Does Humana Cover Medical Alert Systems?

With an A- rating from AM Best and an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, Humana is one of the best health insurance companies in the U.S. It operates in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. One of the main perks of signing with Humana is the wide array of health insurance plans provided. There are four Medicare Advantage plans available – HMO, PPO, PFFS, and SNP – and each one is built depending on the client’s needs. Of course, Medicare’s Part A and B are included regardless of the plan you get, and you can also count on prescription drug coverage, worldwide care, and extra discounts.

On the other hand, Philips Lifeline is a well-known medical alert system, offering assistance 24/7 in over 140 languages. The company provides a thorough product portfolio, where seniors can choose between a landline or a mobile medical alert device with medication monitoring, fall detection, and automatic testing included.

Humana Philips Lifeline

At the end of 2019, Humana and Philips Lifeline started a partnership to improve senior care for selected high-risk Medicare Advantage members. In short, Humana is leveraging Philips Lifeline’s technology and monitoring system to help at-risk Medicare Advantage members and encourage timely interventions. Of course, Humana customers eligible for this service won’t have to pay for Philip Lifeline’s total cost, which starts at $29.95 per month. On top of that, Humana also offers Philips Lifeline’s fall detection device, AutoAlert, which automatically connects to the monitoring team when the user falls.

Customers eligible for Philips Lifeline include seniors with chronic conditions or a higher risk of falling. The idea is to allow these patients to securely age in place while having around the clock care specialists who can dispatch the correct assistance when necessary. Moreover, older adults who have been discharged from the hospital and need direct monitoring by a healthcare professional may also be considered eligible for Philips Lifeline. The goal here is to reduce the number of hospital readmissions within the first month, as this can be avoidable with proactive care. This also means spending less money on hospital bills as the national annual cost of unnecessary readmissions is around $17 billion for Medicare patients alone.

Finally, Humana and Philips have created a specific plan for those with congestive heart failure. Since monitoring patients suffering from this type of condition is essential for effective intervention, Humana customers can take full advantage of Lifeline’s measurement devices. These include a weight scale, blood pressure monitor, and a pulse oximeter to send daily health measurements to a monitoring team. This allows care agents to check the patient’s health and make pre-emptive decisions while the senior stays in the comfort of their home.

Humana member discounts

Humana members get discounts on more services than just Phillips Lifeline. In fact, the company offers various price reductions in essential medical services that can be bundled with a Medicare Advantage plan or purchased individually.

It’s a well-known fact that hearing decays with age and that it increases the likelihood of falling. Consequently, many seniors end up needing hearing products and services. That’s why Humana includes a discount for anything that helps improve hearing. Savings start at $500 and you get free batteries every time you buy hearing aids.

Vision also deteriorates the older we get. This can be helped by using prescription glasses, but some issues like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts, require medical intervention. Fortunately, Humana also protects your eyes by providing discounts for new eyeglasses, contact lenses, and routine eye exams.

Depending on your plan, Humana may provide additional discounts on dental services, weight loss management programs, nutrition services, acupuncture, and much more. Finally, you can get Medicare Part D to save on your medication bills and have a dedicated team of nurses and pharmacists supporting you throughout your treatment.