SCAN Health Plan Addresses Seniors' Desire to Remain at Home With Expanded Benefits, Reduced Costs

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SCAN Health Plan®, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, will offer expanded benefits and additional choices to Southern California seniors through its 2019 health plan options. As a result of new flexibility from Medicare, SCAN is able to offer a variety of new benefits designed to help seniors age in place successfully. In-home benefits such as post-hospitalization bathing and dressing assistance, caregiver relief and meal deliveries offer welcome resources for those wanting to live independently.

"Our research confirms that the vast majority of seniors would prefer to remain in their own homes as they age, making it particularly important and timely that we're able to offer benefits designed to help them do just that," said Sherry Stanislaw, senior vice president and general manager at SCAN Health Plan. "SCAN began as a Social HMO, which included in-home benefits, so our ability to cover services that help members age in place draws on our history and experience providing the services and support that many seniors need. We are excited to include these types of benefits again in 2019."

SCAN recently commissioned a survey with Wakefield Research to better understand Southern California seniors' preparedness to age in place. Of the 1,500 respondents, 88 percent indicated they would prefer to age in their own homes. While 43 percent of survey participants acknowledged the need to make adjustments to their home in order to remain there safely and comfortably, only 47 percent indicated they have taken steps to do so. This data underscores the importance and value of Medicare Advantage plans' newfound flexibility to offer benefits not previously available.

SCAN's most popular offering, SCAN Classic, will now include Returning to Home in most Southern California counties. This benefit provides in-home care visits after a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay for things like bathing, dressing and meal deliveries. Telehealth "virtual doctor visits" help ensure members can access needed care even when it's difficult to leave the house. Also new in 2019, most SCAN plans in Southern California will include an over-the-counter benefit for items such as pain relievers, vitamins and first aid supplies delivered to the home.

In addition to new benefits, most SCAN plans in Southern California will have reduced out-of-pocket costs, no copays when ordering the most commonly used prescriptions via the mail-order pharmacy option, and enhanced transportation services. SCAN members will continue to have access to SilverSneakers® health club membership and a multitude of low-cost?and in a majority of the California counties SCAN serves, no-cost?healthcare services focused on prevention and early detection.

In addition to the SCAN Classic plan, a new premium plan, SCAN Prime, is available to seniors in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in 2019. And SCAN will continue to offer its Special Needs plans including SCAN Balance for those with diabetes, Heart First for members with heart disease and SCAN Connections for those eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal.

The 2019 Annual Election Period for selecting a Medicare Advantage plan runs through Dec. 7, 2018. For more information about plan benefits and enrollment details, please visit scanhealthplan.com.

About SCAN Health Plan
SCAN Health Plan is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, serving more than 195,000 members in California. Since its founding in 1977, SCAN has been a mission-driven organization dedicated to keeping seniors healthy and independent. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors and their caregivers. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or facebook.com/scanhealthplan or follow us on twitter @scanhealthplan.

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Call 1-855-561-7226, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week for more information. TTY/TDD users may call 711. SCAN Health Plan is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the California Medi-Cal (Medicaid) program. Enrollment in SCAN Health Plan depends on contract renewal.

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SOURCE SCAN Health Plan