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Pentagon announces another boat strike amid heightened scrutiny; An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns; DeWine veto protects Ohio teens from extended work hours; Wisconsin seniors rally for dignity amid growing pressures; Rosa Parks' legacy fuels 381 days of civic action in AL and the U.S.

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Trump escalates rhetoric toward Somali Americans as his administration tightens immigration vetting, while Ohio blocks expanded child labor hours and seniors face a Sunday deadline to review Medicare coverage.

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Native American tribes are left out of a new federal Rural Health Transformation Program, cold temperatures are burdening rural residents with higher energy prices and Missouri archivists says documenting queer history in rural communities is critical amid ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.

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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