Provides Companionship and Daily Life Assistance to Dual Eligible Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries, Helping Seniors Age in the Home

Papa, a nationwide platform of companionship and support for older adults, families, and other vulnerable populations, and Medica, a nonprofit health insurance plan, today announced a new relationship to bring enhanced services to Medica members enrolled in its DUAL Solution (HMO D-SNP) product within the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ (MN DHS) Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) program.

This relationship will add Papa’s companionship and care services to Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) Medicare and Medicaid seniors who are among the most vulnerable people living in Minnesota communities.

Papa’s program provides physical support in a member’s home to engage with people on a personal basis, through Papa Pals, and leverages technology to coordinate services. Papa Pals are trained companions who meet with and directly assist individuals with social activities, house help, non-medical local transportation, technology troubleshooting and much more.

Beginning in 2022, Medica will identify eligible members for Papa’s services. After a Medica member expresses interest in the program, Papa will consult with them to learn about their individual needs and discuss where a Papa Pal can provide the most help.

“Perhaps more than any other condition, loneliness and isolation widen the gap between healthy, independent living and the marginalization that leads to health challenges,” said Andrew Parker, Papa founder and CEO. “Through our relationship with Medica, our Pals can assess firsthand needs impacted by social determinants of health and help people living with multiple health conditions overcome challenges to everyday living and well-being. Medica has long pioneered member-centric solutions, and we’re proud to be part of their vision to provide health insurance with a personal touch.”

“Since its founding, Medica’s mission has been member-focused,'' said Thomas Lindquist, Medica Senior Vice President and General Manager for Government Programs. “When we pursue new relationships, the question of ‘How will this benefit members?’ always comes first. One of the biggest benefits about working with Papa is how they will assist our members in greatest need and help them identify where the most significant difference can be made in the quality of their health. This is a profound opportunity to positively impact our members’ lives.”

Medica was one of the original three health plans to participate in MSHO with DUAL Solution. A primary goal of the MSHO program is to promote and support members to allow them to stay in their homes rather than transition to a nursing facility. Today, there are more than 42,000 Minnesotans enrolled in the MSHO program, which includes more than 10,400 Medica DUAL Solution members. Furthermore, more than one million people are enrolled in integrated Medicare and Medicaid D-SNPs across the nation, a number that has grown by 600 percent since 2006.

About Papa

Papa and its Papa Pals platform provide "family on demand," by working with Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored health plans to provide a companionship and care benefit for older adults and families. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Miami, Papa is backed by Canaan, Tiger Global Management, Comcast Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, TCG, Initialized Capital, and Seven Seven Six, among other revered institutional and individual investors. For more information, visit papa.com.

About Medica

Medica is a non-profit health plan headquartered in Minneapolis. The company serves communities throughout the heart of America by providing health care coverage and related services in the employer, individual, Medicaid and Medicare markets. Medica operates in Minnesota, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

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