Having a relative who is sick and needs medical care is challenging enough; having the same person with special needs is much more of a responsibility and a difficult situation. It is at this juncture that people start thinking about Medicare supplement plans 2020 to lessen the burden not just medically, but financially as well. Before you go into these details, it is necessary to know what would constitute special needs and also where a specialist would be required for specialized advice. This is also referred to as an SNP or a Special Needs Plan.
Doctors And SNPs
To get the complete advantage of SNP coverage, you need to make sure that the doctor who is recommending it knows how to present this need. There are some doctors whose jurisdiction does not extend to beyond a particular location or locality. In this case, these doctors cannot recommend you get an SNP. They need to be in touch with you on a regular basis and should also know your history; this is the only way their recommendation will hold any water with an insurance company. There is also a plan that is called an I-SNP – Institutional SNP; this is for people who would have to live in an institution or a nursing home that gives them specialized care for a physical ailment. These are patients who will not be able to survive on their own and hence have to be in this sort of care.
Another Point To Think About Is A Referral
Here again, this is quite similar to the SNP that was mentioned earlier. If your medical condition is such that you need to make a visit to a specialist or a doctor who can set right your specific issue, then you need to get a referral. This has to be from the doctor who you have been regularly going to. If this general physician is not able to identify that you need to see a specialist, chances are that he or she will not recommend that you see one. So, having a good GP is crucial; having one who understands your medical needs is certainly helpful and will pave the way for your visit to the right kind of specialist help that you require.
Understanding special needs and referrals and working within your network – all these are directly connected with your need for a supplement plan that gives you more coverage than your original Medicare plan.