sounds. Therefore, hearing a telehealth communication (whether it is an interactive video call with a medical provider or just a reminder to take a particular daily medication) can be problematic for some seniors. In order to decrease the likelihood that a hearing impairment will interfere with utilizing telehealth, it is important that the Smartphone, tablet, or computer be able to be set as loud as needed by the senior-aged person.
In addition, captioning should be enabled so that the senior-aged person with hearing loss can utilize this if necessary. Moreover, the ability to read the caption while hearing the words spoken may improve the understanding of the verbal message during the telehealth visit.
3. Ensure that the Technological Device is Working Properly Prior to Any Telehealth Interaction
Whether the technological device is a desktop (or laptop) computer, tablet, or wearable, checking it intermittently to ensure that it is actually functioning is essential. Since many senior-aged people are not technologically savvy and insecure about their high-tech abilities, they may think that they are utilizing the telehealth-related software incorrectly when the problem lies in the computer hardware or merely a “low” battery that needs re-charging.
While it is better for someone who has an adequate enough level of technology skill to check the computer for the elderly user to ensure it is working properly (and especially that it stays on after the power button is pressed), an alternative is to “walk” the senior periodically through the steps of this hardware check, to ensure that a telehealth interaction can actually occur.
4. Do Not Change the Appearance of the Computer Screen after Installing Software Enabling Telehealth Utilization
People who are not highly familiar with using computers (such as many elderly people) can learn to use them, but the confidence level can be shaky due to unfamiliarity with high-tech devices. If learning has occurred on a screen with a specific appearance (such as the icon for the telehealth-related software and other icons in certain positions on the screen), moving them can cause confusion for the elderly computer user.
According to a medical research article in Seminars in Hearing, cognitive changes occur during later-life aging that often impact the nimbleness of that elderly person to adapt to changed information to make a decision. Therefore, a changed computer screen appearance can create doubt in the mind of an elderly person with a minimal level of computer skill as to how to use that computerized device. Furthermore, this confusion can lead to not realizing that the icon to connect to a clinician for a telehealth interaction is actually the same as always – but just appearing in a different place on the screen!
5. Ensure that Seniors have Access to a Reliable Internet Connection
Thirty-nine percent of all adults aged 75+ have lived in their current home for more than 30 years (per the Urban Institute). Therefore, the Internet connectivity capability may not be sufficient for that necessary to engage in a telehealth interaction. Meanwhile, there are diverse other causes of “spotty” or nonexistent Internet connectivity. One major cause is residing in a rural geographic area, where broadband lines can be distant. Meanwhile, 43% of adults living on an annual income of less than $30,000 in the US do not have at-home broadband, and around 10.3% of all seniors are living below the poverty line.
Whatever the reason for the lack of reliable Internet connectivity, telehealth requires that a person be able to depend on such connectivity. Otherwise, a telehealth visit may be scheduled by a physician or other healthcare provider but the patient not be able to participate in the virtual visit due to the Internet connection not functioning. On the other hand – if basic Internet connectivity is not a problem – enabling senior-aged people to understand how to acquire an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and a connectivity speed appropriate to their circumstances/needs can improve the likelihood that they will be interested in utilizing telehealth services.
The Ōmcare Home Health Hub® is a technology product that includes a mobile app and the capacity to engage in telehealth video calls for check-ins and check-ups, so can aid seniors while aging at home.
Changes for Medicare Advantage in 2023
Every year, Medicare Advantage plans change slightly. These changes can be confusing, which is why we’ll be explaining all the Medicare Advantage changes you’ll experience in 2023.
First, what is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare is federally-funded health insurance, designed to get you the care you need at a lower cost. Medicare Advantage gets you more coverage than Original Medicare—for example, your Medicare Advantage plan will often cover prescription drugs, while Original Medicare plans won’t.
What do Medicare Advantage plans typically cover?
Medicare Advantage usually covers all three Medicare Parts:
- Medicare Part A: Covers hospitalizations. You usually won’t pay a premium for this, however, there’s a small chance you won’t qualify for premium-free Part A. If that’s the case, you can purchase premium-free Part A.
- Medicare Part B: Covers medical insurance (non-emergency). Every Medicare Advantage enrollee pays a monthly premium for Part B.
- Medicare Part D: Covers prescription drugs. Only some Medicare Advantage plans offer this coverage.
Medicare Advantage changes in 2023
Here are the changes to Medicare Advantage plans that you should be aware of:
1. Cost
In 2022, the average Medicare Advantage enrollee paid $19 per month. In 2023, the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage enrollees is decreasing to $18 per month. This means you’ll be paying less for the same great coverage.
The lower costs are a result of the Biden-Harris Administration and its efforts to make healthcare more affordable. “Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, millions of Medicare enrollees will have lower prescription drug costs and improved benefits when they sign up this year,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
2. Maximum out-of-pocket limit (MOOP)
In 2023, the Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket limit (MOOP) will increase to $8,300, from $7,550 in 2022. This means that after you spend $8,300 on Medicare services, your plan will cover the rest of your covered care costs for the rest of the year.
However, most Medicare Advantage plans have lower out-of-pocket limits than the established maximum. Ask your insurer what your out-of-pocket limit is.
3. Expansion
Depending on what state you live in, your access to Medicare Advantage plans are limited. This may have caused problems for you in the past, but in 2023, five major Medicare insurers are planning to expand into new states and counties. You’ll have new options from:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Elevance Health (which used to be known as Anthem Inc.)
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
The expansion of Medicare Advantage insurers will help more people get great coverage.
4. Drug coverage
If your prescription drugs are covered, you’ll see a two important changes to your coverage in 2023:
- For certain types of insulin, you’ll pay no more than $35 per month.
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends certain vaccines, and all of these will be free. These include: COVID-19, HPV, measles, polio, smallpox, and more.
With the changes to Medicare Advantage drug coverage, you can expect to save money.
Quick summary
Here’s a summary of all the 2023 Medicare Advantage changes:
- The average monthly premium will be $18.
- The maximum-out-of-pocket limit is increasing to $8,300.
- Medicare Advantage plans will be offered in more states and counties.
- Insulin costs will be capped.
- Recommended vaccines will be free.
Ōmcare engages with Medicare plans
Ōmcare is actively engaging with Medicare Advantage plans to help bring technology into your home as part of the costs you already pay. Our goals are to increase healthcare access, improve health outcomes, and maximize care for what you already pay.
Learn more about how we partner.
What is Medigap, and does it cover prescriptions?
If you’re worried about affording your healthcare costs, you’re not alone. 37% of adults age 65 and older are concerned that they won’t be able to afford their healthcare expenses within the next year. As the cost of care rises, it’s wise to consider all the insurance options available to you — including Medigap.
Today, we’ll help you understand what Medigap is, how it can help you manage healthcare costs, and whether or not it pays for prescription drugs.
Understanding Medigap: What is it?
Medigap is also known as a Medicare Supplement, because it can help you pay for healthcare expenses that aren’t covered by Original Medicare. Medicare writes that Medigap “helps fill ‘gaps’ in Original Medicare and is sold by private companies.” Some of these gaps include:
- Copayments
- Coinsurance
- Deductibles
To have these expenses covered, enroll in a Medigap policy on top of your Original Medicare policy. You can buy a policy from any insurance provider that’s licensed to sell in your state, but you and your spouse will need your own separate Medigap policies.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
While Medigap helps you pay for some healthcare costs, it doesn’t help you pay for all of them. Most Medigap policies will not pay for any of your prescription drugs and medications.
Medigap doesn’t cover prescription drugs.
Since Medigap won’t help you pay for your medications, it is not the best option if you have a condition that requires you to take a lot of prescriptions. Likewise, if your prescriptions are really expensive, Medigap is not the best option for you.
On the flip side, if you don’t have many monthly medications, or your medications aren’t too expensive, a Medigap policy may be perfect for you.
Other options: Paying for for prescription drugs
If you do need expensive prescription drugs on a regular basis, Medigap won’t help. But this isn’t a dead end—other insurance options can help you pay for your monthly medications.
Here are some other insurance options to consider:
- Coverage from a former employer or union.
- Medicaid, which provides healthcare assistance to people with limited income and resources. Medicaid can help you pay for your medications, but it does depend on what state you live in.
- Medicare Advantage, which covers more healthcare costs than Original Medicare. Some plans offer Part D coverage, which means it will pay for your prescription drugs.
If you do decide to go with a Medicare Advantage policy, you can’t buy and won’t need Medigap.
Quick Summary
We’ve just covered a lot of confusing information. Here is a quick summary of it:
- A Medigap policy can help you pay for healthcare expenses that Medicare doesn’t—including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
- A Medigap policy won’t help you pay for prescription drugs.
- If you need pricey prescriptions on a regular basis, some Medicare Advantage will cover the costs for you.
Ōmcare engages with Medicare plans
Ōmcare is actively engaging with Medicare plans to help bring technology into your home as part of the costs you already pay. Our goals are to:
- Increase healthcare access
- Improve health outcomes
- Reduce costs
Learn more about how we partner.
Senior care facilities: How to help elderly patients reduce healthcare costs
25% of elderly Americans sacrifice their basic needs to afford healthcare costs. Even with these sacrifices, 50 million American adults aged 50 and older are at risk for illness progression—and even death—because costs are still too high.
The situation is getting even worse as inflation strains the United States economy. The cost of basic needs, healthcare, and senior care facilities are rising, but social security checks remain stagnant.
By helping your seniors embrace technological advances, you can help reduce the burden of healthcare costs.
Reducing healthcare costs: Technology’s role
A few decades ago, seniors were reliant solely on in-person healthcare, which gets pricey very quickly. Fortunately, this is no longer the case due to recent advancements in healthcare technology. Patients can now more effectively manage their health issues virtually, at a fraction of the price of in-person care.
Seniors pay an average of $7,030 per year on healthcare, which is 13% of their total spending. On top of nursing home costs, these fees are often very challenging for seniors to handle, even when they have Medicare.
Healthcare technologies in the market help seniors spend less on healthcare—for example, Ōmcare Home Health Hub only costs $9 per month—because they provide a solution that reduces the need for healthcare employees day-to-day. Longterm, these technologies reduce costly hospitalizations.
How to help seniors reduce healthcare costs
There are three main alternatives to in-person healthcare: virtual care, remote patient monitoring, and medication management.
Virtual care
Virtual care allows your seniors to speak with their physician, receive diagnoses, and learn about their treatment plans—all from inside your facility. A medical care professional provides services through video chats, voice calls, or text messages.
With virtual care, patients get the care they need, at a far lower cost. The reduction in cost is why many people choose to use virtual care: a RAND study found that “people who preferred video visits were more sensitive to out-of-pocket costs than those who preferred in-person visits.”
Despite the reduction in costs, quality of care remains the same. The RAND study found that only 2% of those who had a video visit were unwilling to do so again. That means patients are content and happy with the outcome of virtual care. To make virtual appointments as effective as possible, have an employee accompany your seniors, while taking detailed notes.
Remote patient monitoring
Virtual care is increasingly effective when paired with remote patient monitoring. Using remote patient monitoring, healthcare providers can monitor and manage a senior’s chronic conditions. When any issues arise, they can see the data. They can spot the issue and deliver virtual care.
By monitoring vitals 24/7, remote patient monitoring:
- Reduces and shortens hospitalizations
- Decreases emergency room visits
- Prevents long-term health complications
- Reduces risk of getting infected with COVID-19 and other illness
When your seniors are healthier and dealing with less complications, they face fewer healthcare costs. Remote patient monitoring also helps your facility and your seniors cut any travel costs.
Medication management
A key aspect of managing chronic conditions is medication adherence. Unfortunately, seniors are likely to forget to take and refill their medications—leading to $100 billion in preventable medical costs every year.
Why does medication nonadherence cost so much? The answer is that when seniors aren’t properly taking their medicine, they’re 25% more likely to be hospitalized. That leads to a major hike in emergency healthcare costs.
To avoid hospitalizations, use healthcare technologies that were created specifically to help seniors manage their medicine. These include:
- Automatic pill deliveries
- Pre-sorted pill packages dispensed at the right time, in the right dose
- Text message, email, or call reminders
- Automatic refills
- Adherence tracking
Medication adherence technologies help seniors stay on track of their proper dosage schedules, leading to less health complications and less costs.
Boosting healthcare tech adoption
No matter what healthcare technology you’re introducing to your facility, follow these tips to improve adoption among your seniors:
- Find simple, intuitive technologies that are easy to use, with few, well-marked buttons.
- Make sure the technology is accessible for seniors, with features like larger text sizes and speech-activation.
- Provide well-written, easy-to-follow instructions.
- Offer extra in-person technology coaching.
- Assure seniors that their data is safe—only 1 in 10 seniors feel confident that their interactions with healthcare tech will be kept private. Address these privacy concerns.
- Educate seniors on how the technology will help them, improve their health outcomes, and reduce their costs.
And finally, make sure your technological options are actually affordable to your seniors. One way to increase affordability is finding a technology that offers many key features in one.
Ōmcare brings it all together, for less than $10 a month
If you’re looking for an all-in-one healthcare solution that allows for virtual care and medication adherence, consider the Ōmcare Home Health Hub. The technology:
- Stores up to a 30-day supply of multi-dose pouched medication
- Provides a video portal for medication adherence tracking
- Connects patients with providers virtually
Our 3-month pilot showed that the Ōmcare Home Health Hub drove a 98% dose-level adherence rate. At the end of the pilot, all 780 participants strongly agreed that Ōmcare helps them remember to take their medications.
Drive positive health outcomes for your seniors and help them cut their healthcare costs by partnering with Ōmcare for just $9.99 a month per patient. Learn more today.
4 top technological solutions to improve medication adherence for Medicare Advantage
55% of senior patients are noncompliant with their medication schedules, which is an issue for Medicare Advantage plans given 41% of the Star Rating depends on beneficiaries properly taking their medicine—especially medications for diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension.
Having a high Star Rating is key to earning more enrollees—90% of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a plan with a 4.0 rating or above. Focus on improving medication adherence to positively impact your plan’s Star Rating.
To improve medication adherence, we first have to understand why seniors aren’t taking their medicine properly.
Understanding the reasons behind medication non-adherence
Some of the top reasons for medication non-adherence include:
- Forgetfulness: This is the cause in 63% of cases.
- Complex regimen: Having too many medications to manage.
- Medication schedule is too confusing: 36% of U.S. adults struggle to understand medical terms.
- Hassle of refilling prescriptions: In one study, 20% of patients didn’t renew their prescriptions on time, and another 10% put off refilling their prescriptions.
What do all of these reasons for non-adherence have in common? They have solutions—especially cost-effective technology that takes the burden off healthcare teams. Here are the top technological solutions to help Medical Advantage plans improve medication adherence.
Technology helps seniors take their medicine properly
1. Platform to virtually connect patients to providers
Virtual appointments and messaging systems help patients easily refill their prescriptions. Using online communications, patients avoid an unnecessary trip into the doctor’s office—and this saves time for busy healthcare providers, too.
If you’re worried that telehealth will cause a decline in quality care, don’t be. 82% of patients say that telehealth is just as effective as in-person care. After connecting online, patients can have medications delivered right to their doorstep.
2. Automatic pill dispensers
Another way to increase medication adherence among beneficiaries is by using an automatic pill dispenser. High-quality dispensers on the market automatically provide pre-slit packages of multi-dose medication at the right time.
The dispenser helps patients that might otherwise forget to take their medication, plus it aids those with a complex regimen. With a dispenser, medication adherence is no longer dependent on whether the patient understands their schedule or not. Technology provides the medication they need, when they need it.
3. Medication reminders
Beyond pill dispensers, some patients need more reminders to ensure they take their medicine. Automatic medication reminders often come in the form of text messages or emails, and they’re a very effective way to help forgetful seniors take their medicine on time.
Medication reminders often go a step further with notifications to get refills and attend medical appointments. All of these reminders, used in combination, help seniors stay on track and adherent to their medication schedules.
4. Adherence tracking
To make sure your efforts are successful, we recommend an adherence tracking technology. This is a great alternative to relying on self reports—which can often be highly inaccurate. Dispensing data and video observation enable reporting when a patient misses a dose.
That way, providers are directly notified when a patient is being non-adherent to their medication schedule, giving them the chance to respond quickly.
Finding the right medication adherence technology
Medication adherence is very important to improve a plan’s Star Rating. We highly recommend looking for technology that includes:
- A communication channel between healthcare professionals and families
- Pill dispenser
- Medication reminders
- Medication adherence tracking
The Ōmcare Home Health Hub® has all of these features to help Medicare Advantage plans increase medication adherence among senior patients. Reach out to Ōmcare today to learn more!
Ōmcare selected as a 10 Most Innovative Digital Therapeutics Companies of 2022 by Insights Care
Omcare: Enabling One-Touch Access to Healthcare and Dose-Level Medication Adherence
What is the best thing to do for yourself or your loved ones when going through illness?
The only correct answer is CARE! People are most comfortable when they are in their own place of comfort. When illness occurs, individuals’ first instinct is to instantly check it with healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis and medical assistance.
For various reasons, going to healthcare or medical care centre is not always a viable option. In such a situation, a digital healthcare solution can prove to be a great sigh of relief.
A remote digital care solution provider company, Ōmcare, came into existence to provide effective healthcare services for you and your loved ones from the comfort of your home.
Based in Minneapolis, Ōmcare is a digital health company that aims to change the way the world cares by extending the reach of caregivers, increasing medication adherence, and improving treatment outcomes through the power of remote care and two-way video technology. By partnering with pharmacies, payers, providers, and family caregivers, Ōmcare strives to help people live healthier, more vibrant, independent lives and reduce healthcare costs.
Dedicated to providing one-touch access to various healthcare needs of the people is Ōmcare’s Founder and CEO, Lisa Lavin.
Let’s dive into the story of Ōmcare in its ambitious journey to become an efficient remote care solution.
Promoting Independence and Dignity for Aging Adults
Ōmcare is a digital health company that has pioneered a customizable home health platform that enables one-touch access to telehealth services, aggregated RPM, and medication dispensing with visual confirmation of medication adherence.
We all have those extra special people that impact us deeply at some point in our life. For founder Lisa Lavin, this special person was her grandmother, Mildred. Mildred was Lisa’s primary caregiver during a difficult period in her childhood.
Lisa and her grandmother were very close. As Mildred aged, she developed dementia and was eventually placed in a nursing home because there was no other way to help her maintain her independence.
Through this experience, Lisa became impassioned not only for her grandmother but for all aging adults. Lisa vowed that she would do everything she could to promote independence and dignity for older adults. “This generation deserves much more than a nursing home,” says Lisa. “They deserve connectedness, love, and a full, healthy, liberated life.”
All-in-one Healthcare Solution
Home is the new site of care, but it is messy and requires many solutions pieced together today to work. And the patient is always in charge of piecing them together by themselves.
For example, if your mom has a telehealth appointment. Hopefully, she has a tablet, and if she does, she knows where it is, and it’s charged. Then if she needs to take her blood pressure or give the doctor any other vitals, she needs to track down those devices too. It simply doesn’t work.
Ōmcare opens up the home as a legitimate site of care by creating a single, all-in-one solution that addresses consumer expectations while ensuring the comprehensive suite of capabilities required for the home is together in an easy-to-use, one-touch interface. It brings everything together—down to the data.
Greater Reach and Lower Cost
The world’s healthcare needs are on a constant rise. Getting customized medical attention from time to time requires people to keep visiting healthcare centers from time to time and also pay high amounts for simple consultations.
It is difficult for older adults to visit doctors regularly. The chances of worsening their health cannot be neglected if they have to go to hospitals on a regular basis. Ōmcare provides such people with the go-to option for getting one-stop assistance for their healthcare needs.
“Ōmcare allows people to age in place, bringing humanity and liberation to the aging process. It also provides greater access to care to more people since it’s less expensive and can reach rural areas,” says Lisa.
Continue reading the full article from Insights Care.
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: What's the difference?
Making decisions that impact your physical and financial well-being can be confusing. Should you pick Medicare Advantage, or Original Medicare? What’s the difference? Here’s a comparison of your two options.
What is Medicare?
To dive into the differences between Medicare plans, we have to understand Medicare as a whole: it is federally-funded healthcare insurance. Medicare plans are much more cost-effective compared to private insurance plans.
Most people who sign up for Medicare are 65 or older, but it also assists younger people with certain disabilities and anyone with End-Stage Renal Disease. No matter why you qualify for Medicare, you have the choice between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare
Coverage
When we say coverage, we mean “What will the Medicare plan pay for?”
Prescription Drugs
Medicare Advantage often covers prescription drugs. However, only certain plans cover medications—if you need prescription drugs covered, make sure to pick a plan with Part D coverage. Each plan will cover different drugs.
With Original Medicare, you’ll either have to purchase separate coverage for drugs or pay for them out-of-pocket.
Medicare Advantage offers extra coverage
Medicare Advantage covers more medical services—like dental care, vision, and hearing—that Original Medicare doesn’t. Both Advantage and Original usually cover medically necessary services or supplies.
Medicare Advantage requires approval
With Medicare Advantage, you often need approval of services or supplies before the plan covers it. In contrast, with Original Medicare, you usually don’t have to get any sort of approval ahead of time.
Costs
When considering coverage, cost is a very important part of the equation. First, we need to understand a few insurance terms:
- Premium: The amount you’ll pay for your health insurance per month.
- Deductible: A specified amount of money that you agree to pay before your insurance pays.
- Coinsurance: The amount you pay for covered health care after you meet your deductible.
AARP writes, “The federal government sets the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Part A (hospitalizations) and Part B (physician and outpatient services).”
Original Medicare
Most people qualify for premium-free Part A—meaning your hospitalizations are covered with no monthly fee. As for Part B, you pay a premium for that.
As for out-of-pocket costs, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after your deductible. Before you meet your deductible, you cover all the costs yourself. There’s no cap on out-of-pocket costs.
Many people who enroll in Original Medicare enroll in Medigap policy too, which helps cover the costs of:
- Copayments
- Coinsurance
- Deductibles
Aside from Medigap, you can pay for these costs using coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.
Medicare Advantage
Similarly to Original Medicare, most people qualify for premium-free Part A. As for Part B, you pay a monthly premium. Plus, it’s possible you’ll have to pay a separate premium to the plan. Premium costs vary greatly depending on what plan you pick.
Out-of-pocket costs also vary by plan, but there is a yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs for Part A and B. Once you reach your plan’s limit, you won’t have to pay anymore for the rest of the year.
As for Medigap, you can’t buy it and you don’t need it when with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Breakdown of costs
At the end of the day, costs depend on your individual plan. Many seniors do feel more comfortable with a Medicare Advantage plan, because there’s a yearly limit on costs, plus more coverage in general.
After costs, there’s still one more factor to consider.
Freedom of choice: Doctors and hospitals
The last question to ask yourself is, “Can I choose my doctor and provider?”
Original Medicare offers more freedom. You can go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, and you usually won’t need a referral to see a specialist.
Medicare Advantage has more limitations. Typically, you can only use doctors who are in the plan’s network and service area. If you want to see a specialist, you often will need a referral.
Quick Summary
We’ve thrown a lot of information at you, so here is a quick summary of it all:
- Coverage: Medicare Advantage offers more coverage.
- Cost: Original Medicare may be less expensive if you have minimal healthcare needs, but Medicare Advantage offers a yearly cap on out-of-pocket expenses.
- Choice: Original Medicare offers more freedom of choice in doctors and hospitals.
Ōmcare engages with Medicare plans
Ōmcare partners with organizations that are seeking to:
- Increase access
- Improve health outcomes
- Reduce costs
Ōmcare is actively engaging with Medicare plans—both traditional and Advantage—to help bring technology into the home as part of the costs you already pay. Learn more about how we partner.
Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan: What you need to know
If you’re a senior looking for affordable healthcare, you’ve probably heard of (and may already be using) Medicare. It’s federally-funded health insurance, designed to get you the care you need at a lower cost.
When you sign up for Medicare, you have two options: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. We’re focusing on Medicare Advantage because it has extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t—including coverage for vision, hearing, dental services, and prescription drug coverage.
What does Medicare Advantage cover?
Medicare Advantage usually covers all three Medicare Parts:
- Medicare Part A: Covering hospitalizations. You usually won’t pay a premium for this, however, it’s possible you won’t qualify for premium-free Part A. If so, you can buy it.
- Medicare Part B: Covers medical insurance (non-emergency). Every Medicare Advantage enrollee pays a monthly premium for Part B.
- Medicare Part D: Covers prescription drug coverage. You pay for Part D coverage, and you’ll have extra out-of-pocket costs throughout the year. Only some Medicare Advantage plans offer this coverage.
We’ve covered the basics of Medicare Advantage, but you have more choices to make when it comes to choosing a plan. It can get confusing, which is why we’ll walk you through what to consider before making your decision.
What to consider when choosing coverage
Here are five factors to consider when choosing a Medicare Advantage plan:
Five factors to consider
- Costs: How much are the premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, and yearly caps?
- Coverage: How well does the plan cover your needs?
- Prescription drugs: Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs, but plans vary with costs of certain medications and which ones are covered.
- Doctor and hospital choice: You’ll only be able to visit doctors and hospitals that are within the plan’s network.
- Quality of care: Each Medicare Advantage Plan receives a star rating, so you can see how high its quality of care is before you enroll. Compare your options based on this factor using an online tool.
While you’re considering these factors, we highly recommend documenting your needs. This will help you remember what you need while you’re picking a plan.
Types of Medicare Advantage Plans
There are different types of plans. Here are the most common types of Medicare Advantage Plans:
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
An HMO generally limits coverage to care from doctors, hospitals, and providers who are within their network. HMOs typically have lower monthly premiums, but more limitations when it comes to which doctors they cover. With an HMO, prescription costs aren’t usually covered.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Similarly to an HMO, PPO plans have a network of doctors and healthcare providers that are cheaper to use. You can use other providers, but they’re more expensive. You’ll have more flexibility than your typical HMO plan, and unlike HMOs, prescription drugs are usually covered.
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS)
Some PFFS plans work with any provider, while others have a network of specific doctors. Often, you can go outside of that network for a higher cost. This plan determines how much it will pay, versus how much you must pay when you get care. Prescription drugs aren’t always covered under an PFFS.
Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
According to Medicare, “SNPs limit membership to people with specific diseases or characteristics. Medicare SNPs tailor their benefits, provider choices, and drug formularies to best meet the specific needs of the groups they serve.” The chronic or disabling conditions these plans tailor to include: diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and dementia.
Care will typically be provided by specialists that cover your condition.
Joining a Medicare Advantage Plan
Once you decide what plan is best for you, all that’s left to do is enroll. You can enroll when you turn 65 or during open enrollment (every year from October 15 – December 7). You’ll also be able to switch plans one time from January 1 – March 31 each year.
When you’re ready to sign up, Medicare has created a resource to help you through the process.
Ōmcare engages with Medicare plans
Ōmcare’s goals are to help increase access to senior patients while reducing costs. Yet at the same time, we seek to improve health outcomes. We actively engage with Medicare plans to help bring cost-effective healthcare technology into your home as part of the price you already pay.
Learn more about how we partner.
Ōmcare Achieves Dose-Level Medication Adherence and Creates New Revenue Model for Senior Care
In partnership with Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy, Ōmcare successfully completed a pilot of its first product, the Ōmcare Home Health Hub® proving a new model for additional revenue and dose-level adherence.
[Minneapolis, October 11, 2022]. Ōmcare successfully wrapped their initial pilot in partnership with Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy to test its first product—The Ōmcare Home Health Hub.
The Hub is an all-in-one home telehealth solution that enables remote care and ensures dose-level medication adherence. It stores up to a 30-day supply of multi-dose pouched medication that works in tandem with a video portal, providing visual confirmation that loved ones are taking the right medication at the right time.
Thrifty White Pharmacy provided home-delivered pharmacy fulfillment service for each participant in easy-to-load packaged medications. Then, over the course of the 3-month pilot, participants—who took at least 4 medications a day—received calls to their Hub from an Ecumen staff member when it was time to take their medications.
The pilot aimed to measure three key measurements:
- Evaluate medication adherence among participants
- Examine patient and caregiver satisfaction
- Compare operational and cost between remote medication assistance via the Ōmcare Home Health Hub and the traditional med door pass
“This innovation sparked our interest because we saw it as a way to help older adults live independently longer,” said Shelley Kendrick, president and CEO of Ecumen, a nonprofit provider, developer and operator of living spaces and services for older adults. “As we seek to find ways to serve people wherever they call home, medication management solutions like this are key.”
Overall, the pilot successfully demonstrated improvements in all three areas. With 780 calls, lasting an average of three minutes, the results showed:
- The participants had 98% dose-level adherence
- The medication assistance service via the Hub is 85% more efficient than door med pass
- 100% of the participants strongly agree Ōmcare helps them remember to take their medications
- 100% of the participants agree that they're more likely to take their meds using Ōmcare.
“We are grateful to Ecumen and Thrifty White Pharmacy for their commitment and stellar performance in our pilot,” said Lisa Lavin, Chief Executive Officer. “Both organizations continue to innovate to improve health, reduce cost, and elevate the patient and provider experience.”
Ōmcare is scaling up for an early 2023 commercialization and is actively seeking senior care partners who wish to expand their services via technology.
View the full report: Omcare Home Health Hub® Pilot Outcomes Report
Benefits of home care for seniors and how age-tech can help
Before advancements in technology, seniors had no choice but to age in a care facility. Now, it’s no longer the only option. In fact, many seniors prefer not to go into a senior care facility, and would rather stay in their own homes. 87% of older Americans want to age in place, and age-tech can empower them to do so.
What is age-tech?
Age-tech is technology specifically created for seniors. Seniors living at home, or “aging in place,” rely on healthcare technology to decrease the amount of in-person care they need.
53% of older Americans would prefer a mix of medical staff and healthcare technology to manage their medical needs. The healthcare age-tech that can help seniors age in place includes:
- Medication adherence: These devices help seniors accurately take their medication, in the right dose, at the right time. It includes automatic pill dispensers, medication reminders, and adherence monitoring.
- Remote patient monitoring: These devices track the vitals of patients, helping their healthcare providers manage their chronic conditions.
- Emergency alert systems: If a senior is in a medical emergency—for example, if they have a heart attack—emergency alert systems can notify healthcare providers, sending help without the patient even calling 911.
- Telehealth: Remote messaging systems, video chats, and calls with providers allow seniors to receive medical care in the comfort of their own home.
Although only 8% of seniors currently have a health and safety device, 70% of seniors made a tech purchase in the past year. Seniors keep reaching for their devices, and AARP says they’re ready for more. There is great potential for seniors to be using healthcare technology to age in place, and home care can help seniors live a higher-quality life.
Benefits of senior home care with age-tech
Retain their independence
Seniors have spent their entire lives building a home they love, working for themselves, and making choices. When they move into a senior care facility, it can feel like their autonomy has been stripped away from them. They no longer feel that same sense of independence they’ve had throughout their entire life.
“Many seniors know they need help,” says Mary Sue Patchett, Vice President of Brookdale Senior Living. “But they don’t want to ask for it because they’re afraid of losing their independence.”
To help seniors retain their independence, home care is key. It allows seniors to live their lives in their own homes, and technology allows them to experience their time without a stay-at-home caregiver constantly looming over their shoulder.
Far less expensive
Another aspect of independence is financial independence. Unfortunately, 65% of adults said they aren’t saving money to pay for senior living, and senior care facility costs aren’t affordable. The average monthly cost for a semi-private room in a senior care facility is $7,900. Similarly, full-time at-home care is also extremely expensive, with a median of $4,500 per month.
Along with pricey assisted living and caregiving prices, healthcare expenses are also on the rise. Costs for inpatient care have risen by 195% over the last 20 years, while prices for outpatient services grew by 200%.
Assisted living facilities, in-home caregiving services, and healthcare are all extremely expensive, and seniors only have a finite amount of retirement savings. However, age-tech can lower the cost. By using age-tech, seniors require less in-person care, without a reduction in quality.
Overall less fear
When seniors can’t afford to hire help, caregivers in the family usually have to step up to assist them. Family members of seniors spend an average of 24 hours a week providing unpaid care, and this increases when there’s no extra help. In fact, many caregivers need to reduce their hours or quit their jobs to help care for their elderly loved ones.
Unfortunately, seniors aren’t blind to the impact of their need for care. In fact, Pachett says another reason seniors don’t ask for help is because they’re afraid of “becoming a burden to their children.” She continues, “Instead, they suffer silently and often in isolation.”
Since age-tech reduces the amount of in-person care seniors need, it can help them feel like less of a burden. This increases the likelihood that they’ll seek care for any medical ailments they’re facing, without worrying about the impact it’ll have on their loved ones.
Delivering high-quality care with age-tech
Age-tech helps seniors maintain their independence, save on finances, and drop the fear that they’re a burden. Most importantly, age-tech provides high-quality care that drives positive health outcomes.
If you’re looking for a healthcare solution for seniors, look no further than the Ōmcare Home Health Hub®. It was specifically designed for elderly patients to help them age in place by providing:
- Medication deliveries: We’ll deliver medication directly to your doorstep.
- Pre-packaged medicine: Up to 30 days of medication comes in easy-to-open pouches, and it is programmed to dispense on time, in exactly the right amount.
- Medication reminders: You’ll get reminders when it’s time to take medication.
- Regular check-ins: You can regularly check in with healthcare providers via video chat, calls, or text messaging.
- Cost effectiveness: After a one-time fee, the Ōmcare Home Health Hub® is only $9.99 per month.
Reach out to Ōmcare today to learn more.