ISELIN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amerigroup is committed to offering Medicare Advantage plans that provide high-quality medical care while also addressing other social and support needs that can impact good health. As part of this commitment, Amerigroup is expanding its 2019 Medicare Advantage offerings with the addition of Everyday Extras, a new package of benefits that provides wellness services including healthy food delivery, personal home helpers to help with daily activities at home, and alternative medicine to address pain and discomfort. The program will be offered to consumers enrolled in Amerivantage Dual Coordination (HMO SNP).

“The introduction of Essential Extras is part of Amerigroup’s commitment to developing innovative approaches that help address the dynamic needs of our Medicare consumers,” said Tomas Orozco, President of the company’s Medicare East Region. “Lowering barriers and making it easier for individuals to access items that address everyday health needs are some of the best ways to help people live healthier. Giving people the option of services such as delivered meals or time at an adult day center may make it easier for them to better manage chronic conditions; engage more with their community; or avoid preventable health-related incidents, such as hospital readmissions.”

Individuals enrolled in Amerigroup’s 2019 Amerivantage Dual Coordination (HMO SNP) plan can select one of the following four services offered in the Everyday Extras package that best fits their healthcare needs at no additional cost:

• Healthy Food Deliveries: Up to 16 delivered meals per health event, up to four events each calendar year (64 total). A qualifying health event includes being discharged from a hospital, if the consumer has a Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 25, and/or if he/she has an A1C level more than 9.0.
• Personal Home Helper: Up to 124 hours of an in-home health aide for respite care, home-based chores, and assistance with activities of daily living, as approved by a licensed care provider.
• Assistive Devices: Up to a $500 allowance for safety devices such as ADA toilet seats, shower stools, hand-held shower heads, reaching devices, and temporary wheelchair ramps.
• Alternative Medicine: Up to 24 acupuncture and/or therapeutic massage visits each calendar year.

Some Amerigroup health plans already offer a benefit available in the Everyday Extras package, such as delivered meals. If a consumer selects an Everyday Extras option that is already provided in their health plan, the two benefits will be added together to ensure individuals have access to the full service as intended. For example, if a consumer enrolled in Amerivantage Dual Coordination (HMO SNP), which will offer 20 days of meals after hospital discharge, chooses option of 16 delivered meals per event from Everyday Extras, that person will have both sets of meals available to him/her.

Individuals who are interested in joining one of these health plans can enroll during this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). The AEP began October 15, 2018, and continues through December 7, 2018 and gives consumers enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B the opportunity to sign up for Amerigroup’s 2019 Medicare Advantage plans.

About Amerigroup

Amerigroup is part of the Anthem Government Business Division (GBD). Through the GBD, Anthem serves 7.4 million seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and other state and federally sponsored beneficiaries, and National Government Services enrollees (including the Federal Employee Program) in 26 states, making us one of the nation’s leading providers of health care solutions for public programs. Amerigroup accepts all eligible people regardless of age, sex, race or disability.