Papa and Medica Provide Social Assistance to Minnesota Residents With Chronic Illnesses

MINNETONKA, Minnesota – (COMMERCIAL THREAD) – Papa, a national counseling and support platform for the elderly, families and other vulnerable populations, and Medica, a non-profit health insurance scheme, today announced a new relationship to provide enhanced services to Medica members enrolled in its DUAL (HMO D-SNP) solution under the Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) program of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN DHS).

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

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 and directly assist individuals through social activities, housekeeping, local non-medical transportation, tech troubleshooting and more.

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

“Perhaps more than any other condition, loneliness and isolation drive the wedge between a healthy, independent life and the marginalization that leads to health problems,” said Andrew Parker, Founder and CEO of Papa. “Through our relationship with Medica, our friends can assess first-hand needs affected by the social determinants of health and help people living with multiple health conditions overcome the challenges of daily living and well-being. Medica has long been the pioneer of member-centric solutions, and we are proud to be part of their vision to provide health insurance with a personal touch.

“Since its inception, Medica’s mission has focused on its members,” said Thomas Lindquist, Medica’s senior vice president and general manager for government programs. “When we pursue new relationships, the question ‘How will this benefit the members? Always comes first. One of the biggest benefits of working with Dad is how they will help our members who need it the most and help them identify where the most significant difference can be made in the quality of their health. This is a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of our members.

Medica was one of three health plans originally to participate in MSHO with DUAL Solution. One of the primary goals of the MSHO program is to promote and support members to enable them to stay in their homes rather than transitioning to a nursing home. Today, more than 42,000 Minnesotans are enrolled in the MSHO program, which includes more than 10,400 Medica DUAL Solution members. In addition, more than one million people are enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid integrated D-SNPs across the country, a number that has increased by 600% since 2006.

About Dad

Papa and his Papa Pals platform provide “family on demand” by working with Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored health plans to provide a companionship and care benefit to seniors and families. Founded in 2017 and based 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 Médica

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