Aetna Reminds Members Affected By Hurricane Ike Where To Call For Help

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 15 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Aetna (NYSE: AET) is making it easier for members impacted by the flooding and destruction brought on by Hurricane Ike to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs. In addition, the company has temporarily eased requirements of certain Aetna medical and dental policies for members to help them access care in the affected Texas counties of Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Matagorda, Newton and Orange. Aetna will continue to monitor the situation and add additional counties as necessary.

For Aetna members who need help in finding care, they can reach Aetna at the following toll-free numbers:

- Aetna Member Services: Call the number printed on your ID card. If ID card is unavailable, call 1-800-443-AETNA (1-800-443-2386);
- Aetna Specialty Pharmacy Customer Service: 1-866-782-ASRX (1-866-782-2779);
- Aetna Pharmacy Home Delivery Customer Service: 1-866-612-3862 or 1-800-227-5720;
- Aetna Employee Assistance Program: 1-888-AETNA-EAP (1-888-238-6232);
- Aetna Dental: 1-877-238-6200; and
- For physicians who have questions, call 1-800-MDAETNA (1-800-632-3862).

"Our deepest concern and sympathies go out to those people in Texas affected by Hurricane Ike," said Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams. "Our focus is on helping our members get the care they need, recognizing that many may have been evacuated from their homes and may not be able to use their usual pharmacies, physicians and hospitals."

Aetna members in areas affected by the hurricane may refill their prescriptions early, if needed, and those who use Aetna's mail-order pharmacy can receive a prescription at an alternate delivery location or refill a prescription that may have been lost, damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.

Aetna Behavioral Health is offering its Employee Assistance Program resources to all Aetna plan sponsors, regardless of whether or not they are Aetna EAP customers, during this time of need. Aetna members can contact Aetna EAP 24/7 for telephonic consultation, referrals or general information such as areas affected by the hurricane, shelters and government resources.

Aetna's EAP professionals have experience dealing with traumatic events and are available to help. Consultation and other support are also available for plan sponsors as they welcome employees back to work.

Affected Aetna members can seek urgent or emergency care anywhere, as needed. Aetna is monitoring the impact of the hurricane on providers participating in its network, and will make further modifications to its policies as necessary to ensure members have access to care. Aetna will also adjust its policies to comply with any local, state or federal disaster executive orders or regulations issued related to these catastrophic events.

To help life, disability and long-term care members in the affected areas, Aetna is extending deadlines for filing claims, and modifying procedures such as those for collecting evidence of insurability.

Aetna reminds its evacuated members that they can access their Personal Health Records (PHRs) for themselves and their family members 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, anywhere an Internet connection is available. A PHR is an important resource that allows members to share their health information with any medical professional who may be providing their care during an emergency, like a hurricane. Members can access a PHR, as well as replace ID cards, by logging on to the company's secure member site Aetna Navigator™ via http://www.aetna.com.

Aetna encourages everyone to "disaster-proof" their health information, both of which should be readily accessible in times of disaster. Tips on how to protect your family's health in the event of a natural disaster can be found at http://www.planforyourhealth.com/family.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates.

Aetna