Aetna Better Health of Illinois intros new benefits to eliminate health disparities

Aetna Better Health of Illinois, a CVS Health company, has added four new lifestyle benefits for Medicaid members enrolled through the HealthChoice Illinois program to help make healthy lifestyle choices more accessible. Members can now receive free educational support, meal delivery, clothing for school and $45 a month to spend on diapers.

By adding the following new benefits, Aetna Better Health of Illinois aims to eliminate barriers to achieving better physical and mental health and make it easier for members to reach their goals.

• Free educational support: Eligible members ages 18 and older can get career training, skill building and General Education Degree support.
• Free meal delivery: Eligible members ages 18 and older can get meal delivery services with personal nutrition support.
• Free baby essentials: Eligible members can get either a car seat, a highchair or play yard, plus a diaper bag and $45 each month to spend on diapers.
• Free school clothes: Eligible members in grades K through 12 (ages 5 through 18) can get a voucher for clothing.

[Read more: Aetna Better Health of Illinois continues to address health disparities]

“We cultivate our value-added benefits with care to provide tailored approaches to our members’ unique needs,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “These new enhanced benefits actively focus on gaps in our member’s ability to be healthy and improve their quality of life by helping them achieve personal goals like obtaining their GED or managing their weight.”

Aetna Better Health of Illinois is adding these new lifestyle benefits to their existing value-added offerings, such as the 24-Hour Nurse Line, free gym membership and weight management support, free behavioral and wellness app membership, dollar rewards program for completing healthy actions and free rides to and from medical appointments. These combined benefits are intended to make it easier for members to prioritize their health every day.

Aetna serves Medicaid members in 15 states, serving over 2.5 million members including 420,000 members in 102 counties in Illinois alone through the state’s HealthChoice Illinois Medicaid program. Aetna Better Health of Illinois offers value-added benefits leveraging best practices that have proven positive results in utilization, health gap closures and member satisfaction, the company said.

For more information about Aetna Better Health of Illinois, visit here. 

Aetna Better Health of Illinois also shared that it continues to host Community Health Councils, an initiative aimed at addressing the most pressing social needs within local communities across the state. Local Community Health Councils, facilitated by an Aetna Better Health partner, help foster collaboration, identify focus areas and implement data-driven solutions to improve the overall well-being of Illinois.

“Feedback from our members and the community helps us build and maintain a healthcare plan that meets, and oftentimes exceeds, the needs of various member populations in our health plan,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “Our Community Health Councils underscore our commitment to bring healthy solutions to the communities we serve, where we listen to their needs and create programs that brings solutions to plaguing issues.”

 The primary goal of the Community Health Councils is to create healthier individuals and communities by bridging gaps in public health program planning and evaluation. The local councils serve as a platform for stakeholders to engage in a collaborative setting. Under the guidance of Aetna Better Health partners, council members work to pinpoint focus areas and implement solutions that yield measurable results. They also are driven by data, ensuring that solutions are precisely tailored to the unique needs of each Illinois community.