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Aetna Medicare Producer News March 16, 2016: As we continue monitoring the outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we remain focused on the health and safety of our members and agents. As an agent, you play an important role in keeping members informed. We encourage you to check our website frequently for updated information about the virus and tips for staying healthy, and to learn about the ways we’re supporting members.
Read the full update here.
Cornerstone Senior Marketing is pleased to host our special Aetna guests, Shannon Ward and Christine Compliment. Shannon and Christine will walk agents through specifics regarding what happens with a DSNP member once they’re enrolled into the Aetna DSNP product. REGISTER
Friday, March 6, 2020
Diagnostic testing and telemedicine visits available with no co-pay
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced several steps to support Aetna members in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Supporting the health and well-being of our members and removing barriers to care are among our key areas of focus as we navigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Karen S. Lynch, President, Aetna and Executive Vice President, CVS Health. “That’s why we’re providing COVID-19 diagnostic testing and telemedicine visits with no out-of-pocket costs or cost sharing for Aetna members, along with a number of other programs and offerings that reinforce our commitment to delivering timely and seamless access to care.”
CVS Health has engaged with public health experts and organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to spread awareness of emergency preparedness efforts. Through its frequently-updated COVID-19 resource center, the company is providing the latest information on precautions consumers should take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and who should seek medical attention.
Effective immediately, Aetna members will have access to the following resources:
Aetna will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19. This policy will cover the test kit for patients who meet CDC guidelines for testing, which can be done in any approved laboratory location. Aetna will waive the member costs associated with diagnostic testing at any authorized location for all Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.
For the next 90 days, Aetna will offer zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason. Aetna members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Cost sharing will be waived for all video visits through the CVS MinuteClinic app, Aetna-covered Teladoc offerings and in-network providers delivering synchronous virtual care (live video-conferencing) for all Commercial plan designs. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.
Through Aetna’s Healing Better program, members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive a care package containing CVS over-the-counter medications to help relieve symptoms. The package will also include personal and household cleaning supplies to help keep others in the home protected from potential exposure.
Through existing care management programs, Aetna will proactively reach out to members most at-risk for COVID-19. Care managers will walk members through what they can do to protect themselves, where to get information on the virus, and where to go to get tested.
Aetna is extending its Medicare Advantage virtual evaluation and monitoring visit benefit to all Aetna Commercial members as a fully-covered benefit. This offering will empower members with other conditions that need follow-up care to engage with providers without the concern of sitting in a physician’s office and risking potential exposure to COVID-19.
CVS Health is implementing the following programs to educate members about COVID-19 and help address any associated anxiety and stress:
Anyone presenting symptoms compatible with COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately.
About CVS Health
CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health company in the world. We’re evolving based on changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether that’s in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings from HealthHUB locations that are redefining what a pharmacy can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more affordable experience. Learn more about how we’re transforming health at http://www.cvshealth.com.
Aetna’s 2020 OTC catalogs are now out on Producer World and can access directly.
Here’s the direct link to the OTC catalog page on PW: https://www.aetna.com/producer/Medicare/otc_catalogs.html. Or here’s the path/instructions for how to find them on your own:
If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your CSM rep.
A few callouts for Aetna Medicare Supplement online quoting and enrollment tool. Here is how it works:
New underwriting process and application tracker
Aetna’s underwriting process will give you faster decisions for underwritten Aetna Medicare Supplement applications. Aetna has not altered their underwriting philosophy in any way. Most applications will have a decision within a few minutes. This exciting change also comes with an updated online application tracker, to give you clearer visibility to those decisions.
Changes: Point-of-sale telephone interview and voice signature option
To help make the underwriting process even easier for you, Aetna will no longer require or offer a point-of-sale telephone interview as of October 1, 2019. We’ll also be discontinuing the voice signature option.
Our new underwriting process
Once Aetna receives your Medicare Supplement electronic application, they will provide one of the following underwriting decisions within a few minutes:
Aetna will also provide decisions on your paper applications once they have verified all required information has been included with the submission. This review may delay how soon the decision is displayed on the website.
Aetna Med Supp MACRA 2020 has been a huge success thanks to you! They have launched their MACRA 2.0 strategy in 16 states.
August launches for MACRA 2020 – SC, IL, LA, AZ and TN
July launches – AL, GA, IA, MI and MS
September launch – FL and DE
October launches – OH, NC, KS and PA
What does all this mean? Aetna’s plan F rates will be on average within $15-$20 a month of our plan G rates and our plan F rates have been lowered.
Why is Aetna putting out rates that are so competitive on plan F? There are tens of millions reasons why. After 1/1/20 anyone on a Medicare Supplement currently or Medicare eligible by 12/31/19 will still be able to purchase plan C, F and HIF after 1/1/20.
These clients that would like to receive a very competitive plan F rate with us will need to go through underwriting so this with be a very healthy group of insureds which can mean lower rate increases.
REMINDERS:
If you have any questions please contact your Cornerstone Senior Marketing rep.
Clarification: To start using the LifeStation medical alert system benefit, members should call Member Services
Members with the Aetna Medicare Plus Plan (HMO) in Southern California have a benefit that allows them to get a LifeStation medical alert system at no charge. This benefit is available in the following counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego.
To start using this benefit, members should call the Aetna Member Services Department by dialing the number on their Aetna member ID card.
Please note: During recent 2020 product trainings, we told you that members should call LifeStation directly to activate this benefit. However, this was incorrect. Please help educate members that they need to call the Aetna Member Services instead.
What steps do members have to take to use the LifeStation benefit?
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A members Medicaid eligibility level will determine one’s benefits, cost share and overall service experience.