Kaiser is partnering with Livongo to add the myStrength app to its portfolio of self-care tips and tools. The app has features specific to Covid-19 and isolation including resources to manage stress, parenting, and social isolation. App-based services like Element3 Health, Happy, and YourCoach allow seniors to virtually gather and receive emotional support.

UnitedHealth Group is partnering with AARP Foundation to expand the nonprofit’s Connect2Affect platform which promotes social connection through a network of programs and services for anyone who feel isolated or lonely, particularly older adults. The publicly available online platform offers an Isolation Assessment, information on local services, and articles to help people “start living a connected life.”

SCAN Health Plan employs “SCAN Senior Advocates” who normally make birthday and welcome calls to senior members. During Covid-19, SCAN Senior Advocates listen for unmet needs during their regular calls, such as meals and medication refills. SCAN taps into members benefits and arranges for community services when necessary.

Cigna launched a program in which plan staff reach out to Medicare members to monitor their health, well-being, and access to needs. Members can opt-in to receive follow-up calls from the same Cigna representative to cultivate meaningful connections.

Florida Blue Medicare is partnering with Papa which connects seniors to nearby college students, “Papa pals,” who typically provide assistance with transportation, chores, and companionship. In light of Covid, Papa expanded their services in March to include virtual companionship via mobile phones or landlines and guidance to enable seniors to use technology. Papa pals will continue to assist with groceries and medication delivery. Eligible Florida Blue Medicare members can qualify for 120 hours of assistance per year.

Legacy Healthcare, a residential care provider, piloted a "Letters of Love" pen pal program where volunteers across the country can write letters to its residents. In less than a week, Legacy matched over 400 of its residents to volunteers. The volunteers can send photos with their letters to help the residents feel more connected.

Alignment Healthcare launched a meal delivery program that provides two weeks of meals to members who can’t access food. The program leverages a trained group of 50 volunteers and works with a community partner to deliver the prepared meals. As of March 26, they had served nearly 3,000 meals to members in need.

CareSource is partnering with The Foodbank, Inc. to prepare 1,200 food boxes to seniors living below 200% of the poverty line. Each senior will receive a 14-day supply of food with three meals per day, totaling 50,400 meals.

Capital BlueCross delivered more than 5,000 meals or snacks to residents in seven Pennsylvania counties through food prepared by a restaurant located in one of the plan’s business offices.

Harvard Pilgrim is donating to community organizations that help restaurants deliver takeout meals to families in need and help put restaurant workers back to work.

Many plans such as Aetna, AvMed, and Priority Health are partnering with pharmacy vendors to provide free delivery of eligible prescription medications.

Additionally, many plans are allowing early refills for up to 90-day supplies of most prescription maintenance medications.

Alignment Healthcare, a Medicare Advantage plan, is partnering with Peerfit Move to offer free at-home workout videos to its members. Peerfit Move is specifically designed for people over the age of 65 to provide easy access to a variety of fitness and wellness solutions.

• Hillcrest Retirement Community is hosting exercise classes through video calls and YouTube, allowing them to exercise with peers while physically distancing.

   

ConnectiCare launched a “Peace of Mind” initiative to provide members with additional support during the coronavirus pandemic. ConnectiCare nurse care managers have called nearly 10,000 members who may be more vulnerable to the coronavirus due to medical conditions or their age and giving them critical information to help keep them safe. The initiative assisted with a variety of needs ranging from prescription drugs to billing questions and telemedicine services to dealing with stress and anxiety caused by the member’s current situation.

A Midwest plan is redeploying care management staff that would typically visit members in-person to call the 20% highest-risk Medicare members. The staff identifies social, behavioral health, and clinical needs over the phone and refers them to providers and other resources as needed.

Humana has made more than 500,000 proactive calls to members to address their health concerns and social and behavioral challenges related to the epidemic. The plan also provides a member support line with specially trained call center employees to help support Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with specific coronavirus questions and concerns, including live assisting with telehealth.

Florida Blue is adding a free-to-member virtual care partner, Teladoc, for seniors and others on its Medicare Advantage plans. Florida Blue’s dedicated Covid-19 virtual assistant on their website automatically guides users through educational content or through a series of questions to check for Covid-19 symptoms and related risk factors. Based on the assessment results, the tool directs users to contact their primary care provider for next steps, to the Florida Blue Center nurses for answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and connection to community resources, or to immediate care options as needed.

Cigna is either transferring or redeploying hundreds of on-staff nurses and physicians to support telehealth as the plan expands its offerings in this area.

Plans should also focus on improving seniors’ technology skills through training resources or by enlisting the help of family members, friends, and caregivers. Plans can also encourage and help facilitate conversations between the patient, caregiver/family member, and care manager.

Humana will deliver safety kits that include masks and educational materials to all of its MA members over the next several months to make visits to physician practices safer as they begin to reopen for non-emergent care. While cost-sharing for telehealth and behavioral health visits will also be waived through the end of 2020, Humana is ensuring MA members who aren’t reached by telemedicine won’t defer necessary care, especially those with chronic conditions.