Medicare    Patient Advocacy

patient advocate

Medicare now covers healthcare navigation. Get your own healthcare expert to help you navigate our complex health system and get the healthcare you deserve.

Your Medicare benefits cover an Umbra advocate to:

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Coordinate care with all your doctors and communicate your needs

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Find specialists and help you navigate chronic illnesses or complex diagnoses

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Manage medications and cost

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Review medical bills, identify errors, and negotiate reduced fees

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Explain Medicare benefits, fight claim denials, and secure prior authorizations

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Research and provide long-term care options such as assisted living, nursing homes, or home care services

How it Works:

  1. Share your story
  2. Talk to an Umbra specialist
  3. Meet with one of our Doctors or Nurse Practitioners
  4. Connect with an expert patient advocate
  5. Get the help you need

 

Umbra Medicare Parent

Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries

Patient advocacy services are covered under Original Medicare (Part A & B) for people with complex health conditions and/or barriers to care. These services are subject to 20% coinsurance, which means you pay part of the cost just like you do for other medical expenses. But, if you have a Medigap supplement plan, you may pay nothing at all.

Medicare Coverage

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Does Medicare now cover patient advocacy services?

Yes! As of 2024, Medicare covers Principal Illness Navigation (PIN) and Community Health Integration (CHI) services under new billing codes. Umbra Health Advocacy can now bill Medicare directly for these comprehensive advocacy services, so the navigation support you need is covered like any other Medicare-covered service.

2. Do I need a referral from my doctor to get started?

No referral needed! Umbra Health Advocacy has doctors and nurse practitioners who can meet with you to understand your needs. If you’re eligible, We’ll match you with a dedicated patient advocate who can help you navigate your healthcare headaches.

We handle everything in-house—first we verify your Medicare eligibility, then you'll have an appointment with one of our supervising providers, and finally you'll be matched with a dedicated advocate.

3. What types of advocacy services are covered by Medicare?

Medicare covers a wide range of navigation services. If you have a serious medical condition, or other barriers to getting the care you need, we can help you with things like:

  • Coordinating your care
  • Communicating with your doctors
  • Scheduling and preparing for appointments
  • Managing medications
  • Resolving insurance issues and medical bills
  • Connecting you with community resources to help with food, housing, transportation, and other needs 
  • And more!
4. Am I eligible for Medicare-covered advocacy services?

We can provide covered navigation services if you have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and have been diagnosed with a serious, high-risk medical condition or if you’re facing barriers (like issues with housing, food, or transportation) that make it hard to manage your health or get the care you need. Schedule an initial visit with one of our doctors to find out if you’re eligible for navigation services.

If you are in a skilled nursing facility, nursing home, or dementia care facility, we can’t provide Medicare-covered services. But, you can still hire our team of private advocates if you need help navigating any of those settings. Those with multiple serious conditions can receive navigation services for each condition.

5. How much will I pay for Medicare-covered advocacy services?

After you meet your Medicare Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. If you have a Medigap (Supplement) plan, you may not pay anything at all.  We bill Medicare and any supplement plan you may have and bill you only what Medicare requires.

6. What if I don’t qualify for Medicare-covered advocacy services?

Even if you do not qualify for Medicare-covered patient advocacy services, we can still connect with you with a private advocate that can assist with all of the same things. These advocates charge around $150-$200 per hour depending on case complexity.

7. What happens during my initiating visit with your provider?

During this visit with one of our doctors or other healthcare providers, we'll review your medical history, learn more about your current health challenges, and assess your needs for advocacy services. This visit establishes your eligibility for Medicare-covered navigation services and lets us match you with a patient advocate who will help you with a personalized plan to resolve your healthcare challenges.

8. How does the matching process work after my initiating visit?

After your first visit with us, we match you with a patient advocate who specializes in navigating the healthcare system. Your advocate will work with you to help you get the care you need. Your advocate will support you as long as you need them.

9. Can you help with non-medical issues like food, housing, or transportation?

Absolutely! Medicare's Community Health Integration (CHI) benefits specifically cover help with  things like food insecurity, housing issues, utility assistance, transportation problems, and other daily life challenges that can get in the way of your healthcare. Your advocate can help you apply for programs and resources to address these needs.

10. Will you help me understand my medications and manage them better?

Yes! Your advocate can support you with comprehensive medication management. They can make you an up-to-date medication list, explain what each medication does, organize dosing schedules, track refill dates, identify potential side effects, and provide tips for remembering to take medications properly.

11. Can my advocate come to medical appointments with me?

Your advocate can go with you to medical appointments by phone or video. They can take notes, help translate medical terms, make sure all your questions get answered, and give you recaps in plain English so you understand exactly what happened and what your next steps are.

12. How long can I receive Medicare-covered advocacy services?

You can get advocacy services for as long as you need them. If you stay with your advocate for a full year, we’ll schedule another visit with the doctor you met at first so they can confirm that the services still make sense for you. 

13. Can I get these services if I have a Medicare Advantage Plan?

At this time, we are only working with Original Medicare. But we are adding new plans all the time, so if you have Medicare Advantage, still let us know. We’ll see if we can work with your plan. 

14. Can you help me with insurance problems and medical bills?

Yes! Your advocate can review medical bills for errors, explain what Medicare and any other insurance covers, help file appeals for denied claims, track paperwork through resolution, and make sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to.

15. Do you provide technology support for healthcare apps and devices?

Absolutely! Your advocate can help you set up and learn to use patient portals, telehealth applications, blood pressure monitors, wearable devices, and other health technology. We'll also troubleshoot technical issues and make sure you're comfortable using these tools on your own. But we’ll stand by to support you if you need us.

16. How do I get started with Medicare-covered advocacy services?

Call us at 332-699-6778 or request a free consultation. 

We'll verify your Medicare eligibility, schedule your visit with one of our doctors or other healthcare providers, and then match you with an advocate who specializes in navigating the healthcare system. 

People Love Our Advocates

"When I was faced with multiple illnesses and knee replacement surgery, my advocate was a godsend in navigating 2 stints in rehab and a complicated transition home. She is experienced. persistent and effective when things go wrong.”

- Constance
Mature Mexican Woman

“Our advocate is a tremendous resource for the maddening and confusing healthcare arena. She knows how to listen, is very knowledgeable, and has a great network of professionals that can help. Highly recommend!”

- David
Smiling indian man looking at camera

“Our advocate led my family to invaluable resources, guided us through the process of the illness and hospitalization, coached us on how to get needs met with so many staff. Their team helped our family members understand the confusing diagnosis. We had been lost and frustrated until we happened upon their caring services. It was like having a nurse and a doctor in the family! I cannot imagine how we would have fared without their help.”

- Patricia
Life’s taught me a whole lot about myself

"My advocate is 100% reliable and fights tirelessly for her clients. My bill for a week in hospital with pneumonia was over $120,000 – without insurance. I found my advocate after going through several other lawyers who were very discouraging and asked for large fees to get a tiny discount for me. But my advocate knew that the bill was grossly unfair, did not stop until she felt they would not reduce any further, and got them to reduce it to $20,000. She asked from me only $2,000 in return. I am so lucky to have found her."

- Thomas
Studio portrait of a handsome business man

"My advocate saved me $38,000 in improper medical bills. She was able to get through to the right people and this saved me hours on the phone during the work day without knowing how to get past the admin assigned to take the billing phone calls."

- Ashley
I made a wish, it came true twice