MINNETONKA, Minn. — Virginians enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid may be able to get expanded health benefits through what are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans.
Commonly called D-SNPs, these plans provide additional services to those who qualify. They go beyond standard health coverage to address broader needs, such as food and utility assistance.
Marian Cabanillas, health-plan CEO at UnitedHealthcare Community & State, said her company puts some of those benefits on what it calls a “UnitedHealthcare U-Card,” which allows members to pay for essentials beyond healthcare.
“And you can use it to pay for a variety of different things, including things like healthy food,” she said. “You can buy fruits and vegetables, and meat, seafood — those kinds of things. You can also use it to buy over-the-counter products like toothpaste or Tylenol.”
Only 25% of eligible individuals in Virginia were enrolled in a dual-eligible plan in 2021. This year, the enrollment deadline is Dec. 7.
Cabanillas said she thinks people tend to put off health care because they’re unsure if they can afford it. A dual plan could help alleviate that fear and go further by supporting preventive care.
“We not only encourage people to make sure that they’re regularly going to those visits and making sure that they’re taking care of that,” she said. “But we also encourage them by ensuring that they have no co-pays associated with any of those preventive services.”
Cabanillas added that D-SNPs can also help cover utility bills for those who qualify. In 2023, more than five million people were enrolled in D-SNPs. However, millions of eligible people remain unenrolled — possibly because they are unaware of this option.
