Humana, Longevity Health partner on Medicare special needs plans

Photo: Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

Health insurer Humana and Longevity Health Plan have joined forces to expand special needs health plan offerings that support the requirements of Medicare-eligible patients living in skilled nursing and senior living facilities.

The two companies have committed to rapidly scale their national partnership over the next three years in more than a dozen states by offering Special Needs Plans (SNPs) that provide personalized care centered on holistic, patient-centric care plans.

The partnership will launch in South Carolina and Georgia this year and then expand to five more states in 2024, with additional states being added in 2025.

Special Needs Plans are Medicare Advantage plans that combine the benefits of Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with prescription drug coverage (Part D) and are designed for members with special needs or characteristics, such as living in long-term care facilities or senior living communities and/or dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

According to Longevity, it partners with skilled nursing facility operators via a transparent value-based model that rewards facilities for improving quality of care and member experience.

The company collaborates with facilities to provide comprehensive care that addresses the medical, social and emotional needs of members who reside there, typically vulnerable individuals with multiple complex conditions.

The partnership will be delivered through two Humana products, Humana Together in Health and Humana Senior Living Plan.

Together, they'll offer added benefits, including an on-site dedicated advanced practice clinician for comprehensive care management; coordinated care with the member, facility staff and physicians to provide care in the facility and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations; $0 copays for primary care and behavioral health visits; full preventive coverage, plus an additional dental allowance; an over-the-counter benefit to cover health and wellness products; hearing aid coverage; and transportation to medical appointments outside of the facility.

THE LARGER TREND

Humana posted strong financial results for the first quarter, driven by its Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid business, its senior-focused value-based primary care platform CenterWell and the award of the TRICARE military contract.

Individual Medicare Advantage membership grew by 17%, at least 775,000 members, in 2023. In highly-penetrated value-based markets in Texas, Georgia, Florida and Illinois, MA membership has grown nearly 13% year-to-date, according to Humana president and CEO Bruce Broussard.

ON THE RECORD

"An estimated 70% of Medicare beneficiaries will require institutional long-term care at some point in their lifetime," said George Renaudin, Humana's president of Medicare and Medicaid. "By partnering with Longevity, we will be able to provide integrated care for our members right at the facility where they are living. These individuals have unique care needs, and this expands our ability to offer them the best care possible in a way that is better for the member's health and in an environment that is more engaging and comfortable for their loved ones."
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: Jeff.Lagasse@himssmedia.com