Speak with a licensed insurance agent
Compare plans today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people into isolation. Some Medicare beneficiaries may have at-home options for things like mail-order prescription drugs.
Published April 10, 2020
Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced people of all ages into isolation as shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders are issued throughout the country.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!
LICENSED AGENTS AVAILABLE NOW
Being isolated from the outside world can be difficult, especially when food, health care and other necessities are at stake. Fortunately for Medicare beneficiaries, there are some ways their Medicare coverage may be able to help them receive care and services while staying at home.
Here are a few ways some Medicare beneficiaries may be able to take advantage of their benefits while practicing home isolation and social distancing.
Pharmacies will remain open during stay-at-home orders, as they are considered to be an “essential” business. However, public transportation may be limited, and you may not want to risk going out in public to begin with.
Most Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans offer prescription drug coverage, something that isn’t offered by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer a mail-order program that can deliver your prescription drugs right to your doorstep.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily relaxed some of its prescription drug plan requirements related to refill maximums.
This means, depending on your Medicare Advantage plan or your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you may be able to stock up on a longer supply of certain medications, up to a 90-day supply.
Some Medicare Advantage plan carriers may also offer benefits such as:
Check with your Medicare Advantage plan carrier to find out what benefits are currently available to you.
A licensed agent can help you compare Medicare plans available in your area, including what drugs the plans cover and how much they cost.
You can also compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans online for free, with no obligation to enroll.
Find Medicare plans in your area
Compare PlansOr call 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
Not only can some Medicare Advantage plans bring prescription drugs to you at home, but some plans may offer transportation benefits, such as rides to the pharmacy or doctor.
Some Medicare Advantage plans also partner with ride-sharing services such as Lyft or Uber to provide coverage for non-emergency medical transportation.
If public transportation is limited or if your regular driver is unavailable during the outbreak, you may be able to take advantage of this benefit to get to your doctor’s appointment, physical therapy or pharmacist, if your plan offers transportation benefits.
Some Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage for home-delivered meals for beneficiaries who recently returned home following surgery or who meet other criteria.
Not only is age an added risk for complications of COVID-19, but so too is having a compromised immune system or pre-existing condition.
Anyone who recently returned home following hospitalization who also qualifies for home meal delivery from their Medicare Advantage plan may benefit from staying home and limiting their potential exposure to the coronavirus.
Medicare Part A and Part B provide some coverage for certain qualified home health care services such as:
A Medicare beneficiary who normally leaves home to receive such services may consider receiving that care inside the home amid the pandemic.
Original Medicare may also cover part-time or intermittent home health aide services or skilled nursing care in certain circumstances.
Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything that Original Medicare covers, which means that Medicare Advantage plans will also cover home health care services that are covered by Original Medicare.
Telemedicine, or telehealth, involves using a phone or computer to call or video conference with a physician in lieu of a face-to-face meeting.
Telemedicine was already covered by some Medicare Advantage plans and by Original Medicare under limited circumstances. But the CMS has temporarily expanded its coverage for telemedicine to assist beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists and licensed clinical social workers can now offer telemedicine services such as video consultations, remote monitoring of vital signs and digital transmission of medical imaging to a qualified patient in a remote location.
To learn more about Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans available near you, call today to speak with a licensed insurance agent. A licensed agent can help you compare plan costs, benefits and availability, all over the phone from the comfort of your home.
If you are eligible, a licensed agent can help you enroll in the plan that’s right for you.
You can also compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans online. If you’re eligible, you can also enroll in a plan online, without having to leave your home.
Find Medicare plans in your area
Compare PlansOr call 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
..Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!
LICENSED AGENTS AVAILABLE NOW
