10 Senior Living Providers Collaborate on New Medicare Advantage Plan

Ten senior housing and care providers in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota will be offering a new Medicare Advantage special needs plan to their residents next year. The plan is a collaboration between the 10 senior living companies, Minneapolis-based nonprofit health plan Medica and integrated care provider Genevive. The senior living providers together have […]

Welltower, CareMore Initiative Drives Senior Living Integration with Medicare Advantage

In a move that will further integrate senior housing within the Medicare Advantage landscape, real estate investment trust Welltower (NYSE: WELL) has formed a partnership with Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) affiliate CareMore. The partnership aligns with Welltower’s ongoing push to move senior housing and care into a more central role within the overall U.S. health care […]

Former Fed Chair Yellen: Senior Housing Could Feel Pain of ‘Root Canal Economics’

Economic trends suggest that the senior living industry should prepare for pain. Low interest rates have become the new normal and could soon go even lower, and this will continue to hurt seniors’ ability to bankroll their retirements, former Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen said Thursday at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing […]

Medical Concierge in Senior Living Cuts Readmissions, Improves Length of Stay

Providing residents with a “concierge” — a primary point of contact to assist them with their medical needs and care — can result in numerous benefits both to older adults and senior living providers. The model can significantly improve residents’ overall health and quality of life, reduce health care costs and make care delivery more […]

New Medicare Advantage Telehealth Policies a ‘Big Win’ for Senior Living

Recently finalized Medicare Advantage (MA) policy changes will likely bring more telehealth services to senior living communities. Under the new policies, finalized on April 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Advantage plans will be allowed to cover telehealth services that originate from beneficiaries’ homes — such as an independent living […]

Affinity Adding 16 New Properties to Portfolio, Developing Medicare Advantage Plan

Affinity Living Group is gaining scale and sophistication. The Hickory, North Carolina-based senior living provider plans to open or break ground on 16 properties this year and is developing a Medicare Advantage plan, although it has not ruled out partnering with an existing plan. Affinity is slated to open six new assisted living communities this year […]

Why Senior Living Providers Start Medicare Advantage Plans Despite Low Margins

Some senior living providers that have succeeded on a private-pay model with robust margins are now starting their own Medicare Advantage insurance plans — diversifying into a complicated business with much thinner profits. There is no simple explanation for why organizations such as McLean, Virginia-based Sunrise Senior Living and Bloomfield, New Jersey-based Juniper Communities are […]