Choosing Medicare Advantage Plans Versus Traditional Fee-for-Service: Is This Change the Tipping Point?

Beginning in 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expanding the definition of "primarily health-related." Under the new definition, Medicare Advantage Plans allow beneficiaries supplemental benefits if they compensate for physical impairments, diminish the impact of injuries or health conditions, and/or reduce avoidable emergency department utilization. At the discretion of the plan, this could expand the scope of permitted services to include things such as nonskilled in-home workers, portable wheelchair ramps, and other assistive devices.