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CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment; Biden urges Americans to 'bring down the temperature' after Trump's US election win; As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed; As leaves fall in AZ, calls renewed to incentivize electric lawn equipment.

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President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

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Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

VA seniors can benefit from dual-eligible special-needs plans

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Tuesday, April 2, 2024   

Virginia seniors can see daily health and well-being benefits from certain health-care plans. Dual-eligible special-needs plans offer Medicare and Medicaid coverage for eligible people, meaning they meet the income requirements and live where the plans are available. They're designed for people with low incomes, certain medical conditions or unique health-care requirements.

Dr. Gina Williams, medical director with UnitedHealthcare, said these plans use a dynamic approach to help eligible seniors.

"Everything from managing your wellness to managing your behavioral-health needs and then everyday needs. So, it's kind of a more comprehensive package for people who need a little bit more support," she explained.

In Virginia, only 25% of eligible individuals were signed up for a dual-eligible plan in 2021, a stark increase from three years before when only 4% signed up for one. However, this is still lower than the national average of 29%.

Along with Medicare Parts A and B converge and Medicaid benefits, these plans include dental coverage, transportation assistance and allowances for things like healthy foods.

In the years since the pandemic, health officials have been working to keep people insured. Although uninsured rates dropped during the pandemic, they've been rising again as people are dropped from Medicaid's continuous enrollment. Williams says in a post-pandemic world, preventive care is a necessity.

"Everybody's kind of going into a phase where they're not only thinking about acute illness, but they're thinking about overall care - like, what was the impact of the pandemic from a psychological standpoint? Do you need more support and then you also need more coordination of benefits?" she continued.

As of last December, less than 3% of Virginia residents have been dropped from Medicaid. Nationwide, close to 4 million people had lost their Medicaid coverage by last summer, with estimates that 15 million will lose their coverage as the process continues.

Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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