Zing Health, a Medicare Advantage provider, has eliminated referral requirements and reduced the number of procedures that require prior authorization. Point-of-service plan members will be charged the same copays for Medicare-covered services both within and outside of their network.
Zing Health will offer 17 different health plans in its Illinois, Indiana and Michigan service areas for Medicare beneficiaries. The company’s Illinois service area has expanded by four counties, allowing it to offer its plans to more people in the northeast corner of the state. Zing Health’s Medicare Benefit plans are not a one-size-fits all healthcare model. They offer easy-to-understand solutions, as well as hearing, vision, and other benefits that are not offered by traditional Medicare.
Dr. Eric E. Whitaker is Zing Health’s founder, CEO and chief executive officer. “We put patients in control and give them the ability to manage their own care.
Zing Health listens and then prescribes solutions
Zing Health continually improves its best in-class health plans based upon feedback from members, providers, the insurance agent/broker community, and new guidelines and regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“Zing Health’s model of care is based on mitigating access problems or removing those obstacles to care,” stated Saadia Selvie (Zing Health’s vice-president of sales and marketing). In this regard, we have eliminated the referral requirement in 2022. A member of our plan now has immediate access to our in-network providers without the need for a referral from their primary physician.
Zing Open Access members who select in-network physicians as their primary care physician will be eligible for the same copay provisions in 2022 for Medicare-covered services, regardless of whether the provider is out or in network.
Zing Health worked with CMS to offer insulin savings to additional health plans. Selvie stated that the Insulin Savings Program assists Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes to lower their insulin costs. They pay $35 for a 30-day supply, and $70 for the 90-day supply.
Zing Health introduced the Insulin Savings Program in 2021 for chronic care plans. The benefit is available on most Zing Health plans for 2022. It extends the price break to members who would otherwise not be eligible.
All Health Plans Include Telehealth, Caregiver, and Food Benefits
A caregiver benefit is one of the new features in the 2022 health plan. A family-care agency Pap provides an in-home assistance to members. This is used to help them with their daily needs, such as helping with transportation and loneliness. All plans will include caregiver support.
Telehealth benefits allow members to have same-day video consultations with a licensed behavioral health specialist or board-certified doctor in the network. Telehealth visits are free of co-pays and members can get urgent care online for more than 80 common conditions.
Selvie stated that remote access to quality, responsive care is crucial because of the pandemic’s impact. All plans include telehealth.
Zing Health saw food insecurity problems rise during the pandemic and created a benefit that provides members with groceries every month.
Selvie stated that members can use their health food card to shop at a grocery store or have groceries delivered to their homes for no extra cost. All Zing Health members who meet the qualifying conditions are eligible for the food benefit.
Zing Health plans are available to all members regardless of their health plan choice. They provide quality care through its provider network as well as the option to choose from outside-of-network providers. There are no copays for primary care physician visits, laboratory work, or X-rays. Urgent care visits require $10 copays.
Selvie stated that “Medicare Advantage plans don’t all look the same.” We understand that copays can make it difficult to get benefits. That’s why we have incorporated our experience, knowledge, and understanding into the plan design, so that members’ health is always top priority.”
