Senior Partners Care (SPC)
PLEASE NOTE:
Administration for Senior Partners Care (SPC) has been transferred to Senior Community Services.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Doug Bright, SPC Coordinator at 952-767-0665 or 1-888-541-5488. You may also visit their website at:
http://seniorcommunity.org/senior-partners-care/
What is Senior Partners Care?
Senior Partners Care (SPC) helps low to moderate income Minnesotans who are on Medicare obtain treatment from participating healthcare providers. Through a special partnership with SPC, these healthcare providers have agreed to consider a waiver of the Medicare co-payments and deductibles.
SPC helps bridge the “Medicare Gap." The Medicare Gap is the portion of expenses incurred for healthcare treatment and services which are not covered by Medicare. These expenses are often paid out-of-pocket by the patient or are covered by a patient’s supplemental insurance.
Application (Not currently available online)
Application Instructions (Not currently available online)
The SPC Benefit
The SPC program benefits older individuals who cannot afford supplemental insurance and have difficulty paying out-of-pocket for deductibles and co-payments not covered by Medicare. SPC eliminates this financial burden so that participants may enjoy healthier, less stressful, more independent lives!
Who are SPC partners?
SPC has partnered with most major metro-area hospitals and hundreds of clinics and providers statewide that have agreed to consider a waiver of Medicare deductibles and co-payments. Participants must use healthcare providers who partner with SPC in order to receive the benefits of this program.
To qualify for the SPC program, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Resident of Minnesota
- Must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B
- Income must be at or below 200% of federal poverty guideline: Single person: $1,862/mo and $22,340/year; or Married Couple: $2,522/mo and $30,260/year.
- Total assets less than $46,100 for a Single Person or Married Couple, excluding primary home and one car.
What is the cost?
SPC is not a form of insurance and has no monthly premiums. However, effective April 1, 2010, the Senior Partners Care program is implementing a $29.50 application processing fee.
What services are not covered?
SPC waives co-payment and deductibles for Medicare-approved claims only and does not waive expenses related to:
- Nursing homes
- Ambulance charges*
- Routine eye, hearing and physical exams
- Outpatient prescriptions
- Eyeglasses
*Ambulance charges may be waived depending on the provider of the service.
Senior Partners Care is not a form of insurance, HMO, PPO or Medicare Supplement. The program does not pay any bills. If the treatment or service you receive is not covered by Medicare, you will be responsible for the payment. The decision to waive a deductible or co-payment is made by the Health Care Provider based on an individualized determination of the enrollee’s financial need.
How do I apply?
To apply for SPC, please call Volunteers of America–Minnesota at 952-945-4180 to request an enrollment packet, or with questions regarding the application process.
Application (Not currently available online)
Application Instructions (Not currently available online)
Eligible applicants are approved for one year. After one-year, SPC participants must reapply to reconfirm their eligibility.