MIAMI– CarePlus Health Plans, Inc., Florida’s largest* Medicare Advantage plan rated 5 out of 5 stars for 2022, is expanding its chronic condition plan offerings, adding CareBreeze (HMO C-SNP), a new 2022 Medicare Advantage plan designed to enhance quality of life and optimize disease treatment for people living with chronic lung conditions, such as COPD.
The Florida Department of Health reports that 14% of Floridians have been diagnosed with a chronic lung disorder. The CareBreeze plan is offered to benefit people living with pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and COPD, which encompasses asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
The new CareBreeze (HMO C-SNP) Medicare option will be available during the Medicare enrollment period –which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2021, for plan coverage taking effect Jan. 1, 2022. People eligible for Medicare may also make a one-time switch from a plan rated less than 5 stars to a plan with a 5-star rating during the 5-star Special Enrollment Period, which takes place from Dec. 8 to Nov. 30 of the following year.
“We’re excited to deepen our commitment to Florida Medicare beneficiaries who live with chronic conditions,” said CarePlus Vice President of Health Services Dr. Madeleine Rodriguez. “Not only are these plans designed to help people better manage their health conditions and, hopefully, improve their quality of life, but they’re also designed to make managing these conditions more affordable.”
According to Dr. Rodriguez, chronic lung diseases may:
- Cause the feeling of being “air hungry” from the lungs having to work harder to obtain oxygen for the body
- Impact essential tasks, such as grocery shopping and doctors’ appointments
- Limit social activities, like attending family gatherings, leading to isolation.
CareBreeze provides additional health benefits that specifically help people who have chronic lung disorders. It includes access to physicians who specialize in treating chronic lung disorders, as well as health programs designed to serve the specialized needs of people with these conditions.
“Our goal is to work with our CarePlus members and their primary care physicians to create the optimal treatment plan, which includes comprehensive assessment, creating goals, treatment options, prescription management, education and encouragement,” said Dr. Rodriguez.
CarePlus also offers CareComplete, a chronic condition special needs plan (HMO C-SNP) for people living with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which is also available during Medicare’s enrollment period.
CarePlus is a recognized leader in healthcare delivery that has been offering Medicare Advantage health plans in Florida for over 20 years. On Oct. 8, for the fourth year in a row and for the fifth time overall, CarePlus Health Plans achieved 5 out of 5 stars – the highest possible rating – from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 2022 plan year.
Benefits of the CareBreeze and CareComplete (HMO C-SNP) plans include:
- Prescription drug coverage – even during the coverage gap
- Affordable copay on select insulins with the Insulin Savings Program
- An allowance to order covered over-the-counter products
- $0 copay for routine dental, vision, and hearing coverage
- $0 copay for primary care physician visits
- Transportation to approved locations
- $500 yearly allowance for CarePlus Flexible Care Assistance, if coordinated and authorized by a care manager for primarily health related additional needs.
