Author: directorsblog

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

directorsblog

The Health Plan will be closed on Monday, January 17, we will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This federal holiday is an official day of service. APWU Health Plan employees typically spend this day in completing a service project that matches their interests, time and abilities. This year, the Health Plan will donate funds to two local charities in honor of the holiday.

Enjoy your day!

Photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com

Retirement Resources: Medicare 101 Meetings

directorsblog

Attend a meeting- we’ll help make your retirement resources and Medicare options easy to understand.

Monday, October 18 at 1 p.m. ET

Join us online
Event number: 135 847 8703
Event password: APWUhp1@1
Connect audio: 1-844-291-6362
Access code: 1699181
Event Link to join us online

If you don’t have internet access, join us by phone
Dial: 1-844-291-6362, TTY 711

Then enter code: 1699181

Friday, October 29 at 12 p.m. ET

Join us online
Event number: 135 847 8703
Event password: APWUhp1@1
To connect to audio, dial: 1-844-291-6362
Then enter access code: 1699181
Event link to join us online

Join us by phone
Dial: 1-844-291-6362, TTY 711
Then enter code: 1699181

If you can’t attend one of these dates find a complete list of meetings and educational presentations at uhcretiree.com/apwuhp.

APWU Health Plan supports members affected by Hurricane Ida

directorsblog

The following changes apply to APWU Health Plan members who live in Louisiana, Mississippi, or the following counties in Alabama: Baldwin, Bibb, Choctaw, Clarke, Colbert, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marengo, Marion, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, and Winston.

High Option and Consumer Driven Option members

APWU Health Plan will:

  • Relax plan requirements to assist you with care received 8/29 – 9/30/2021.
  • Waive refill “too soon” limitations on supplies and medications for members who are unable to use the mail order service for refills or experience lost or destroyed medications.

Questions or concerns?

Please call:

High Option members: 1-800-222-2798

Consumer Driven Option members: 1-800-718-1299

Retirees enrolled in our Medicare Advantage Plan

For care received 8/29 – 9/30/2021, APWU Health Plan will provide the following:

  • Access to care: Members who have been displaced from their homes or whose network provider or medical facility is inaccessible can access care anywhere, as needed, and it will be covered at the in-network benefit level.

  • Prescription medications: Members who need help obtaining early prescription refills may work with a pharmacy that can obtain an override on their behalf, or they can contact the Customer Care number on the back of their ID card. For mail-order delivery service to affected areas or any other questions related to prescriptions, members can contact the pharmacy number on the back of their ID card and discuss their situation for help obtaining a local supply, if necessary, and more.

  • For additional assistance: Members can call the Customer Care number on the back of their medical ID card if they need additional assistance. If they have misplaced their medical ID card, call 1-866-633-2446, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (in the local time zone), Monday – Friday, or visit uhcretiree.com to request a new ID card and print a temporary ID card to use until the new card arrives.

Emotional support for all

Optum offers a free emotional support help line for affected individuals.

Call 1-866-342-6892.

  • The toll-free help will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as long as necessary.
  • The service is free of charge and open to anyone.
  • Callers may also receive referrals to community resources.

Emotional support resources and information are available online at liveandworkwell.com.

APWU HEALTH PLAN WILL COVER COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOTS AT 100% FOR MEMBERS

directorsblog

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster

When can I get a COVID-19 vaccine booster? Not immediately. The goal is for people to start receiving a COVID-19 booster shot beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting 8 months after they received their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). This is subject to authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommendation by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). FDA is conducting an independent evaluation to determine the safety and effectiveness of a booster dose of the mRNA vaccines. ACIP will decide whether to issue a booster dose recommendation based on a thorough review of the evidence. 

If we need a booster dose, does that mean that the vaccines aren’t working? No. COVID-19 vaccines are working very well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. However, with the Delta variant, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease. For that reason, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for a booster shot so vaccinated people maintain protection over the coming months.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

For more information see links below: 

High Option: Go here
Consumer Driven Option: Go here or our COVID-19 Resource Center

The Health Plan to Provide Temperature Screenings at APWU Conferences

directorsblog

It was wonderful to represent the Health Plan at the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia Tri-State American Postal Worker’s Conference.  The conference was held from May 13 through May 16, 2021. The conference was attended by over 150 people.

The APWU Health Plan setup temperature monitoring stations for the conference attendees. The infrared thermometers allowed attendees to regularly check on their health before participating in the conference. These monitoring stations were a great success. Thank you to North Carolina Council President Tony D. McKinnon Sr. and the host local for doing a fantastic job, making the environment safe and comfortable for all those in attendance. 

The Health Plan will offer temperature monitoring at two more upcoming events the Denver Regional APWU Conference scheduled from June 03 through June 06, 2021 and the National President’s Conference from June05 through June 07, 2021.

Temperature Check Station Sign, APWU Corporate Logo

I just got married. How do I add my spouse to my health insurance?

directorsblog

Congratulations on your marriage! You have 60 days from your marriage date to add your spouse to your insurance policy. If you miss this deadline you have to wait to add them until the next insurance Open Season or until another qualifying life event allows you to make a change.

You will need to submit proof of your marriage to your payroll office. Typically they require the marriage certificate, along with the enrollment forms. They require this proof to confirm that your spouse is eligible to be on your plan and that you are allowed to make a change to your insurance outside the normal time frame.

Instructions on how to change your insurance enrollment can be found here https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/enroll/#Employees

If you have questions about the insurance enrollment process you can contact your Human Resources Office. If you are a Federal Employee and you are unsure who to contact you can find a list of agency benefit officers here https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/benefits-officers-center/agency-benefits-officers. Postal Employees can reach their Human Resources office at 1-877-477-3273, choose option 5 to speak with a Benefits Specialist.

Your payroll office will process the insurance enrollment form, change your premium withholding, and notify the health plan of the change. Once the paperwork is processed you will receive a letter or a digital onscreen confirmation of the date that your spouse’s coverage will start.