Health Equity

Content provided by UnitedHealthcare Community & State District of Columbia

The AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) is approaching and this year the District Dual Choice Program is an option for individuals who reside in the district and who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) happens once a year in the fall. That’s when anyone who’s eligible can change their health plan. But if you qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan, you may not have to wait. You may be able to enroll right away.

You may be eligible to enroll today if you:

• Are 65 and newly eligible for Medicare or is 21 and older with a qualifying disability.
• Are retiring and losing your current coverage.
• Have moved out of your current Medicare plan’s service area.
• Have a chronic condition like diabetes or chronic heart failure.
• Receive Medicaid benefits.

Dual health plans include extra benefits and features to help those with Medicaid and Medicare.  Some of these benefits, like credits to buy OTC products and covered groceries, transportation assistance and prescription drug coverage, you may know about. But dual health plans also offer many other benefits and features that may surprise you.

Here are a few surprising benefits of District Dual Choice Program.

• Care Coordination - Health care can be confusing for anyone. But it may be more difficult for those with Medicaid and Medicare. Some dual health plans may offer you a personal care coordinator. That’s someone who can help you:
• Understand your Medicaid and Medicare benefits.
• Manage your doctors, specialists, and care services.
• Get the services you need to feel as healthy as you can.

• Personal Emergency Response System - Some dual health plans offer enrollees a personal emergency response system (PERS) at no extra cost. In an emergency, the PERS system quickly connects the enrollee with a trained operator. The operator can give assistance over the phone and send help if needed. PERS is a life-saving benefit that’s available 24 hours a day with dual health plans from UnitedHealthcare.
• You May Be Able to Enroll Right Away - One of the biggest benefits of a dual health plan is that you may not have to wait to enroll. Most people can only change their Medicare plan during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) in the fall. But if you qualify for Medicaid and are enrolled in Medicare, you may be able to enroll during the first 9 months of the year in a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of District of Columbia Homepage.