With Open Enrollment Underway, Seniors Across Seven Savannah-Area Counties Trail National Average in Medicare Advantage Participation

Just 30% of Beaufort, Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Jasper, and Liberty County seniors are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, compared to 34% nationally

Today Clover Health, an innovative technology company improving health outcomes for America’s seniors, revealed that just 30% of seniors across seven Savannah-area counties (Beaufort, Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Jasper, and Liberty) are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, despite significant increases in enrollment nationwide over the past decade. Each fall, older adults enrolled in Medicare are able to easily switch and join an Advantage plan. In 2019, the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) began on October 15 and runs through December 7. New coverage chosen during this year’s AEP will begin on January 1, 2020.

As of September 2019, 153,600 adults across these seven counties were eligible for Medicare—a 7.9% increase in that population since September 2018. Yet only Chatham (39%) and Effingham County (35%) residents are enrolled in MA plans at rates above those of their peers throughout the country (34%), compared to just 20% of Beaufort County seniors, 34% in Bryan County, 32% in Bulloch County, 31% in Jasper County and 29% of those in Liberty County.

“Choosing a healthcare plan is one of the most important decisions older adults make each year,” said Tyler Henderson, VP of Southeast Operations, Clover Health. “That’s why Clover is urging the 70% of Savannah-area seniors not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan to research their options outside of traditional Medicare and explore the high-quality, personalized benefits offered through MA, often at a lower cost.”

Medicare Advantage plans are part of the official Medicare system, but can also provide substantial hospital and doctor visit coverage, low premiums, and a wealth of additional benefits—including prescription drug coverage, in-home checkups, vision, dental, and hearing care—not covered by traditional Medicare.

Through December 7, Savannah-area seniors can sign up for Clover’s Medicare Advantage plan option in the region. This AEP, Clover is offering:

  • A zero-dollar premium plan 
  • Zero copay for primary care visits and low-cost copay options for specialist visits 
  • Customized plans for beneficiaries who receive government assistance 
  • Competitive supplemental benefits including dental, vision, prescription drug and hearing coverage, as well as transportation benefits and 24/7 access to doctors

Older adults and others eligible for Medicare nationwide can also explore their options through the newly modernized Medicare Plan Finder from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, designed to help anyone compare coverage and benefits across available plans.

About Clover Health 
Clover Health is a healthcare technology company helping its members live longer, happier and healthier lives via personalized, data-driven, primary care. Clover serves only Medicare patients, is committed to empowering primary care providers and is built with an unrivaled set of comprehensive medical data on each member. Clover’s technology platform uses this rich trove of data along with machine learning to constantly deliver actionable insights to physicians at the point of care, driving down costs and improving patient outcomes. Clover has offices in San Francisco, Jersey City, Nashville and Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.cloverhealth.com.
Disclaimer: Clover Health is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan and a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Clover Health depends on contract renewal.

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