Dear Marci,
I’m new to Medicare and trying to decide if I should get a plan with supplemental benefits. What do supplemental benefits cover?
– Caroline (Medford, OR)
Dear Caroline,
Supplemental benefits are just one factor to consider when choosing your Medicare plan. Though they are the focus of a lot of marketing, they usually should not be your primary consideration. Supplemental benefits, which provide coverage for services that aren’t included in Original Medicare, can include:
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Hearing services
- Gym memberships or fitness programs
Most supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage Plans are available to everyone in the plan, and they must be primarily health-related. These benefits can either be:
- Optional, meaning that they are offered to everyone who is enrolled in a plan, and you can choose to buy the benefits for an additional premium, or
- Mandatory, meaning that they are covered for everyone enrolled in a plan and you can’t decline the coverage. The plan premium (if any) includes the premium cost for these services.
Supplemental benefits for chronic conditions
Additionally, Medicare Advantage Plans can also cover supplemental benefits that are not primarily health-related for people who have chronic illnesses. These benefits are meant to address social determinants of health. A social determinant of health is part of your life that can affect your health in some way, such as not having access to transportation.
Plans can offer benefits such as:
- Meal delivery
- Transportation for non-medical needs
- Air cleaners
In order to be eligible for these benefits, you must be chronically ill and meet any plan requirements for the specific benefit. Hope this answers your question!
-Marci