What Non-Medical Supplemental Benefits Will MA Plans Offer in 2024?

Food and produce services are the most common non-medical supplemental benefit in Medicare Advantage for 2024, offered by 1,475 plans, a report from ATI Advisory found.

In addition to offering typical health-related supplemental benefits, such as dental or vision services, certain guidance allows Medicare Advantage plans to offer extra or non-medical supplemental benefits.

The expanded definition of primarily health-related supplemental benefits (EPHRB) permits plans to offer home-based palliative care, in-home support services, and caregiver support. The 2018 CHRONIC Care Act allowed plans to provide special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill (SSBCI) that can address social determinants of health.

Medicare Advantage plans can offer both benefit types through the value-based insurance design (VBID) model.

In 2024, 2,334 Medicare Advantage plans are offering an EPHRB and/or SSBCI benefit, up from 2,268 plans in 2023 and 1,825 plans in 2022.

Among SSCBI benefits, food and produce services are the most common for 2024. Plans may provide chronically ill beneficiaries with produce, frozen foods, and canned goods. For the plan year 2024, 1,475 plans are offering food and produce, 915 of which are offering the benefit through SSCBI authority, and 586 plans are offering it through the VBID model.

The majority of states (47), Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have Medicare Advantage plans offering food and produce in at least one county in 2024. CVS Health has the most plans offering this benefit at 234 plans, followed by Elevance with 201 plans, and Humana with 195 plans.

In the realm of addressing food insecurity, 336 Medicare Advantage plans are offering meals in 2024, which may be provided beyond a limited basis as a non-primarily health-related benefit to chronically ill beneficiaries. Meals can be home-delivered or presented in a congregate setting. Most of the plans (289) are providing meals through SSCBI authority, while 61 plans are using the VBID model.

Plans in 38 states and Puerto Rico are offering a meal benefit in at least one county, including 139 plans from Humana, 68 from Elevance, and 43 from Cambia Health Solutions.

Another common supplemental benefit in 2024 is transportation for non-medical needs, offered by 416 plans through SSCBI authority and 279 plans through the VBID model, for a total of 679 plans. Beneficiaries can use this benefit to access transportation for grocery shopping and banking.

Forty-six states and Puerto Rico are offering transportation for non-medical needs in at least one county. Humana has 195 plans providing the benefit, followed by CVS Health with 172, and Elevance with 160.

Three hundred Medicare Advantage plans have a social needs benefit, which includes access to community- or plan-sponsored programs that address social needs, including non-fitness club memberships and park passes. Additionally, the benefit facilitates access to marital counseling, family counseling, and companion care to improve emotional health.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include benefits for home healthcare in 2024. For example, 867 plans are offering in-home support services; 721 plans are using EPHRB authority and 191 plans are using SSCBCI authority to provide them. Meanwhile, 205 plans are offering home-based palliative care.

Over 500 plans are providing caregiver support, consisting of respite care that may include counseling and training courses for beneficiary caregivers. Around 180 plans will offer caregiver support through SSCBI authority and 350 will use EPHRB authority.

Supplemental benefits are a key part of Medicare Advantage plans and are often the deciding factor for beneficiaries choosing between the private program and traditional Medicare. These benefits will likely continue to drive increased Medicare Advantage enrollment in upcoming years.