Broker Broadcast
Aetna to cover administrative cost of H1N1 flu vaccine for all medical
members
Aetna has made the decision to cover administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine for
all fully insured medical plan members and all members of self-funded plans
unless directed otherwise by the plan sponsor. Aetna will provide this coverage
even in instances where members’ specific health plans do not provide coverage
for preventive care or have limits on such coverage. Aetna will cover the full
cost of the administration of the vaccine with no member copay, co-insurance or
deductible applied.
A press release announcing this decision will be released to news sources later
this week. week.
We are also directing self-funded plan sponsors who do not wish to cover the
full cost of administration of the H1N1 vaccine to notify us by October 5, 2009.
Communicating with our members
We are reaching out to all members in many ways. Educational mailings to members
have begun, and messages will be included in the Member Essentials e.newsletter.
In addition, professionals staffing Aetna’s member services call centers have
received special materials on the H1N1 flu so they are well prepared to answer
questions.
We also will use information available in our CareEngine® to proactively
identify members who fall into three of the five categories of “priority
individuals” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Aetna will reach out to these members and urge them to be vaccinated.
These three categories are:
-
Members who are younger than 65 years of age who have health conditions
associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza
-
Persons 6 months to 24 years of age
-
Pregnant women
Members in these high-risk groups will receive Care Considerations sent to their
personal health records with information on H1N1 flu, their specific risk
factors and suggestions they consider vaccination. We will include information
about all of the priority groups, including those we cannot readily identify
through our records – health care workers/emergency personnel and caregivers of
children six months and younger – in messages sent to all members’ Aetna
Personal Health Records.
Additional preparations and resources
In a similar effort to reach high-risk members, Aetna is providing H1N1 training
to nurse case managers who work with members enrolled in Aetna’s disease
management, case management, and Beginning Right® maternity programs. Members in
these programs may also be among those the CDC has targeted for prioritization
when the vaccine is first available.
Resources available to all members on Aetna's public website include fact sheets
and Question & Answer documents, with up-to-date information on the H1N1 flu
along with tips on preventing infection. We have posters and flyers for download
with tips on how to avoid the flu. We also have a video that discusses proper
hand washing technique and worksite hygiene.
We continue to update pages on aetna.com for members and plan sponsors.
Our commitment to help
We at Aetna are committed to doing our part to decrease barriers to vaccination
and minimize the administrative complexity of providing access and financing for
the administration of this vaccine. As Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius said in a letter to health plans, “It is in everyone’s
interests to help reduce the demand for and costs associated with emergency room
use and in-patient hospitalizations and to minimize disruption in the
workforce’s productivity by having as many people as possible vaccinated…
Together, all of us doing our part will ensure that we minimize the consequences
of the H1N1 virus on our citizens, businesses, and the economy.”
For more
information and resources, visit
www.aetna.com and select and select
“H1N1 and Seasonal Flu”.
Article taken from Aetna's Broker
Alert email
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