Benefits of Medicare’s CHI and PIN Programs

How Understood Care Advocates Help You Navigate Doctor’s Appointments

Keeping up with doctor’s appointments is essential to managing health and staying informed, but it can often feel overwhelming. From scheduling and transportation to understanding medical advice and ensuring proper follow-up, there are many details to manage. This is where Understood Care can help. Our advocates serve as trusted guides, working alongside you or your loved one to make the process easier, more organized, and more comfortable.

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Personalized Support Before and After Every Appointment
Understood Care advocates provide hands-on help with all aspects of medical visits. We help you schedule appointments, confirm provider information, and prepare for the visit itself. This might include reviewing your questions ahead of time, making sure prescriptions are current, or gathering any medical records needed. After the appointment, we help you understand the doctor’s recommendations and take the right steps to follow through on care instructions, referrals, or additional tests.

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A Partner to Help You Understand Your Care
Medical visits can involve unfamiliar language, new diagnoses, or complex treatment plans. Your advocate is there to help translate this information into clear, understandable terms. We make sure you feel confident about what was discussed during the visit and that you know what actions to take next. If something is unclear or left unanswered, your advocate can follow up with your provider to get the information you need.

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Coordination Across Your Care Team
Many people receive care from more than one doctor. Your advocate helps ensure that your care is well coordinated across primary care providers, specialists, and other professionals. We help share information between offices, keep records consistent, and make sure appointments align with your overall care goals. This reduces confusion and helps prevent important details from being overlooked.

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Support for Getting to and From the Appointment
Transportation should never be the reason you miss a doctor’s visit. Your advocate helps you arrange reliable ways to get to and from appointments. Whether that means booking a ride service, coordinating with a caregiver, or finding community transportation resources, we make sure you have safe and timely access to care. We also consider mobility needs, language assistance, and other accessibility factors to support your comfort and safety.

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Emotional and Practical Support Throughout
Doctor’s visits can bring up feelings of stress, uncertainty, or fatigue, especially when managing long-term conditions or complex health needs. Understood Care advocates are here to offer steady support throughout the experience. We are here to listen, provide encouragement, and help you make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.

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Confidence in Every Step of the Journey
With Understood Care, you are never alone in managing your medical appointments. From the moment you schedule your visit to the follow-up that comes afterward, your advocate is there to help you stay organized, prepared, and empowered. We make it easier to stay connected to the care you need and to move forward with confidence.

Introduction

Managing healthcare can be overwhelming, especially if you are living with a chronic illness, a serious diagnosis, or daily challenges that make it harder to get the care you need. Medicare recognizes these challenges and has introduced two important programs to help: Community Health Integration, also called CHI, and Principal Illness Navigation, also called PIN.

Both CHI and PIN are Medicare covered services designed to support patients beyond standard medical visits. CHI helps address nonmedical barriers to care such as transportation or housing issues, while PIN focuses on medical navigation for serious high risk conditions like cancer, COPD, or advanced heart failure. If you are unsure whether you qualify, you can read a full guide to CHI and PIN in the resources listed in the References section.

What Is Medicare’s Community Health Integration, CHI

Community Health Integration is designed for Medicare patients whose health is impacted by social determinants of health. These are nonmedical challenges that can interfere with following a care plan. Examples include:

Difficulty getting to appointments
Unstable housing or unsafe living conditions
Lack of access to healthy food
Social isolation
Missing medical equipment or supplies

By addressing these issues, CHI ensures that your healthcare plan works in the real world. It is about more than prescriptions and appointments. It is about removing the everyday obstacles that can make managing your condition harder. For full details on how it works and who qualifies, see the CHI resource in the References section.

What Is Medicare’s Principal Illness Navigation, PIN

Principal Illness Navigation is focused on Medicare patients with serious high risk health conditions that require frequent medical care, complex treatment plans, or close monitoring. This program offers:

Personalized navigation support from trained professionals
Coordination between multiple specialists and care providers
Referrals to community resources that support your health goals
Ongoing education so you can better understand your condition

PIN is especially valuable for illnesses such as cancer, congestive heart failure, COPD, dementia, or severe mental health conditions. It helps reduce hospital visits, manage complicated treatment schedules, and connect you to support networks. You can learn more about PIN in the References section.

The Key Benefits of CHI and PIN Programs

Better care coordination

For many patients, healthcare involves multiple doctors, specialists, and caregivers. Without proper coordination, important details can get lost, which can lead to missed treatments or conflicting instructions.

In CHI, care coordination often means aligning your healthcare with community services such as transportation or meal delivery.
In PIN, care coordination means making sure your medical providers are on the same page about your treatment plan.

This coordinated approach helps prevent gaps in care and keeps your health on track.

Easier access to resources

Both programs go beyond traditional Medicare services to connect you with resources you may not know are available.

Examples of CHI resource support:

Arranging rides to medical appointments
Providing information on housing assistance programs
Connecting you to local food pantries or meal delivery services

Examples of PIN resource support:

Finding a cardiac rehab program after heart surgery
Referring you to mental health counseling after a diagnosis
Coordinating home health nursing for ongoing treatment

Reduced hospital visits and emergencies

By proactively addressing medical and non-medical needs, CHI and PIN help reduce unnecessary emergency visits and hospital admissions. This improves health outcomes and lowers costs and stress.

Example:
A patient with COPD who lacks reliable transportation might miss follow up visits, which can lead to flare ups and hospitalizations. With CHI, transportation is arranged, preventing missed care and reducing hospital risk.

Personalized support for your situation

No two patients are alike. CHI and PIN tailor services to your specific health conditions, home environment, and lifestyle.

CHI might focus on making sure you have the right medical equipment at home.
PIN might focus on adjusting your treatment plan after reviewing lab results with your specialist.

This personalized approach helps you feel supported and understood.

Lower stress for patients and caregivers

When you are managing serious health challenges, even small obstacles can feel overwhelming. CHI and PIN remove barriers so you can focus on getting better.

Caregivers also benefit from reduced stress, since CHI and PIN navigators handle much of the coordination and follow up.

How CHI and PIN Work Together

Some patients qualify for both CHI and PIN. This combination provides comprehensive support by addressing social barriers to care and the medical complexities of serious illness.

Example:
A cancer patient who also struggles with transportation and food insecurity could receive:

PIN services for cancer treatment coordination
CHI services for transportation to chemo appointments and access to nutrition programs

This dual approach maximizes care and support.

Real World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Managing chronic heart failure with CHI

Maria lives alone and struggles to get to her doctor’s appointments due to mobility issues. CHI helps her arrange wheelchair accessible transportation and connects her to a meal delivery program, which supports her low sodium diet. With these supports in place, she keeps appointments and follows her care plan.

Scenario 2: Cancer treatment with PIN

James is undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. His PIN navigator coordinates appointments between oncology, radiology, and primary care. The navigator also arranges home health check ins to monitor side effects. With a single point of contact, James stays on track with complex treatments.

How to Enroll in CHI or PIN

An advocate can help you take the next steps:

Confirm eligibility for CHI, PIN, or both
Coordinate with your healthcare provider to start services
Complete enrollment paperwork quickly and accurately
Connect you to the right resources immediately after approval

You can call Understood Care or request an appointment online using the resource in the References section.

FAQ: Benefits of CHI and PIN Programs

Can I be in both CHI and PIN at the same time
Yes, if you meet eligibility for both. Many patients benefit from the combined support.

Are CHI and PIN covered by Medicare
Yes. Both programs are covered for eligible patients under Medicare.

How do I know which program is right for me
Your provider or an advocate can assess your needs and recommend the best fit.

This content is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized care.‍

References

External Sources

Medicare – Community Health Integration Services https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/community-health-integration-services
Medicare – Principal Illness Navigation Services https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/principal-illness-navigation-services
Rural Health Information Hub – Principal Illness Navigation Services https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/care-management/principal-illness-navigation-services

Understood Care Internal Links

Do You Qualify for Medicare’s CHI or PIN Programs https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/do-you-qualify-for-medicares-community-health-integration-or-principal-illness-navigation-programs
What Is Medicare’s Principal Illness Navigation, PIN https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/what-is-medicares-principal-illness-navigation-pin
What Is Medicare’s Community Health Integration, CHI, and Who Qualifies https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/what-is-medicares-community-health-integration-chi-and-who-qualifies‍‍

Author

Deborah Hall

About: Deborah Hall’s primary specialty is other healthcare benefits access. She helps people apply for coverage, clears questions, and connects them to programs fast.