Message received from Humana--my provider for Medicare Advantage

[japple]

In addition to the plan information, this was included.

Healing Begins with the Foods We Eat

(Humana Members)

After spending time in the hospital, eating balanced, nutritious meals may make a difference in your recovery and your overall health. The Humana Well Dine® program provides 28 meals after an inpatient stay in a hospital or nursing facility. That’s why Humana has teamed up with Mom’s Meals® to deliver nutritious, tasty meals right to your home when you need them most – at no additional cost to you.

With Humana, you will receive:

28 fully prepared meals made with high-quality ingredients, packed in coolers with gel bags and delivered directly to your home
Health-specific menus designed by dietitians, offering something for everyone
Diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, heart-friendly, and many other options
Tasty meals that are ready to heat and eat and last for 14 days in the fridge

To find out more about your Humana Well Dine meal benefit, call the number on the back of your Humana member ID card!

How in the hell can something be tasty, ready to heat & eat, and last for 14 days in the fridge? Must be MREs for seniors. Does anyone have a clue what this is and how they do it? Is this one of Jim Bakker's survival supply rations?

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Got to be an adder for that service.

Could be a time when I will opt for something like this.....but not now.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. My best friend's son in law works as a supervisor for Mom's Meals

They are good quality.

https://www.momsmeals.com/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACUfM3rdVS5BVvfhZmW2hgEyZ-9tA&gclid=CjwKCAiA0syqBhBxEiwAeNx9N01FIDyjzWRvn6JuoawegUXwr-rss7Qjh3RAMlkfox5vnTapPjVn9xoC8cgQAvD_BwE

[former9thward]

3. Complaining about something that is free?

Ok....

[japple]

4. You missed the point. This: "How in the hell can something be tasty, ready to heat & eat, and

last for 14 days in the fridge?"

[former9thward]

5. No, you missed the point.

If you don't want the benefit then don't take it. If you are in a situation where you qualify for the benefit then try it out. No one is is forcing you to eat it. I have plenty of things in frig that last 14 days and they are fine. I can't believe people demanding perfection from something that is a benefit that most people don't get and its free. Unbelievable.

[MineralMan]

8. Meals are only after a hospital stay.

OP said that.

[former9thward]

17. Does Medicare give that?

Nope.

[MineralMan]

22. You're right. It doesn't.

Medicare Advantage plans, however, sometimes do. Mine doesn't, but that's OK with me.

Different plans are suitable for different people. Every year, you get to decide which plan you want. Or, you can skip it and whatever plan you had will roll over, in most cases.

[japple]

24. If you are in a group plan, you don't really get to decide. n/t

[MichMan]

26. No one over 65 is prevented from taking their own Medicare plan

Why cant you not participate in the group plan and apply for Medicare on your own?

[japple]

29. Because I can't afford it. My medicare supplement is not deducted from

my (very small) monthly retirement. It is paid for by the State.

[MineralMan]

27. No, you don't.

However, right now, you can look for and switch plans if you wish. Once a year. Compare costs and benefits for all available Advantage plans and pick the one that fits your needs best.

[Iwasthere]

7. I bet that you toss a lot of stuff

When it's past it's suggested use by date. We frequent many discount food stores and have never been sick. Many products well past the SUGGESTED use by date. Arbitrary dates

[japple]

13. I absolutely do not toss a lot of stuff. And I'm still on my bottle of Tylenol from 2019. I

don't throw food away. I also don't let food rot in my refrigerator. The food I prepare is fresh and is eaten within a few days to a week. You are making a lot of assumptions. I have a lot of family members who have worked in the restaurant industry who have taken all of those food safety courses and I've read a ton of stuff from the USDA. Most prepared foods should be eaten with 3-4 (I stretch it out unless there's meat involved) days at 40 degrees.

[TwilightZone]

6. They're vacuum-sealed.

Vacuum-sealing significantly extends the shelf life of many items. The meals would obviously be designed with food items that can support the 14-day window.

[anciano]

9. "how can they be tasty, ready to heat and eat,

and last for 14 days"?
Because of advances in technology and nutritional science in the 21st century.
May I suggest that you withhold judgment until you actually try a couple meals.
Just saying....

[japple]

25. Yes, you may suggest it.

[Bmoboy]

10. Who said they would be free?

Medicare Advantage plans promise much in vague terms and then ...

[TwilightZone]

11. "at no additional cost to you"

As noted in the OP. It's part of the plan benefits.

[vapor2]

28. heard so many negative stories on Medicare Disadvantage

They are privatized and for profit period

[Bmoboy]

12. Also, i use HungryRoot

Weekly meals shipped to me. Easy to prepare,comes with freezer packs, you get to pick favorites, dietary restrictions or preferences.
And, sometimes the delivery is late and the freezer packs melt and I throw out anything that seems suspect.
I am old and it helps to have semi-prepared meals, and nothing is free or perfect.
That said, I don't trust any insurance companies, especially Humana.

[japple]

14. I don't trust Medicare Advantage either, esp. Humana. I'm old, too, though fortunate

enough to still be able to drive to the grocery store and prepare food. I don't eat a lot of meat, I rarely eat in restaurants, though I occasionally get a sandwich from the grocery store deli if in a rush. As one who has autoimmune issues, I am leery of food with lots of preservatives or additives.

[marybourg]

15. They provide meals to Medicaid Nursing Homes and other people who

qualify for Medicaid meals. Although they claim to be able to provide gluten free meals, they are all soy- or dairy-containing, which many celiac patients can’t eat. Don’t ask me how I know this.

[multigraincracker]

16. I'd like to make a point.

For profit health insurance is the problem. Every other advanced country has Government health insurance. They have much better health outcomes and Medicare Care is not the leading cause of family bankruptcy.
Please write back to them and suggest we get rid of private health insurance if we want better healthy out comes not based on Wall Street profits.

[vapor2]

32. We just (as of 12/31) lost our retirement medical and dental coverage

and the GREEDY CEO got a $6 million bonus plus he is chairman of at least 5 companies so lays off employees and cuts our benefits. I called in to Thomas Hartmann and plan to make more noise. This GREED is out of control while the rest of us LOSE LOSE LOSE

[Duncan Grant]

18. Pretty contentious thread for such simple questions, eh?

If you follow this *link*, scroll down and look to the left. You’ll see links to sample menus. I think that’ll help answer your questions.

This would be an especially helpful benefit. Looks like a good program.

[japple]

20. I went to the site before I even posted. I looked at their sample menues. It doesn't tell

me how these "fresh" foods can stay good in the refrigerator for 14 days. I am always suspicious when my medicare advantage plan wants to "help." They have denied drug coverage for things that would make my life a whole lot easier and more healthy.

[Lucinda]

19. FWIW - They also offer pureed meals.....that could be great

[Biophilic]

21. Great way to get you out of the hospital sooner.

I saw way too many of my patients sent home, out of rehab, before they should have been, ie able to take care of themselves. Medicare Advantage companies exist to make money, period. It’s much cheaper to send a few meals than pay for additional days in hospital. On the other hand, many people would probably recover faster at home than sitting in a bed in a rehab unit or hospital.

[Maru Kitteh]

33. Everybody would rather be at home until they take a header in the shower.

Eating isn't the only thing you need to do independently in your home, and home health only goes so far.

Staying in the hospital is a drag, but your patients are better off with you until they don't need to be patients anymore.

[Hotler]

23. Nothing is free from an insurance company. nt

[japple]

30. Thank you, thank you for the perfect ending to this thread. Fortunately I am not in need of these

services at this point. I hope I never will. I am managing pretty well, and taking care of my sister who has dementia. If I ever need advice about prefabricated food, I certainly won't come to DU GD. I will just go to the Cooking/Baking discussion group. Thanks to all the sane folks who gave thoughtful replies.

[Hotler]

31. I imagine that some of the meal plans are bland with zero sugar, salt and fats.

Other diet restricted menus may be be more tasty do to having salt, fat, sugars. To keep them from spoiling they may be radiating the food to preserve it. Some us by dates on milk are months out instead of 2-weeks.

From Mom's Meals website; We have created our own packaging, which allows for safekeeping of our meals in a refrigerator (40 degrees or below) for 14 days from the date of delivery.
Call them and ask them how they do that? 1-877-508-6667

https://www.momsmeals.com/our-food/