Humana and Senior Care Coverage
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SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
Since 1961, Humana has played a key role in providing quality health care across the United States. Ranked as one of the largest health insurance carriers, Humana is a one-stop shop for health care needs. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) lays the groundwork for basic health care, but it doesn’t cover everything. Humana offers a wide range of plans to maximize coverage and certain services you won’t get with Original Medicare. Its impressive plan perks include enrollment discounts, fitness membership, and a 24/7 registered nurse hotline. We’ll get into the details of Humana’s insurance plans and what it covers below.
Did You Know? Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans that may provide benefits for long-term care. Visit our Medicare Advantage ZIP code search tool to find out if Humana’s plans are offered in your area.
Overview of Humana’s Plans
Humana offers several different health care plans designed to meet a range of health and wellness needs, including:
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, including dental, vision, and hearing care
- Prescription Drug (Part D) plans
- Medicare Special Needs (SNP) plans
Our free housing and care finder uses your unique needs to curate a list of the best options in your area.
Does Humana Cover Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing Care?
Medicare Part A covers care in a skilled nursing facility and some home health care on a short-term basis. A medical professional has to certify the coverage as a medical necessity to approve your plan. On top of that, you have to get approved in a state-licensed skilled nursing center.
Humana offers seven Medigap plans that pay for skilled nursing facility (SNF) care coinsurance benefits. Here’s a quick look at how much Humana’s Medigap plans will cover your coinsurance.
Humana Medigap plan | Percentage of coinsurance covered |
---|---|
Plan K | 50% |
Plan L | 75% |
Plan C | 100% |
Plan D | 100% |
Plan F | 100% |
Plan G | 100% |
Plan N | 100% |
Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) may include up to 100 days per benefit period in a skilled nursing care facility. There is a maximum out-of-pocket responsibility for what you’re required to pay a year for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance on covered services.
FYI: Head over to our nursing home care versus skilled nursing care comparison for a breakdown of coverage.
Does Humana Cover Home Care?
Despite advancing age and illness, many people want to remain in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. However, to do so may require one-on-one assistance from professional caregivers. Since many people struggle to get the services and support they need to age in place, Humana offers several in-home care support options for eligible Humana members.
Landmark Health
Landmark has been providing home care services for over 15 years. As a Humana Medicare Advantage member, you may be eligible for Landmark’s in-home care management program if you have multiple chronic conditions like coronary heart disease, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, or pulmonary disease. The Landmark team doesn’t replace your primary care doctor or other specialists. You’ll continue to see the providers you know and trust while getting additional support from Landmark’s in-home medical team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists.
SeniorBridge
Humana Cares offers SeniorBridge in-home care to make your care more accessible and more affordable, even when faced with functional and medical challenges. For over 20 years, SeniorBridge has provided individualized home care for complex health care needs. If you have a Humana plan, be sure to verify your Humana Cares SeniorBridge coverage and requirements. It’s important to note that SeniorBridge is not available nationwide. Their services are offered in 23 locations across nine states, including:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Texas
- Virginia
From the Pros: Head over to SeniorLiving.org’s picks for Medigap plans in 2024 to learn more about Humana’s offerings!
Does Humana Cover Hospice Care?
Determining when a loved one needs hospice care is an emotionally challenging decision. Hospice care, also known as end-of-life care, supports the medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of a terminal patient. Medicare-certified hospice and palliative care are usually provided in your home or other facility where you live, like a nursing home. You can also get hospice care in an inpatient hospice facility.2
Humana's Medigap plans may include Medicare Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment. Medigap plans A, B, C, D, F, G, and N cover 100 percent of the coinsurance or copayment. Medigap Plan K covers 50 percent, and Plan L covers 75 percent.
If you are enrolled in Humana Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare may cover hospice services even if you decide to keep a Medicare Advantage or other Medicare plan. Your Medicare Advantage plan may cover services that aren't a part of your terminal illness (or conditions related to your terminal illness) when you receive hospice care.3
Humana also offers a Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model for Medicare Advantage members moving into end-of-life care via hospice. Humana partners with VBID-specific palliative care providers to support members who may benefit from a palliative care program combined with their Medicare Advantage plan coverage. The model strives to lengthen the time members are enrolled in hospice care, allowing them to stay at home and avoid expensive and sometimes unnecessary hospitalizations near the end of their life.4 The Humana VBID pilot program is currently available in limited states under certain Medicare Advantage plans.
From the Experts: If you or a loved one is battling cancer and in need of hospice, Humana is one of SeniorLiving.org’s recommendations for Medigap carriers for people with cancer.
SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
Does Humana Cover Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a long-term care option in an apartment-like accommodation where basic assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) is provided. According to the Genworth Cost of Care report, the median yearly cost for an assisted living facility in the United States in 2024 is $66,126.5 This can quickly deplete a family’s hard-earned savings. Since the care provided is non-medical in nature, costs are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
The only type of insurance that may be used to pay for assisted living costs is a long-term care insurance policy. Neither Humana’s health care insurance nor their Medicare supplemental insurance policies cover the costs of an assisted living facility. If you have (or are considering) a long-term care insurance policy, you should verify the range of coverage for assisted living.
How Do I Enroll in a Humana Medicare Plan for Long-Term Care?
Humana makes it easy to find which plans are available in your area, compare plan benefits, and review plan costs! Humana’s online enrollment is user-friendly and delivers immediate plan pricing. If you prefer to speak with a representative over the phone, licensed Humana sales agents are ready to help guide you through the process. As you explore health insurance options, consider coverage and costs of long-term care needs, including in-home care, skilled nursing care, and hospice care.
Pro Tip: Our in-depth review of Humana’s Medicare Supplement plans includes a step-by-step guide for online enrollment.
What Other Options Exist to Pay for Long-Term Care?
Someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70 percent chance of needing some type of long-term care and support during their remaining years.6 Most long-term care is not medical. It often falls into the personal care category, like assisting with ADLs such as bathing and dressing, medication management, housekeeping, and meals.
Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care (also called custodial care) if that's the only care you need.7 Medicaid and Veterans benefits may cover some long-term care. However, the level of care and coverage varies. This means that many times, the costs of care will need to be paid by alternative means, which may include:
- Personal savings and retirement accounts
- Social Security income
- Home care loans
- Long-term care (LTC) insurance policies
- Reverse mortgages and home equity loans
- Private pay including life insurance policy conversions
- Life settlement through the sale of a life insurance policy to a third party
Are you interested in learning more about long-term care insurance? In the video below, Jeff Hoyt, our editor-in-chief, explains how LTC insurance can help lessen the financial burden of care.
Humana. (2022). Landmark in-home care management.
Medicare.gov. (2022). Hospice care.
Medicare.gov. (2022). What Part A covers – How hospice works.
HumanaNews. (2021). Humana Begins Coverage of Hospice Services as Part of Medicare Demonstration.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of Care: Trends & Insights.
Administration for Community Living. (2022). LongTermCare.gov – How Much Care Will You Need?
Medicare.gov. (2022). Long-term care.