From health care to groceries: Ohio dual benefits help vulnerable residents

Farah Siddiqi

With the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period underway, many Ohioans find themselves weighing their health plan options for the new year.

This period, running through December 7, gives eligible individuals a chance to select or modify their Medicare plans.

This includes Dual Special Needs Plans, or Dual SNPs - which serve those qualifying for both Medicare and Medicaid. These plans provide additional support to people facing unique challenges.

David Margolius, director of public health for the City of Cleveland, explained the impact for Ohioans.

"There's a huge need for this," said Margolius. "We're the second poorest city in the country right now, and we have an aging population, high rates of disability, high rates of poverty - so this does affect a number of our residents."

Dual SNPs are structured to streamline care by combining Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Advocates say this approach can help reduce complexity and out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients.

However, others raise concerns over privatized programs managing these benefits, noting potential challenges in accountability and transparency.

While Dual SNPs address essential medical needs, they also offer non-traditional benefits that help members manage daily life.

Marian Cabanillas, with UnitedHealthcare Community and State, highlighted how this extra support can make a big difference for Ohioans.

"You can use it to pay for a variety of different things, including things like healthy food," said Cabanillas. "You can also use it to buy over-the-counter products - and my favorite is that you can actually use it to help pay for utility bills."

An estimated 12.9 million people nationally qualify for Dual SNPs, which provide both preventive health services and practical daily support.

Analysts expect these plans to help eligible Ohioans afford essential resources beyond health care alone.