Medicare Advantage coverage for groceries?

[somarco]

The duals comment was a joke. Neglected to include the emoji with rolling eyes.

Actually, I don't see the fascination in Medicare Food for All. Beyond the bleeding heart chant for free everything, take a look at what OM covers.

Food?

Nope, unless you are in an MNT program.

I know some MA plans cover things that are not included with OM but it is usually "free gym" membership and some cheesy dental or vision benefits.

Even if some of the MA carriers jump on board, who will be the first?

My guess is no one.

Even if free Medicare food becomes a reality, how will it work?

Preferred pre-approved vendors? What happens if you go off the reservation? Will you have a special debit card like EBT that only allows you access to certain items? No beer, wine or tobacco.

Even though a number of large grocery chains have in house pharmacy's, have you ever tried to get the pharmacy to file an insulin claim under Part B? That problem is not limited to grocery/pharmacy combo's. Quite a few folks on Medicare with CGM's have problems finding a pharmacy that knows how to file B claims.

The logistics of free Medicare food has not been thought out by CMS. DC is great on coming up with good ideas that never get out of the harbor.

Consider the Obamacare SHOP program.

Dud.

Free Medicare food?

Don't see it happening.

But if it does I will eat my words.

 

[jdlash]

The duals comment was a joke. Neglected to include the emoji with rolling eyes.

Actually, I don't see the fascination in Medicare Food for All. Beyond the bleeding heart chant for free everything, take a look at what OM covers.

Food?

Nope, unless you are in an MNT program.

I know some MA plans cover things that are not included with OM but it is usually "free gym" membership and some cheesy dental or vision benefits.

Even if some of the MA carriers jump on board, who will be the first?

My guess is no one.

Even if free Medicare food becomes a reality, how will it work?

Preferred pre-approved vendors? What happens if you go off the reservation? Will you have a special debit card like EBT that only allows you access to certain items? No beer, wine or tobacco.

Even though a number of large grocery chains have in house pharmacy's, have you ever tried to get the pharmacy to file an insulin claim under Part B? That problem is not limited to grocery/pharmacy combo's. Quite a few folks on Medicare with CGM's have problems finding a pharmacy that knows how to file B claims.

The logistics of free Medicare food has not been thought out by CMS. DC is great on coming up with good ideas that never get out of the harbor.

Consider the Obamacare SHOP program.

Dud.

Free Medicare food?

Don't see it happening.

But if it does I will eat my words.

Oh, great pun there! Coming out of the gate on a Monday STRONG!

 

[goillini52]

The duals comment was a joke. Neglected to include the emoji with rolling eyes.

Actually, I don't see the fascination in Medicare Food for All. Beyond the bleeding heart chant for free everything, take a look at what OM covers.

Food?

Nope, unless you are in an MNT program.

I know some MA plans cover things that are not included with OM but it is usually "free gym" membership and some cheesy dental or vision benefits.

Even if some of the MA carriers jump on board, who will be the first?

My guess is no one.

Even if free Medicare food becomes a reality, how will it work?

Preferred pre-approved vendors? What happens if you go off the reservation? Will you have a special debit card like EBT that only allows you access to certain items? No beer, wine or tobacco.

Even though a number of large grocery chains have in house pharmacy's, have you ever tried to get the pharmacy to file an insulin claim under Part B? That problem is not limited to grocery/pharmacy combo's. Quite a few folks on Medicare with CGM's have problems finding a pharmacy that knows how to file B claims.

The logistics of free Medicare food has not been thought out by CMS. DC is great on coming up with good ideas that never get out of the harbor.

Consider the Obamacare SHOP program.

Dud.

Free Medicare food?

Don't see it happening.

But if it does I will eat my words.

It amazes me that the MA companies(especially Humana and UHC)don't get nailed for false advertizing. When I watch those, they come across as saying that everything's covered ...including meds, dental and vision, and the beneficiary won't have to pay a dime for anything.
And it's $0 premium!!! How can you go wrong???

 

[somarco]

Everything free and $0 premium?

Sign me up.

What happens when they discover the truth?

Where do they go for a refund?

 

[gregj]

how will it work?

is others have mentioned, in selected clinical/social situations, with limits that will probably be tinkered with over time.

You seem like a pretty smart guy, so it seems like you could see how pragmatic "non-medical" supports - transportation & remote communications are two more obvious examples - could play a role in making our asystematic health care delivery "system" more systematic. More effective.

The logical end of "they should just handle it themselves" may have consequences just as ugly as the other ideological extreme. Like that other extreme, it's never been tried either.

 

[somarco]

There are at least SEVENTEEN taxpayer funded federal programs providing food subsidy.

We really need another one?

Do you really believe people will STARVE if DC doesn't come up with another give away?

P.S.

I am one of those conservatives who want to throw granny over the cliff.

I am a DEPLORABLE

 

[gregj]

We really need another one?

Not sure you're thinking about this clearly.

Helping people afford food generally is not the same chore as helping people eat in situations where they don't have support getting food in the wake of needed health treatment, which I think is at least one situation in which MA plans would look to help with food needs. If you're single, elderly, & have just been discharged from a hospital after some kind of serious operation, you may not have resources handy to enable you to get some soup at home after a hospital discharge. Costs lots more to have the person stay in hospital than to get them some soup at home. Selfishly, I'd prefer having the person recuperating at home than in a hospital. I'm pretty sure existing programs aren't really well set up to handle this specific kind of situation.

Details are admittedly pretty scarce at present so a lot depends on how the program's handled

EDIT: the other thing is, if it's a "gamble" MA insurers take with the original Medicare resources they manage, isn't it on them if it works or not? Seems like a good way to test it....

 

[somarco]

Yes, I am thinking clearly.

I see no need to continue this.

Bedwetters use emotion to support their position. Logic and facts don't work.

Have a nice day.

 

[VolAgent]

There are at least SEVENTEEN taxpayer funded federal programs providing food subsidy.

We really need another one?

Do you really believe people will STARVE if DC doesn't come up with another give away?

P.S.

I am one of those conservatives who want to throw granny over the cliff.

I am a DEPLORABLE

I'm all for a social safety net, but some things are going too far. As you mentioned, there are plenty of federal, state, local and private food programs. There are also plenty of programs to provide rides to doctors, etc. short of calling the ambulance.

It is almost certain people taking advantage of MA plans with these benefits were already receiving them from another source. We don't need another one to duplicate what is already being done.

 

[goillini52]

Not sure you're thinking about this clearly.

Helping people afford food generally is not the same chore as helping people eat in situations where they don't have support getting food in the wake of needed health treatment, which I think is at least one situation in which MA plans would look to help with food needs. If you're single, elderly, & have just been discharged from a hospital after some kind of serious operation, you may not have resources handy to enable you to get some soup at home after a hospital discharge. Costs lots more to have the person stay in hospital than to get them some soup at home. Selfishly, I'd prefer having the person recuperating at home than in a hospital. I'm pretty sure existing programs aren't really well set up to handle this specific kind of situation.

Details are admittedly pretty scarce at present so a lot depends on how the program's handled

EDIT: the other thing is, if it's a "gamble" MA insurers take with the original Medicare resources they manage, isn't it on them if it works or not? Seems like a good way to test it....

Bottom line is, do we really need the *** polititions telling us what to do and how we should think more than they already do? Cradle to grave...if that appeals to you, you might be a Socialist.

Sorry granny, but I'm a Deplorable too...and proud of it!!!