Helping bring more connected care to Iowa.
A Medicare Advantage option Western Home helped create.
Western Home Communities is a launch partner bringing Align Senior Care to Iowa. Our residents will be among the first to access this insurance option, designed for people living in senior living communities.
For eligible residents, Align offers optional Medicare Advantage plans that combine medical and prescription drug coverage with additional benefits and a dedicated Care Ally.
Align Senior Care offers Medicare Advantage insurance plans designed for eligible residents of participating senior living communities. Its plans combine medical and prescription drug coverage with additional benefits and a coordinated approach to care.
Members have access to a dedicated Care Ally who can help explain benefits, navigate insurance questions and coordinate with providers and community care teams. The goal is to support more proactive care as residents’ needs change.
A licensed Align benefits consultant can help you compare plans, check eligibility and understand how coverage would work with your doctors and prescriptions. Enrollment is optional, and learning more does not obligate you to enroll.
What is an I-SNP?
An Institutional Special Needs Plan, or I-SNP, is a type of Medicare Advantage insurance plan for people who meet specific residence and eligibility requirements. Along with insurance benefits, an I-SNP includes a defined approach to coordinating care. Align’s approach brings together primary care providers, a Care Ally and community care teams to support members as their needs change. These plans are particularly relevant to residents receiving assisted living or nursing care. Some independent living residents may also qualify, depending on their community and other requirements.
Three partners. Different roles. A shared focus on residents.
Western Home Communities provides your community, services and care teams.
Curana Health provides on-site primary care at participating Western Home locations.
Align Senior Care offers Medicare Advantage insurance plans that combine medical coverage, prescription drug coverage and a coordinated approach to care.
What could an Align plan mean for you?
| Feature | What it could mean for you |
|---|---|
| Regular on-site primary care | Follow-up where you live, with additional visits when medically needed. |
| Helping reduce avoidable hospital visits | Regular follow-up and closer care coordination can help identify changing needs early, with the goal of reducing avoidable trips to the hospital. |
| A dedicated Care Ally | A contact who can help you and your family understand benefits, navigate insurance questions and coordinate care transitions. |
| Coordination after a hospital stay | Communication and follow-up among your providers and community care teams as you return home. |
| A different path to qualifying skilled care | When medically appropriate and approved by the plan, covered skilled nursing care may be available without a preceding three-night hospital stay. |
| Prescription drug coverage | Medical and prescription coverage through one insurance plan, with medication reviews for members who meet program criteria. |
| Additional benefits | Dental, vision, hearing and eligible over-the-counter benefits, subject to the selected plan’s limits and rules. |
| Joint review of care trends | Western Home and Align can use information about members’ healthcare use to identify gaps and guide improvements. |
The value of an Align plan depends on your current coverage and the services you use. Some care may already be available through your existing providers or insurance. Coverage remains subject to plan rules, medical necessity, network requirements and any required authorization. A Care Ally supports coordination but does not replace your community’s care team.
The value of an Align plan depends on your current coverage and the services you use. Some care may already be available through your existing providers or insurance.
It means so much that our Care Ally/Case Manager takes the time to address our concerns...to have their advocacy in any capacity is truly appreciated.
~Align Plan Member’s Daughter
Look beyond the monthly premium.
2027 plan comparison. Medical costs shown reflect in-network care.
| Cost or benefit | Align Premier Care | AARP Medicare Advantage UHC IA-0002 | Aetna Medicare Value Care | Humana Gold Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan premium | $0 | $49 | $0 | $0 |
| Medical deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $500 |
| Annual medical out-of-pocket maximum | $4,500 | $5,900 | $4,450 | $4,200 |
| Covered skilled nursing, days 1–20 | $0 per day | $0 per day | $0 per day | $10 per day |
| Covered skilled nursing, days 21–100 | $0 per day | $221 per day | $221 per day | $221 per day |
| Primary care visit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Specialist visit | $40 | $50 | $30 | $40 |
| Emergency room visit | $90 | $130 | $150 | $150 |
| Quarterly over-the-counter allowance | $145 | $25 | $45 | $50 |
| Annual dental allowance | $2,500 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $2,500 |
About this comparison: Based on the supplied 2027 Iowa Plan Comparisons spreadsheet. Figures are a draft pending confirmation against final plan documents. Selected competitor plans: UHC H5253-108-1; Aetna H1609-068; Humana H0028-053-001. Benefits vary by specific plan and service area.
Medicare Part B premiums still apply unless paid through qualifying assistance. The medical out-of-pocket maximum excludes premiums, prescription drugs and noncovered services.
Skilled nursing copays apply only to approved covered care. Coverage is subject to medical necessity and plan authorization requirements. A $0 copay does not guarantee 100 covered days or cover ongoing residential or custodial care.
Dental and over-the-counter benefits have eligibility, coverage and usage limits. Dental allowances may cover different services and cost-sharing arrangements. Review each plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage before enrolling.
What you pay when you need care matters, too. Align Premier Care combines a $0 monthly plan premium with $0 copays for approved covered skilled nursing care, a quarterly allowance for eligible everyday health items and personal support through a dedicated Care Ally.
Why Western Home chose this partnership
Residents’ healthcare needs change over time. We want care to stay connected as those needs change.
This partnership is intended to support more proactive care through closer coordination between on-site providers, insurance support and Western Home care teams. The goal is to recognize changing needs, strengthen follow-up and help residents receive medically appropriate care where they live.
The partnership also gives Western Home a way to help shape improvements. By reviewing healthcare-use trends with Align, including care received outside our communities, we can work together to identify gaps, track progress and provide input into future plan benefits.
Success means more than enrollment. It means understanding whether the partnership is making care more coordinated and helping residents and families navigate their healthcare.
Frequently asked questions
Who can enroll?
Eligibility includes having Medicare Parts A and B and meeting the plan’s residence, service-area and other requirements. An Align benefits consultant must confirm eligibility for your specific community and circumstances.
Can I keep my doctors and prescriptions?
Before enrolling, ask Align to check your primary care provider, specialists, hospitals, pharmacy and complete medication list. Confirm any network restrictions, referral requirements, authorizations and expected costs.
Will this pay for my assisted living or long-term nursing home room and board?
The plan does not replace payment arrangements for ongoing residential or custodial care. Medicare-covered skilled nursing services are different from long-term room and board.
Can I enroll outside the annual Medicare enrollment period?
Qualifying residents may have special enrollment opportunities during the year. Align can confirm which enrollment period applies and when coverage could begin.
I live independently. Should I consider this?
Some independent living residents may qualify, but eligibility does not necessarily mean the plan is the best fit.
If your current coverage meets your needs, there may be no reason to change. Increasing care needs, more frequent appointments or a growing need for help coordinating care may be reasons to compare your options.
Travel, seasonal stays elsewhere and access to outside specialists are also important considerations.
What if I already use Curana?
Ask what would change and what would stay the same. The comparison should distinguish care you already receive from additional support or benefits available through the insurance plan.
What should I know before leaving my current coverage?
Compare total costs, provider access, prescriptions and travel needs. If you have a Medicare supplement or employer retiree coverage, confirm whether you could return to it later and under what conditions before making a change.
What happens if I move?
Moving out of a participating community or service area may affect eligibility. Contact Align before a move to understand your options and avoid gaps in coverage.
Our Care Ally/Case Manager was able to find a new provider to do x-rays, find missing prescriptions, make appointments, and coordinate transportation for my father. She has given me support, answered questions, and provided me with information to better assist my parents. I am very grateful for the extra support Align Senior Care provides.
~Align Plan Member’s Daughter