UnitedHealth Group Takes Immediate Action To Help Gulf State Residents In Anticipation Of Gustav

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 01 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Responding to the prospect of Hurricane Gustav hitting Louisiana, OptumHealth, the health and wellness business of UnitedHealth Group, has made available a free help line to all people in the Gulf States.

Staffed by experienced masters-level behavioral health specialists, the toll-free help line (800-689-5703) offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress and anxiety. Callers may also receive referrals to a database of community resources to help them with specific concerns, such as financial and legal issues.

The toll-free help line will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. This service is free of charge. Additional resources and information are available online in English, http://www.liveandworkwell.com, and in Spanish, http://www.mentesana-cuerposano.com.

Glen Golemi, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, said: "We are all still feeling the emotional effects of Katrina and its impact on our lives. We want to move quickly to help not just our customers, but as many of our fellow residents who may be affected by Hurricane Gustav as possible. And we will continue to look for ways to respond to their needs."

In preparation for Gustav, UnitedHealthcare also is urging Louisianans who have access to a Personal Health Record (PHR) through their health insurer or through other resources, to ensure that information in their PHRs is up to date.

Information in an online PHR can be accessed by the individual or, with permission, by health professionals from any location and is not vulnerable to being interrupted by such things as hurricanes. Individuals who must evacuate an area, as happened during Hurricane Katrina, can have their personal health care information available regardless of where they must go and can access it 24/7 or have it accessed by health care professionals when needed.

To directly assist its health plan customers, UnitedHealth Group and its family of companies are taking the following steps:

-Effective immediately, the company is temporarily allowing an affected customer to obtain an early refill of a prescription medication if he or she has a refill remaining on file at a participating pharmacy. This complies with the recently declared State of Emergency in Louisiana and is being proactively implemented for customers in Mississippi, Texas and Alabama, who may also be affected by the approaching hurricane. Fully insured health plan participants may obtain an early refill of a prescription medication, providing he or she has a refill remaining on file at a participating retail pharmacy. This measure will remain in place for the duration of the event.

-Special assistance or accommodations - Customers who need assistance or special accommodations due to the hurricane should call the number on the back of their medical ID cards. Customer care professionals will assist them with their situations and, if needed, help them obtain in-network benefits at an out-of-network facility if an in-network health care provider is not available.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through seven operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, Uniprise, OptumHealth, Ingenix, and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals nationwide.

UnitedHealth Group