Independent Health® and BeneLynk

We are professional and caring advocates who understand government and community programs. Our services are paid for by Independent Health and come at no cost to you. We "lead with help" to remove barriers affecting your health while helping you access more benefits.

BeneLynk's main office is in Sunrise, Florida; however, our team works across the country to assist members in all 50 states + DC.

No. No matter which plan you have, your health care benefits with Independent Health won't change; however, you might be able to get other government programs that could save you money.

No! These services are offered at no additional cost to you. Independent Health has teamed up with BeneLynk to help you with enrollment and re-enrollment into government programs. BeneLynk works with you to see what programs you might qualify for, completes the Medicaid or Medicare Savings Program applications for you, and makes enrolling in cost-saving state and government programs easy.

The Medicare Savings Programs and Medicaid will pay your Part B premium ($185.00 in 2025). You might also qualify for additional Medicaid programs from the state or a more comprehensive plan from Independent Health called a Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP).

The Authorization of Assistance (AoA) form lets us assist you, if needed, with limited actions on your behalf – only regarding your Medicaid renewal. These actions might include:

• Getting another copy of your Medicaid renewal form
• Filling out state forms
• Helping you get proof of your answers
• Contacting the Medicaid office to check your renewal date or current coverage

If you ask us for help with your Medicaid or Medicare Savings Program application or renewal, we will use your signed form to prove that we have permission to help you. Unless you contact us for help, the form just stays on file.

With a short call, our advocates can determine what programs you might qualify for and discuss your needs. If you are potentially eligible for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program, or Extra Help (LIS), our team of experts will complete these applications for you and, when necessary, work with you to gather the documentation to submit.

A Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a federally funded program administered by each state. It will pay your Part B premium ($185.00 in 2025).

There are four Medicare Savings Programs:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary
• Qualifying Individual
• Qualified Disabled & Working Individuals

Medicaid is a federally funded program administered by each state. Medicaid will pay your Part B premium ($185.00 in 2025). Depending on your state, it might also pay for any deductibles and copays and provide additional benefits such as dental, vision or transportation.

The Extra Help program from the Social Security Administration is a federal program that helps people with limited income and assets lower the cost of their covered medications.

Once a year, your state Medicaid agency will require you to fill out a renewal form to make sure you are still eligible for the program you are enrolled in. The COVID-19 pandemic put this on hold for a few years. Since April 2023, state Medicaid agencies require enrollees to complete this annual renewal again.

BeneLynk and Independent Health want to protect your privacy, especially when discussing important topics such as your health and finances. It is also required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

No! Independent Health wants to help you get the most from your health benefits. Many of these programs are unknown to plan members or have complicated applications. BeneLynk is an expert at helping people enroll in these programs. We know this is an industry that bombards you with ads, solicitations, phone calls, spam, and scams. If you have any concerns whatsoever about the legitimacy or credibility of BeneLynk, please reach out to your plan directly. Independent Health has teamed with us to provide you with this service and should be able to answer any additional questions or concerns.

We are happy that you have someone to help you. If you can provide us with authorization to speak with them, or if you have previously provided this information to your health plan, we are happy to work with them. We care about your privacy and the safety of your information, so we just need to make sure it's the right person we are speaking with on your behalf.

Yes! We can send you the application and a list of documents that need to be included. You can mail them to your state Medicaid agency or drop them off in person.

An authorized representative (as it relates to BeneLynk's services on behalf of Independent Health) is our Government Relations department, led by Vicki Jessup. They will act on your behalf to assist in the enrollment or renewal of your Medicaid or Medicare Savings Program application. Their authorization is limited to:

• Getting another copy of your Medicaid renewal form
• Filling out state or federal applications and forms for Medicaid or Medicare Savings Programs or the renewal of these programs
• Helping you get proof of your answers
• Contacting the Medicaid office to check your renewal date or a recently submitted application
• Representing you in a fair hearing if the state has erroneously denied your application or renewal

Vicki is our Vice President of Quality Assurance and Government Relations. She brings over 20 years of experience with Medicaid policy and enrollment experience to BeneLynk. She is a subject matter expert in Medicaid pathways and application/renewal requirements in all 50 states and D.C. Vicki ensures that BeneLynk processes are aligned with all state requirements and federal changes.

Over the prior decade, Vicki worked for Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) as the Medicaid/SNAP Eligibility Policy Section Chief. She led the state's efforts to expand Medicaid eligibility, streamline enrollment and renewal procedures, redesign state decision notices, and implement telephonic signatures, among many other projects.

If you are a Veteran getting care at a VA facility, this care is not shared with your health plan or your providers outside of the VA. Independent Health would like to help make the sharing of that information easier for you to improve the care that you might be receiving now or in the future from Independent Health. This helps Independent Health to better serve you and allows them to offer you programs or reminders that might be good for your health. We know that getting care from two different networks can be challenging, so as your medical home, Independent Health wants to help you with this process. It is completely voluntary, and your information is not shared with anyone besides your health plan.

BeneLynk has partnered with ReleasePoint to help us collect your records from the VA on behalf of Independent Health - safely and securely.

ReleasePoint is based in the United States and has been in business for 40 years. ReleasePoint implements the highest level of security for the collection and transfer of your records and does not share or store any of your information.