2025 Retiree Indemnity Plan Booklet
This booklet outlines the health insurance benefits for Ball State University retirees starting from January 1, 2025, as administered by Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.
ABCBS-LG ASO TRAD v05 Benefit Booklet (Referred to as “Booklet” in the following pages) Anthem Blue Traditional Ball State University-Retiree 01/01/2025 Si necesita ayuda en español para entender este documento, puede solicitarla sin costo adicional, llamando al número de servicio al cliente que aparece en el reverso de su Tarjeta de Identificación. If you need Spanish-language assistance to understand this document, you may request it at no additional cost by calling Member Services at the number on the back of your Identification Card. Plan Administered by: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. 220 Virginia Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.
1 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) is a Federal law that includes the No Surprises Act as well the Provider transparency requirements that are described below. Surprise Billing Claims Surprise Billing Claims are claims that are subject to the Federal No Surprises Act requirements: • Emergency Services provided by Non-Participating Providers; • Covered Services provided by a Non-Participating Provider at an Participating Facility; and • Non-Participating Air Ambulance Services. No Surprises Act Requirements Emergency Services As required by the CAA, Emergency Services are covered under your Plan: • Without the need for Precertification; • Whether the Provider is Participating or Non-Participating; If the Emergency Services you receive are provided by a Non-Participating Provider, Covered Services will be processed at the Participating benefit level. Note that if you receive Emergency Services from a Non-Participating Provider, your Out-of-Pocket costs will be limited to amounts that would apply if the Covered Services had been furnished by an Participating Provider. However, Non-Participating cost-shares (i.e., Copayments, Deductibles and/or Coinsurance) will apply to your claim if the treating Non-Participating Provider determines you are stable, meaning you have been provided necessary Emergency Care such that your condition will not materially worsen and the Non-Participating Provider determines: (i) that you are able to travel to an Participating Facility by non-emergency transport; (ii) the Non-Participating Provider complies with the notice and consent requirement; and (iii) you are in condition to receive the information and provide informed consent. If you continue to receive services from the Non-Participating Provider after you are stabilized, you will be responsible for the Non-Participating cost-shares, and the Non-Participating Provider will also be able to charge you any difference between the Maximum Allowed Amount and the Non-Participating Provider’s billed charges. This notice and consent exception does not apply if the Covered Services furnished by a Non-Participating Provider result from unforeseen and urgent medical needs arising at the time of service. Non-Participating Services Provided at a Participating Facility When you receive Covered Services from a Non-Participating Provider at a Participating Facility, your Out-of-Pocket costs will be limited to amounts that would apply if the Covered Service had been furnished by a Participating Provider. However, if the Non-Participating Provider gives you proper notice of its charges, and you give written consent to such charges, claims will not be covered. This means you will be responsible for Non-Participating cost-shares for those services and the Non-Participating Provider can also charge you any difference between the Maximum Allowed Amount and the Non-Participating Provider’s billed charges. This Notice and Consent process described below does not apply to Ancillary Services furnished by an Non-Participating Provider at a Participating Facility. Your Out-of-Pocket costs for claims for Covered Ancillary Services furnished by a Non-Participating Provider at a Participating Facility will be limited to amounts that would apply if the Covered Service had been furnished by a Participating Provider. Ancillary Services are one of the following services: (A) Emergency Services; (B)
2 anesthesiology; (C) laboratory and pathology services; (D) radiology; (E) neonatology; (F) diagnostic services; (G) assistant surgeons; (H) Hospitalists; (I) Intensivists; and (J) any services set out by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Non-Participating Providers satisfy the notice and consent requirement as follows: 1. By obtaining your written consent not later than 72 hours prior to the delivery of services; or 2. If the notice and consent is given on the date of the service, if you make an appointment within 72 hours of the services being delivered. Non-Participating Air Ambulance Services When you receive Covered Services from a Non-Participating Air Ambulance Provider, your Out-of- Pocket costs will be limited to amounts that would apply if the Covered Service had been furnished by a Participating Air Ambulance Provider. How Cost-Shares Are Calculated Your cost shares for Surprise Billing Claims will be calculated based on the Recognized Amount. Any Out-of-Pocket cost shares you pay to a Non-Participating Provider for either Emergency Services or for Covered Services provided by a Non-Participating Provider at a Participating Facility or for Covered Services provided by a Non-Participating Air Ambulance Service Provider will be applied to your Participating Out-of-Pocket Limit. Appeals If you receive Emergency Services from a Non-Participating Provider, Covered Services from a Non- Participating Provider at a Participating Facility, or Non-Participating Air Ambulance Services and believe those services are covered by the No Surprise Act, you have the right to appeal that claim. If your appeal of a Surprise Billing Claim is denied, then you have a right to appeal the adverse decision to an Independent Review Organization as set out in the “Grievance and External Review Procedures” section of this Benefit Book. Provider Directories Anthem is required to confirm the list of Participating Providers in its Provider Directory every 90 days. If you can show that you received inaccurate information from Anthem that a Provider was Participating on a particular claim, then you will only be liable for Participating cost shares (i.e., Copayments, Deductibles, and/or Coinsurance) for that claim. Your Participating cost-shares will be calculated based upon the Maximum Allowed Amount. Transparency Requirements Anthem provides the following information on its website (i.e., www.anthem.com): Protections with respect to Surprise Billing Claims by Providers, including information on how to contact state and federal agencies if you believe a Provider has violated the No Surprises Act. You may also obtain the following information on Anthem’s website or by calling Member Services at the phone number on the back of your ID card: • Cost sharing information for covered items, services, and drugs , as required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); and • A listing / directory of all Participating Providers.
3 In addition, Anthem will provide access through its website to the following information: • Participating negotiated rates; and • Historical Non-Participating rates. Notice Regarding Retiree-Only Plans If this Plan is issued as part of a retiree-only plan, as defined by ERISA §732(a) and IRC §9831(a)(2), the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 will not apply, including the provisions regarding the No Surprises Act. In a retiree-only plan, Non-Participating Providers may bill you for any charges that exceed the Plan’s Maximum Allowed Amount. Please contact your Employer or former Employer if you are unsure whether your plan is a retiree-only plan.
4 Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Notices Choice of Primary Care Physician The Plan generally allows the designation of a Primary Care Physician (PCP). You have the right to designate any PCP who participates in the Claims Administrator’s network and who is available to accept you or your family members. For information on how to select a PCP, and for a list of PCPs, contact the telephone number on the back of your Identification Card or refer to the Claims Administrator’s website, www.anthem.com. For children, you may designate a pediatrician as the PCP. Access to Obstetrical and Gynecological (ObGyn) Care You do not need prior authorization from the Claims Administrator’s or from any other person (including a PCP) in order to obtain access to obstetrical or gynecological care from a health care professional in the Claims Administrator’s network who specializes in obstetrics or gynecology. The health care professional, however, may be required to comply with certain procedures, including obtaining prior authorization for certain services or following a pre-approved treatment plan. For a list of participating health care professionals who specialize in obstetrics or gynecology, contact the telephone number on the back of your Identification Card or refer to the Claims Administrator’s website, www.anthem.com.
5 Additional Federal Notices Statement of Rights under the Newborns’ and Mother’s Health Protection Act Group health plans and health insurance issuers generally may not, under Federal law, restrict benefits for any Hospital length of stay in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child to less than 48 hours following a vaginal delivery, or less than 96 hours following a cesarean section. However, Federal law generally does not prohibit the mother’s or newborn’s attending Provider, after consulting with the mother, from discharging the mother or her newborn earlier than 48 hours (or 96 hours as applicable). In any case, plans and issuers may not, under Federal law, require that a provider obtain authorization from the Plan or the insurance issuer for prescribing a length of stay not in excess of 48 hours (or 96 hours). Statement of Rights under the Women’s Cancer Rights Act of 1998 If you have had or are going to have a mastectomy, you may be entitled to certain benefits under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA). For individuals receiving mastectomy-related benefits, coverage will be provided in a manner determined in consultation with the attending Physician and the patient, for: • All stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed; • Chest wall reconstruction and aesthetic flat closure (as defined by the National Cancer Institute); • Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; • Prostheses; and • Treatment of physical complications of the mastectomy, including lymphedema. These benefits will be provided subject to the same Deductibles and Coinsurance applicable to other medical and surgical benefits provided under this Plan. (See the “Schedule of Benefits” for details.) If you would like more information on WHCRA benefits, call the Claims Administrator at the number on the back of your Identification Card. Coverage for a Child Due to a Qualified Medical Support Order (“QMCSO”) If you or your spouse are required, due to a QMCSO, to provide coverage for your child(ren), you may ask the Employer to provide you, without charge, a written statement outlining the procedures for getting coverage for such child(ren). Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act provides for parity in the application of aggregate treatment limitations (day or visit limits) on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder benefits with day or visit limits on medical and surgical benefits. In general, group health plans offering Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder benefits cannot set day/visit limits on mental health or substance use disorder benefits that are lower than any such day or visit limits for medical and surgical benefits. A plan that does not impose day or visit limits on medical and surgical benefits may not impose such day or visit limits on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder benefits offered under the Plan. Also, the Plan may not impose Deductibles, Copayment, Coinsurance, and Out-of-Pocket expenses on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the predominant Deductibles, Copayment, Coinsurance and out of pocket expenses applicable to substantially all medical and surgical benefits in the same classification. Medical Necessity criteria are available upon request.
6 Special Enrollment Notice If you are declining enrollment for yourself or your Dependents (including your spouse) because of other health insurance coverage, you may in the future be able to enroll yourself or your Dependents in this Plan if you or your Dependents lose eligibility for that other coverage (or if the employer stops contributing towards your or your Dependents’ other coverage). However, you must request enrollment within 31 days after your or your Dependents’ other coverage ends (or after the employer stops contributing toward the other coverage). In addition, if you have a new Dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and Your Dependents. However, you must request enrollment within 31 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption. Eligible Subscribers and Dependents may also enroll under two additional circumstances: • The Subscriber’s or Dependent’s Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage is terminated as a result of loss of eligibility; or • The Subscriber or Dependent becomes eligible for a subsidy (state premium assistance program). The Subscriber or Dependent must request Special Enrollment within 60 days of the loss of Medicaid/CHIP or of the eligibility determination. To request special enrollment or obtain more information, call the Claims Administrator at the Member Services telephone number on your Identification Card, or contact the Employer.
7 Introduction This Booklet gives you a description of your benefits while you are enrolled under the health care plan (the “Plan”) offered by your Employer. You should read this Booklet carefully to get to know the Plan’s main provisions and keep it handy for reference. A thorough understanding of your coverage will allow you to use your benefits wisely. If you have any questions about the benefits shown in this Booklet, please call the Member Services number on the back of your Identification Card. The Plan benefits described in this Benefit Booklet are for eligible Members only. The health care services are subject to the limitations and Exclusions, Copayments, Deductible, and Coinsurance rules given in this Benefit Booklet. Any group plan or Booklet which you received before will be replaced by this Booklet. Many words used in the Booklet have special meanings (e.g., Employer, Covered Services, and Medical Necessity). These words are capitalized and are defined in the "Definitions" section. See these definitions for the best understanding of what is being stated. Throughout this Booklet you will also see references to “we”, “us”, “our”, “you”, and “your”. The words “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the Claims Administrator or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, subcontractors, or designees. The words “you” and “your” mean the Member, Subscriber and each covered Dependent. If you have any questions about your Plan, please be sure to call Member Services at the number on the back of your Identification Card. Also be sure to check the Claims Administrator’s website, www.anthem.com for details on how to find a Provider, get answers to questions, and access valuable health and wellness tips. Important: This is not an insured benefit Plan. The benefits described in this Booklet or any rider or amendments attached hereto are funded by the Employer who is responsible for their payment. Anthem provides administrative claims payment services only and does not assume any financial risk or obligation with respect to claims. How to Get Language Assistance The Claims Administrator employs a language line interpretation service for use by all of its Member Services call centers. Simply call the Member Services phone number on the back of your Identification Card and a representative will be able to help you. Translation of written materials about your benefits can also be asked for by contacting Member Services. TTY/TDD services also are available by dialing 711. A special operator will get in touch with the Claims Administrator’s to help with your needs.
8 Table of Contents Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice ....................................................................................1 No Surprises Act Requirements ................................................................................................................1 Provider Directories ...................................................................................................................................2 Transparency Requirements .....................................................................................................................2 Notice Regarding Retiree-Only Plans .......................................................................................................3 Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Notices .................................................................4 Choice of Primary Care Physician.............................................................................................................4 Access to Obstetrical and Gynecological (ObGyn) Care ..........................................................................4 Additional Federal Notices.........................................................................................................................5 Statement of Rights under the Newborns’ and Mother’s Health Protection Act........................................5 Statement of Rights under the Women’s Cancer Rights Act of 1998 .......................................................5 Coverage for a Child Due to a Qualified Medical Support Order (“QMCSO”)...........................................5 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act..........................................................................................5 Special Enrollment Notice .........................................................................................................................6 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................7 How to Get Language Assistance .............................................................................................................7 Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................8 Schedule of Benefits.................................................................................................................................13 How Your Plan Works...............................................................................................................................28 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................28 Connect with Us Using Our Mobile App .............................................................................................29 How to Find a Participating Provider .......................................................................................................29 Continuity of Care....................................................................................................................................29 Your Cost-Shares ....................................................................................................................................30 Crediting Prior Plan Coverage.................................................................................................................30 The BlueCard Program............................................................................................................................30 Identification Card....................................................................................................................................30 Getting Approval for Benefits..................................................................................................................31 Reviewing Where Services Are Provided................................................................................................31 Types of Reviews ....................................................................................................................................31 Decision and Notice Requirements .........................................................................................................33 Important Information ..............................................................................................................................34 Health Plan Individual Case Management ..............................................................................................34 What’s Covered .........................................................................................................................................36 Allergy Services.......................................................................................................................................36 Ambulance Services................................................................................................................................36 Important Notes on Air Ambulance Benefits........................................................................................37 Athletic Trainer Services..........................................................................................................................37 Autism Spectrum Disorder Services........................................................................................................37 Behavioral Health Services .....................................................................................................................38 Biomarker Testing Services.....................................................................................................................38 Cardiac Rehabilitation .............................................................................................................................38 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................38 Cellular and Gene Therapy Services ......................................................................................................38 Chemotherapy .........................................................................................................................................38 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................38 Chronic Pain Management Services .......................................................................................................38 Clinical Trials ...........................................................................................................................................39 Dental Services .......................................................................................................................................40
9 Preparing the Mouth for Medical Treatments ......................................................................................40 Treatment of Accidental Injury .............................................................................................................40 Anesthesia and Hospital Charges for Dental Care..............................................................................40 Diabetes Equipment, Education, and Supplies .......................................................................................40 Diagnostic Services .................................................................................................................................41 Diagnostic Laboratory and Pathology Services...................................................................................41 Diagnostic Imaging Services and Electronic Diagnostic Tests............................................................41 Advanced Imaging Services ................................................................................................................41 Dialysis ....................................................................................................................................................41 Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies..................................................41 Orthotics...............................................................................................................................................42 Prosthetics ...........................................................................................................................................42 Prosthetic Limbs & Orthotic Custom Fabricated Brace or Support .....................................................43 Medical and Surgical Supplies.............................................................................................................43 Blood and Blood Products ...................................................................................................................43 Emergency Care Services.......................................................................................................................43 Emergency Services............................................................................................................................43 Gender Affirming Services.......................................................................................................................45 Habilitative Services ................................................................................................................................45 Home Health Care Services....................................................................................................................45 Home Infusion Therapy ...........................................................................................................................46 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................46 Hospice Care...........................................................................................................................................46 Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell) Services, Cellular and Gene Therapy Services...................................................................................................................................................46 Prior Approval and Precertification .................................................................................................47 Infertility Services ....................................................................................................................................48 Inpatient Services ....................................................................................................................................48 Inpatient Hospital Care ........................................................................................................................48 Inpatient Professional Services ...........................................................................................................49 Maternity and Reproductive Health Services ..........................................................................................49 Maternity Services ...............................................................................................................................49 Contraceptive Benefits.........................................................................................................................50 Sterilization Services............................................................................................................................51 Infertility Services.................................................................................................................................51 Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services ............................................................................51 Occupational Therapy .............................................................................................................................51 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................51 Orthotics ..................................................................................................................................................52 Outpatient Facility Services.....................................................................................................................52 Physical Therapy .....................................................................................................................................52 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................52 Preventive Care.......................................................................................................................................52 Preventive Care for Chronic Conditions (per IRS guidelines) .................................................................54 Prosthetics...............................................................................................................................................54 Pulmonary Therapy .................................................................................................................................54 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................54 Radiation Therapy ...................................................................................................................................54 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................54 Rehabilitation Services............................................................................................................................54 Respiratory Therapy ................................................................................................................................55 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................55 Skilled Nursing Facility ............................................................................................................................55 Smoking Cessation..................................................................................................................................55 Speech Therapy ......................................................................................................................................55 Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. ...............................................................................55
10 Surgery ....................................................................................................................................................55 Oral Surgery.........................................................................................................................................55 Reconstructive Surgery........................................................................................................................56 Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and Craniomandibular Joint Services .................................................56 Therapy Services.....................................................................................................................................56 Physical Medicine Therapy Services ...................................................................................................56 Other Therapy Services.......................................................................................................................57 Transplant Services.................................................................................................................................57 Urgent Care Services ..............................................................................................................................57 Virtual Visits (Telemedicine / Telehealth Visits) ......................................................................................58 If you have any questions about this coverage, please contact Member Services at the number on the back of your Identification Card...............................................................................................................58 Routine Eye Exam ...............................................................................................................................58 Frames.................................................................................................................................................59 Contact Lenses ....................................................................................................................................59 Vision Services for Members Age 19 and Older .....................................................................................59 Routine Eye Exam ...............................................................................................................................59 Vision Services (All Members / All Ages) ................................................................................................59 Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider .....................................................................60 Important Details About Prescription Drug Coverage..........................................................................60 What’s Not Covered ..................................................................................................................................62 EXPERIMENTAL OR INVESTIGATIONAL SERVICES EXCLUSION ................................................68 Claims Payment ........................................................................................................................................70 Maximum Allowed Amount......................................................................................................................70 General ................................................................................................................................................70 Claims Review.........................................................................................................................................72 Time Benefits Payable.............................................................................................................................73 Member’s Cooperation ............................................................................................................................73 Payment of Benefits ................................................................................................................................74 Inter-Plan Arrangements .........................................................................................................................74 Out-of-Area Services ...........................................................................................................................74 Coordination of Benefits When Members Are Covered Under More Than One Plan ........................77 Subrogation and Reimbursement ...........................................................................................................82 Your Right To Appeal ...............................................................................................................................86 Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination ................................................................................................86 Appeals....................................................................................................................................................87 How Your Appeal will be Decided........................................................................................................88 Notification of the Outcome of the Appeal ...........................................................................................88 Appeal Denial.......................................................................................................................................88 Voluntary Second Level Appeals.........................................................................................................88 External Review...................................................................................................................................89 Requirement to file an Appeal before filing a lawsuit...........................................................................89 Prescription Drug List Exceptions........................................................................................................90 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members........................................................................................91 Who is Eligible for Coverage ...................................................................................................................91 The Subscriber.....................................................................................................................................91 Dependents..........................................................................................................................................91 Types of Coverage...............................................................................................................................92 When You Can Enroll..............................................................................................................................92 Initial Enrollment ..................................................................................................................................92 Special Enrollment Periods..................................................................................................................92 Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Special Enrollment ............................................93 Late Enrollees ......................................................................................................................................93
11 Members Covered Under the Employer’s Prior Plan...........................................................................93 Enrolling Dependent Children .................................................................................................................93 Newborn Children ................................................................................................................................93 Adopted Children .................................................................................................................................94 Adding a Child due to Award of Legal Custody or Guardianship ........................................................94 Qualified Medical Child Support Order ................................................................................................94 Updating Coverage and/or Removing Dependents ................................................................................95 Nondiscrimination ....................................................................................................................................95 Statements and Forms ............................................................................................................................95 Termination and Continuation of Coverage ...........................................................................................96 Termination..............................................................................................................................................96 Removal of Members ..............................................................................................................................96 Continuation of Coverage Under Federal Law (COBRA)........................................................................97 Qualifying events for Continuation Coverage under Federal Law (COBRA).......................................97 If Your Employer Offers Retirement Coverage....................................................................................98 Second qualifying event.......................................................................................................................98 Notification Requirements....................................................................................................................98 Disability extension of 18-month period of continuation coverage ......................................................99 Trade Adjustment Act Eligible Individual .............................................................................................99 When COBRA Coverage Ends............................................................................................................99 Other coverage options besides COBRA Continuation Coverage ......................................................99 If You Have Questions.........................................................................................................................99 Indiana Public Employee Continuation of Coverage.............................................................................100 Continuation of Coverage Due To Military Service ...............................................................................100 Maximum Period of Coverage During a Military Leave .....................................................................100 Reinstatement of Coverage Following a Military Leave ....................................................................100 Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 .................................................................................................101 General Provisions .................................................................................................................................102 Care Coordination .................................................................................................................................102 Clerical Error..........................................................................................................................................102 Confidentiality and Release of Information............................................................................................102 Conformity with Law ..............................................................................................................................102 Contract with Anthem ............................................................................................................................102 Employer’s Sole Discretion....................................................................................................................103 Form or Content of Booklet ...................................................................................................................103 Government Programs ..........................................................................................................................103 Medical Policy and Technology Assessment ........................................................................................103 Medicare................................................................................................................................................103 Member Rights and Responsibilities .....................................................................................................104 Modifications..........................................................................................................................................104 Not Liable for Provider Acts or Omissions.............................................................................................104 Payment Innovation Programs ..............................................................................................................104 Policies, Procedures and Pilot Programs ..............................................................................................105 Program Incentives................................................................................................................................105 Relationship of Parties (Employer-Member-Anthem)............................................................................105 Relationship of Parties (Anthem and Participating Providers) ..............................................................106 Reservation of Discretionary Authority ..................................................................................................106 Right of Recovery and Adjustment........................................................................................................106 Unauthorized Use of Identification Card................................................................................................107 Value-Added Programs .........................................................................................................................107 Value of Covered Services....................................................................................................................107 Voluntary Clinical Quality Programs......................................................................................................107 Voluntary Wellness Incentive Programs................................................................................................107 Waiver....................................................................................................................................................108 Workers’ Compensation ........................................................................................................................108
12 Definitions................................................................................................................................................109
13 Schedule of Benefits In this section you will find an outline of the benefits included in your Plan and a summary of any Deductibles, Coinsurance, and Copayments that you must pay. Also listed are any Benefit Period Maximums or limits that apply. Please read the "What’s Covered" and Prescription Drugs section(s) for more details on the Plan’s Covered Services. Read the “What’s Not Covered” section for details on Excluded Services. All Covered Services are subject to the conditions, Exclusions, limitations, and terms of this Booklet including any endorsements, amendments, or riders. Benefits for Covered Services are based on the Maximum Allowed Amount, which is the most the Plan will allow for a Covered Service. Except for Surprise Billing Claims, if you use a Participating Provider, you will only have to pay applicable Deductibles, Coinsurance, and/or Copayments for Covered Services. However, if you use a Non-Participating Provider you may also have to pay the difference between the Non-Participating Provider’s billed charge and the Maximum Allowed Amount in addition to any Deductibles, Coinsurance, Copayments and non-covered charges. This amount can be substantial. Please read the “Claims Payment” section for more details. Deductibles, Coinsurance, and Benefit Period Maximums are calculated based upon the Maximum Allowed Amount, not the Provider’s billed charges. Essential Health Benefits provided within this Booklet are not subject to lifetime or annual dollar maximums. Certain non-essential health benefits, however, are subject to either a lifetime and/or dollar maximum. Essential Health Benefits are defined by federal law and refer to benefits in at least the following categories: • Ambulatory patient services, • Emergency services, • Hospitalization, • Maternity and newborn care, • Mental health and Substance Use Disorder Services, including behavioral health treatment, • Prescription drugs, • Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, • Laboratory services, • Preventive and wellness services, and • Chronic disease management and pediatric services, including oral and vision care. Such benefits shall be consistent with those set forth under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and any regulations issued pursuant thereto. Benefit Period Calendar Year Dependent Age Limit To the end of the month in which the child attains age 26. Deductible Participating Per Member $400
14 Per Family –All other Members combined $1,200 When the Deductible applies, you must pay it before benefits begin. See the sections below to find out when the Deductible applies. Copayments and Coinsurance are separate from and do not apply to the Deductible. Any amounts applied to the Deductible for costs you pay during the last three months of the Benefit Period will also apply to the next Benefit Period’s Deductible. Coinsurance Participating Plan Pays 80% Member Pays 20% Reminder: Except for Surprise Billing Claims, your Coinsurance will be based on the Maximum Allowed Amount. If you use an approved Non-Participating Provider, you may have to pay Coinsurance plus the difference between the Non-Participating Provider’s billed charge and the Maximum Allowed Amount. Note: The Coinsurance listed above may not apply to all benefits, and some benefits may have a different Coinsurance. Please see the rest of this Schedule for details. Out-of-Pocket Limit Participating Per Member $1,500 Per Family - All other Members combined $5,600 The Out-of-Pocket Limit includes all Deductibles, Coinsurance, and Copayments you pay during a Benefit Period unless otherwise indicated below. It does not include charges over the Maximum Allowed Amount or amounts you pay for non-Covered Services. The Out-of-Pocket Limit does not include amounts you pay for following benefits: • Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services from a Non-Participating Provider. No one person covered under a family plan will pay more than their individual Out-of-Pocket Limit. Once the Out-of- Pocket Limit is satisfied, you will not have to pay any additional Deductibles, Coinsurance, or Copayments for the rest of the Benefit Perio, except for the services listed above. Important Notice about Your Cost Shares In certain cases, if a Provider is paid amounts that are your responsibility, such as Deductibles, Copayments or Coinsurance, such amounts may be collected directly from you. You agree that the Claims Administrator, on behalf of the Employer, has the right to collect such amounts from you.
15 The tables below outline the Plan’s Covered Services and the cost share(s) you must pay. In many spots you will see the statement, “Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received.” In these cases you should determine where you will receive the service (i.e., in a doctor’s office, at an outpatient hospital facility, etc.) and look up that location to find out which cost share will apply. For example, you might get physical therapy in a Doctor’s office, an Outpatient Hospital Facility, or during an Inpatient Hospital stay. For services in the office, look up “Office and Home Visits.” For services in the Outpatient department of a Hospital, look up “Outpatient Facility Services.” For services during an Inpatient stay, look up “Inpatient Services.” Benefits Allergy Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Ambulance Services (Ground, Air, and Water) Emergency Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Ambulance Services (Ground, Air, and Water) Non-Emergency Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Important Note: All scheduled ground ambulance services for non-Emergency transfers, except transfers from one acute Facility to another, must be approved through precertification. Please see “Getting Approval for Benefits” for details. Autism Spectrum Disorders Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Behavioral Health Services Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services are covered as required by state and federal law. Please see the rest of this Schedule for the cost shares that apply in each setting. Cardiac Rehabilitation See “Therapy Services.” Cellular and Gene Therapy Services Precertification required See the “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services” section later in this Schedule. Chemotherapy See “Therapy Services.” Chronic Pain Management Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received.
16 Benefits Clinical Trials Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Dental Services (Limited to services for accidental injury, or to prepare the mouth for certain medical treatments) Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Diabetes Equipment, Education, and Supplies Screenings for gestational diabetes are covered under “Preventive Care.” Benefits for diabetic education are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Diagnostic Services • Reference Labs 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • All Other Diagnostic Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Dialysis See “Therapy Services.” Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies • Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Medical Devices 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Orthotics 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Prosthetics 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Medical and Surgical Supplies 20% Coinsurance after Deductible The cost-shares listed above apply when your Provider submits separate bills for the equipment or supplies. Prosthetic limbs (artificial leg or arm) or an Orthotic custom fabricated brace or support designed as a component for a Prosthetic limb are covered the same as any other Medically Necessary items and services and will be subject to the same annual Deductible, Coinsurance, and Copayment as any other service under this Plan. • Wigs Needed After Cancer Treatment Benefit Maximum One wig per Benefit Period
17 Benefits The Plan’s reimbursement for durable medical equipment, orthotics, prosthetics, devices and supplies, and wigs will be based on the Maximum Allowed Amount for a standard item that is Medically Necessary to meet your needs. If you choose to purchase an item with features that exceed what is Medically Necessary, benefits will be limited to the Maximum Allowed Amount for the standard item, and you will be required to pay any costs that exceed the Maximum Allowed Amount. Please check with your Provider or contact us if you have questions about the Maximum Allowed Amount. Emergency Room Services Emergency Room • Emergency Room Facility Charge $200 Copayment per visit then 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Copayment waived if admitted • Emergency Room Doctor Charge (ER physician, radiologist, anesthesiologist, surgeon) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Emergency Room Doctor Charge (Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Facility Charges (including diagnostic x- ray and lab services, medical supplies) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (including MRIs, CAT scans) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible As described in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet, for Emergency Services, Non-Participating Providers may only bill you for any applicable Copayments, Deductible and Coinsurance and may not bill you for any charges over the Plan’s Maximum Allowed Amount until the treating Non-Participating Provider has determined you are stable and followed the notice and consent process. Please refer to the Notice at the beginning of this Booklet for more details. Gender Affirming Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Precertification required for Inpatient Services Habilitative Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. See “Therapy Services” for details on Benefit Maximums. Home Health Care
18 Benefits • Home Health Care Visits from a Home Health Care Agency (Including intermittent skilled nursing services) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Home Dialysis 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Home Infusion Therapy / Chemotherapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Specialty Prescription Drugs for Infusion / Injection – Other than Chemotherapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Home Health Care Services / Supplies 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Private Duty Nursing (Including continuous complex skilled nursing services) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Home Health Care Benefit Maximum Unlimited Home Infusion Therapy See “Home Health Care.” Hospice Care • Home Hospice Care 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Bereavement 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Inpatient Hospice 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Outpatient Hospice 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Respite Care 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Non-Participating Providers may also bill you for any charges over the Plan’s Maximum Allowed Amount. Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell) Services Please see the separate summary later in this section. Inpatient Services Facility Room & Board Charge: • Hospital / Acute Care Facility 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Skilled Nursing Facility 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Rehabilitation 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Skilled Nursing Facility/ Rehabilitation Services (Includes Services in an Outpatient Day Rehabilitation Program) Benefit Maximum Unlimited • Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Facility 20% Coinsurance after Deductible
19 Benefits • Residential Treatment Center 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Ancillary Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Doctor Services when billed separately from the Facility for: • General Medical Care / Evaluation and Management (E&M) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Surgery 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Maternity 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Maternity and Reproductive Health Services • Maternity Visits (Global fee for the ObGyn’s prenatal, postnatal, and delivery services) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Inpatient Facility Services (Delivery) See “Inpatient Services” Newborn / Maternity Stays: If the newborn needs services other than routine nursery care or stays in the Hospital after the mother is discharged (sent home), benefits for the newborn will be treated as a separate admission. • Infertility Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services are covered as required by state and federal law. Please see the rest of this Schedule for the cost shares that apply in each setting. Occupational Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Office and Home* Visits *Home visits are not the same as Home Health Care. For Home Health Care benefits please see the "Home Health Care" section. Important Note on Office Visits at an Outpatient Facility: If you have an office visit with your PCP or SCP at an Outpatient Facility (e.g., Hospital or Ambulatory Surgery Center), benefits for Covered Services will be paid under the “Outpatient Facility Services” section later in this Schedule. Please refer to that section for details on the cost shares (e.g., Deductibles, Copayments, Coinsurance) that will apply. • Primary Care Physician / Provider (PCP) (Including In-Person and/or Virtual Visits) Includes Ob/Gyn 20% Coinsurance after Deductible
20 Benefits • Additional Telehealth/Telemedicine Services from a Primary Care Provider (PCP) (as required by law) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Provider 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Specialty Care Physician / Provider (SCP) (Including SCP Online Visits) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Additional Telehealth/Telemedicine Services from a Specialty Care Provider (SCP) (as required by law) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Retail Health Clinic Visit 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Counseling- includes Family Planning and Nutritional Counseling (Other than Eating Disorders) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Nutritional Counseling for Eating Disorders 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Allergy Testing 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Shots / Injections (other than allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic Lab (other than reference labs) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic X-ray 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Diagnostic Tests ; including Hearing and EKG) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (including MRIs, CAT scans) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Office Surgery (including anesthesia) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Therapy Services: - Chiropractic / Osteopathic / Manipulative Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Physical Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Speech Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Occupational Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Dialysis 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Radiation / Chemotherapy / Respiratory Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Cardiac Rehabilitation 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Pulmonary Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible See “Therapy Services” for details on Benefit Maximums. • Prescription Drugs Administered in the Office (includes allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible
21 Benefits Orthotics See “Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies.” Outpatient Facility Services • Facility Surgery Charge 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Facility Surgery Lab 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Facility Surgery X-ray 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Ancillary Services 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Doctor Surgery Charges 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Doctor Charges (including Anesthesiologist, Pathologist, Radiologist, Surgical Assistant) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Facility Charges (for procedure rooms) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Facility Services (Partial Hospitalization Program / Intensive Outpatient Program) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Facility Provider Services (e.g., Doctor and other professional Providers in a Partial Hospitalization Program / Intensive Outpatient Program) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Shots / Injections (other than allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Allergy Shots / Injections (including allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic Lab 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic X-ray 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Diagnostic Tests: Hearing, EKG, EEG, etc. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (including MRIs, CAT scans) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Therapy: Chiropractic / Osteopathic / Manipulative Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Physical Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Speech Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible
22 Benefits - Occupational Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Radiation / Chemotherapy / Respiratory Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Dialysis 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Cardiac Rehabilitation 20% Coinsurance after Deductible - Pulmonary Therapy 20% Coinsurance after Deductible See “Therapy Services” for details on Benefit Maximums. • Prescription Drugs Administered in an Outpatient Facility (other than allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Physical Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Preventive Care No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance Preventive Care for Chronic Conditions (per IRS guidelines) • Medical items, equipment and screenings No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance Please see the “What’s Covered” section for additional detail on IRS guidelines. Prosthetics See “Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices and Supplies.” Pulmonary Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Radiation Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Rehabilitation Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. See “Inpatient Services” and “Therapy Services” for details on Benefit Maximums. Respiratory Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Skilled Nursing Facility See “Inpatient Services.”
23 Benefits Speech Therapy See “Therapy Services.” Surgery Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Temporomandibular and Craniomandibular Joint Treatment Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Therapy Services Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Benefit Maximum(s): • Physical Therapy 60 visits per Benefit Period • Occupational Therapy 60 visits per Benefit Period • Speech Therapy 60 visits per Benefit Period • Manipulation Therapy 24 visits per Benefit Period • Cardiac Rehabilitation 36 visits per Benefit Period • Pulmonary Rehabilitation 20 visits per Benefit Period The limits for physical, occupational, and speech therapy will not apply if you get care as part of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder benefit. Note: The limits for physical, occupational, and speech therapy will not apply if you get that care as part of the Hospice benefit. Note: If pulmonary rehabilitation is given as part of Physical Therapy, the Physical Therapy limit will apply instead of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation limit. Note: When you get physical, occupational, speech therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehabilitation in the home, the Home Care Visit limit will apply instead of the Therapy Services limits listed above. Transplant Services See “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell) Services.” Urgent Care Services (Office & Home* Visits) *Home visits are not the same as Home Health Care. For Home Health Care benefits please see the "Home Health Care" section.
24 Benefits • Urgent Care Visit Charge 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Allergy Testing 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Shots / Injections (other than allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Allergy Shots / Injections (including allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic Labs (i.e., other than reference labs) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Diagnostic x-ray 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Other Diagnostic Tests (including hearing and EKG) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (including MRIs, CAT scans) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Office Surgery (including anesthesia) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Prescription Drugs Administered in the Office (includes allergy serum) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible Note: If you get urgent care at a Hospital or other outpatient Facility, please refer to “Outpatient Facility Services” for details on what you will pay. Virtual Visits (from Virtual Care Only Providers) Virtual Care-Only Providers through our mobile app and website: • Virtual Visits including Primary Care from Virtual Care-Only Providers (Medical Services) From In-Network Virtual Care-Only Providers including KChat: No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance From In-Network Virtual Care-Only Providers including LiveHealth Online: 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Virtual Visits from Virtual Care-Only Providers (Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible • Virtual Visits from Virtual Care-Only Providers (Specialty Care Services) 20% Coinsurance after Deductible If Preventive Care is provided during a Virtual Visit, it will be covered under the “Preventive Care” benefit, as required by law. Please refer to that section for details.
25 Benefits Vision Services For Members to the End of the Month in Which They Turn Age 19 Note: To get the In-Network benefit, you must use an In-Network vision Provider. If you need help finding an In-Network vision Provider, please call us at the number on the back of your ID card. • Routine Eye Exam Available once per Member every Benefit Period $0 Copayment Deductible Does not Apply $0 Copayment up to the Plan’s Maximum Allowed Amount Vision Services For Members Age 19 and Older Note: To get the In-Network benefit, you must use an In-Network vision Provider. If you need help finding an In-Network vision Provider, please call us at the number on the back of your ID card. • Routine Eye Exam Available once per Member every Benefit Period $0 Copayment Deductible Does not Apply Reimbursed up to $42 Vision Services (For medical and surgical treatment of injuries and/or diseases of the eye) Certain vision screenings required by Federal law are covered under the "Preventive Care" benefit. Benefits are based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services Please call our Transplant Department as soon as you think you may need a Covered Procedure to talk about your benefit options. To get the Participating Level of benefits under your Plan, you must get certain Covered Procedures from an Approved Participating Provider. Even if a Hospital is an Participating Provider for other services, it may not be an Approved Participating Provider for certain Covered Procedures. Please see the “What’s Covered” section for further details. The requirements described below do not apply to the following: • Cornea transplants, which are covered as any other surgery; and • Any Covered Services related to a Covered Procedure that you get before or after the Benefit Period.
26 Benefits Benefits for Covered Services that are not part of the Covered Procedure will be based on the setting in which Covered Services are received. Please see the “What’s Covered” section for additional details. Approved Participating Provider All Other Providers Covered Procedure Benefit Period The number of days or the applicable case rate / global time period will vary depending on the type of Covered Procedure and the Approved Participating Provider agreement. Before and after the Covered Procedure Benefit Period, Covered Services will be covered as Inpatient Services, Outpatient Services, Home Visits, or Office Visits depending on where the service is performed. Not applicable – There is no unique Benefit Period for services from All Other Providers Inpatient Facility Services • Precertification required No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. Inpatient Professional and Ancillary (non- Hospital) Services No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. Outpatient Facility Services • Precertification required No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit.
27 Approved Participating Provider All Other Providers Outpatient Facility Professional and Ancillary (non-Hospital) Services No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. Travel Expenses • Transportation and Lodging Limit Covered, as approved by us, up to $10,000 per Benefit Period Participating only. Benefits are not available from All Other Providers. Unrelated donor searches from an authorized, licensed registry for bone marrow/stem cell transplants for a Covered Human Organ or Tissue Transplant Procedure No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. • Donor Search Limit Covered, as approved by us, up to $30,000 per transplant. Live Donor Health Services • Inpatient Facility Services No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. • Outpatient Facility Services No Copayment, Deductible, or Coinsurance. 20% Coinsurance after Deductible. These charges will NOT apply to your Out-of- Pocket Limit. Donor Health Service Limit For Human Organ and Tissue Transplants, Medically Necessary charges for getting an organ from a live donor are covered up to our Maximum Allowed Amount, including complications from the donor procedure for up to six weeks from the date of procurement.
28 How Your Plan Works Introduction Your Plan is an indemnity plan. If you choose to receive Covered Services from a Participating Provider, you will only have to pay applicable Deductibles, Coinsurance, and/or Copayments, as described in the “Schedule of Benefits.” If you choose to receive Covered Services from a Non-Participating Provider, you may also have to pay the difference between the Non-Participating Provider’s billed charge and the Maximum Allowed Amount. Please see the “Claims Payment” section for additional details. To find a Participating Provider for this Plan, please see “How to Find a Provider in the Network,” later in this section. Getting Medical Care When you need to see a Doctor, call their office: • Tell them you are an Anthem Member, • Have your Member Identification Card handy. The Doctor’s office may ask you for your group or Member ID number. • Tell them the reason for your visit. When you go to the office, be sure to bring your Member Identification Card with you. The Plan has complete authority to determine the Medical Necessity of Covered Services. If you disagree with the Plan’s determination, you have the right to file an appeal as described in the Grievance and External Review Procedures” section. You should work with your Doctor or other professional Providers, Hospitals and other facility Providers to: • Obtain any Precertification when it is required; and • File claims. Please see the “Getting Approval for Benefits” and “Claims Payment” sections for further details. After Hours Care If you need care after normal business hours, your Doctor may have several options for you. You should call your Doctor’s office for instructions if you need care in the evenings, on weekends, or during the holidays and cannot wait until the office reopens. If you have an Emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Surprise Billing Claims Surprise Billing Claims are described in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the beginning of this Booklet. Please refer to that section for further details.
29 Connect with Us Using Our Mobile App As soon as you enroll in this Plan, you should download our mobile app. You can find details on how to do this on our website, www.anthem.com. Our goal is to make it easy for you to find answers to your questions. You can chat with us live in the app. How to Find a Participating Provider There are several ways you can find out if a Provider or Facility is in the network for this Plan. You can also find out where they are located and details about their license or training. • See your Plan’s directory of Participating Providers at www.anthem.com, which lists the Doctors, Providers, and Facilities that are Participating Providers for this Plan. • Search for a Provider in our mobile app. • Contact Member Services to ask for a list of Doctors and Providers that participate in this Plan’s network, based on specialty and geographic area. Member Services can help you determine the Provider’s name, address, telephone number, professional qualifications, specialty, medical school attended, and board certifications. • Check with your Doctor or Provider. Please note that not all Participating Providers offer all services. For example, when you need Outpatient lab services, some Hospital-based labs are not part of the Plan’s Reference Lab Network. In those cases you will have to go to a lab in the Plan’s Reference Lab Network to get Participating benefits. Please call Member Services before you get services for more information. If you need details about a Provider’s license or training, or help choosing a Doctor who is right for you, call the Member Services number on the back of your Member Identification Card. TTY/TDD services also are available by dialing 711. A special operator will get in touch with the Claims Administrator to help with your needs. Continuity of Care If your Participating Provider leaves our network for any reason other than termination for cause, retirement or death, and you are in active treatment, you may be able to continue seeing that Provider for a limited period of time and still get Participating benefits. “Active treatment” includes: 1) An ongoing course of treatment for a life-threatening condition, 2) An ongoing course of treatment for a serious acute condition (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy and post-operative visits), including chronic illness or condition that is degenerative, potentially disabling, or congenital and requires specialized medical care over a prolonged period of time, 3) An ongoing course of treatment for pregnancy and through the postpartum period, 4) A scheduled non-elective surgery from the Provider, including receipt of postoperative care from such Provider or Facility with respect to such a surgery, 5) An ongoing course of treatment for a health condition for which the Physician or health care Provider attests that discontinuing care by the current Physician or Provider would worsen your condition or interfere with anticipated outcomes, or 6) Continuing care benefits for Members undergoing a course of institutional or Inpatient care from the Provider or Facility and/or determined to be terminally ill and is receiving treatment for such illness from such Provider or Facility. An “ongoing course of treatment” includes treatments for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.
30 In these cases, you may be able to continue seeing that Provider until treatment is complete, or for 90 days, whichever is shorter. If you wish to continue seeing the same Provider, you or your Doctor should contact Member Services for details. Any decision by us regarding a request for Continuity of Care is subject to the Grievance and External Review Procedures process. Your Cost-Shares Your Plan may involve Copayments, Deductibles, and/or Coinsurance, which are charges that you must pay when receiving Covered Services. Your Plan may also have an Out-of-Pocket Limit, which limits the cost-shares you must pay. Please read the “Schedule of Benefits” for details on your cost-shares. Also read the “Definitions” section for a better understanding of each type of cost share. Crediting Prior Plan Coverage If you were covered by the Employer’s prior carrier / plan immediately before the Employer signs up with the Plan, with no break in coverage, then you will get credit for any accrued Deductible amounts under that other plan. This does not apply to people who were not covered by the prior carrier or plan on the day before the Employer’s coverage with the Plan began, or to people who join the Employer later. If your Employer moves from one of the plans to another, (for example, changes its coverage from HMO to PPO), and you were covered by the other product immediately before enrolling in this product with no break in coverage, then you may get credit for any accrued Deductible and Out-of-Pocket amounts, if applicable and approved by the Plan. Any maximums, when applicable, will be carried over and charged against the maximums under this Plan. If your Employer offers more than one of the Plan’s products, and you change from one product to another with no break in coverage, you will get credit for any accrued Deductible and, if applicable, Out- of-Pocket amounts and any maximums will be carried over and charged against maximums under this Plan. If your Employer offers coverage through other products or carriers in addition to the Plan’s, and you change products or carriers to enroll in this product with no break in coverage, you will get credit for any accrued Deductible, under this Plan. This Section Does Not Apply To You If: • Your Employer moves to this Plan at the beginning of a Benefit Period; • You change from one of the Plan’s individual policies to a group plan; • You change employers; or • You are a new Member who joins the Employer after the Employer's initial enrollment with the Plan. The BlueCard Program Like all Blue Cross & Blue Shield plans throughout the country, the Plan participates in a program called "BlueCard" which provides services to you when you are outside the Plan’s Service Area. For more details on this program, please see “Inter-Plan Arrangements” in the “Claims Payment” section. Identification Card The Plan will give an Identification Card to each Member enrolled in the Plan. When you get care, you must show your Identification Card. Only covered Members have the right to services or benefits under this Booklet. If anyone gets services or benefits to which they are not entitled to under the terms of this Booklet, he/she must pay for the actual cost of the services.
31 Getting Approval for Benefits Your Plan includes the process of Utilization Review to decide when services are Medically Necessary or Experimental/Investigational as those terms are defined in this Booklet. Utilization Review aids the delivery of cost-effective health care by reviewing the use of treatments and, when proper, level of care and/or the setting or place of service that they are performed. Reviewing Where Services Are Provided A service must be Medically Necessary to be a Covered Service. When level of care, setting or place of service is reviewed, services that can be safely given to you in a lower level of care or lower cost setting / place of care, will not be Medically Necessary if they are given in a higher level of care, or higher cost setting / place of care. This means that a request for a service may be denied because it is not Medically Necessary for the service to be provided where it is being requested. When this happens the service can be requested again in another place and will be reviewed again for Medical Necessity. At times a different Provider or Facility may need to be used in order for the service to be considered Medically Necessary. Examples include, but are not limited to: • A service may be denied on an inpatient basis at a Hospital but may be approvable if provided on an outpatient basis at a Hospital. • A service may be denied on an outpatient basis at a Hospital but may be approvable at a free standing imaging center, infusion center, Ambulatory Surgery Center, or in a Physician’s office. • A service may be denied at a Skilled Nursing Facility but may be approvable in a home setting. Utilization Review criteria will be based on many sources including medical policy and clinical guidelines. Anthem, on behalf of the Employer, may decide that a treatment that was asked for is not Medically Necessary if a clinically equivalent treatment that is more cost effective is available and appropriate. “Clinically equivalent” means treatments that for most Members, will give you similar results for a disease or condition. If you have any questions about the Utilization Review process, the medical policies, or clinical guidelines, you may call the Member Services phone number on the back of your Identification Card. Coverage for or payment of the service or treatment reviewed is not guaranteed even if it is decided your services are Medically Necessary. For benefits to be covered, on the date you get service: 1. You must be eligible for benefits; 2. Fees must be paid for the time period that services are given; 3. The service or supply must be a Covered Service under your Plan; 4. The service cannot be subject to an Exclusion under your Plan; and 5. You must not have exceeded any applicable limits under your Plan. Types of Reviews • Pre-service Review – A review of a service, treatment or admission for a benefit coverage determination, which is done before the service or treatment begins or admission date. • Precertification – A required Pre-service Review for a benefit coverage determination for a service or treatment. Certain services require Precertification in order for you to get benefits. The benefit coverage review will include a review to decide whether the service meets the definition of Medical Necessity or is Experimental / Investigational as those terms are defined in this Booklet.
32 For admissions following Emergency Care, you, your authorized representative or Doctor must tell us of the admission as soon as possible. For childbirth admissions, Precertification is not needed unless there is a problem and/or the mother and baby are not sent home at the same time. Precertification is not required for the first 48 hours for a vaginal delivery or 96 hours for a cesarean section. Admissions longer than 48/96 hours require precertification. • Continued Stay / Concurrent Review - A Utilization Review of a service, treatment or admission for a benefit coverage determination which must be done during an ongoing stay in a facility or course of treatment. Both Pre-Service and Continued Stay / Concurrent Reviews may be considered urgent when, in the view of the treating Provider or any Doctor with knowledge of your medical condition, without such care or treatment, your life or health or your ability to regain maximum function could be seriously threatened or you could be subjected to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without such care or treatment. Urgent reviews are conducted under a shorter timeframe than standard reviews. • Post-service Review – A review of a service, treatment or admission for a benefit coverage determination that is conducted after the service has been provided. Post-service reviews are performed when a service, treatment or admission did not need a Precertification, or when a needed Precertification was not obtained. Post-service reviews are done for a service, treatment or admission in which the Claims Administrator has a related clinical coverage guideline and are typically initiated by the Claims Administrator. Who is Responsible for Precertification? Typically, Participating Providers know which services need Precertification and will get any Precertification when needed. Your Primary Care Physician and other Participating Providers have been given detailed information about these procedures and are responsible for meeting these requirements. Generally, the ordering Provider, Facility or attending Doctor (“requesting Provider”) will get in touch with the Claims Administrator to ask for a Precertification. However, you may request a Precertification or you may choose an authorized representative to act on your behalf for a specific request. The authorized representative can be anyone who is 18 years of age or older. The table below outlines who is responsible for Precertification and under what circumstances. Provider Network Status Responsibility to Get Precertification Comments Participating Provider • The Provider must get Precertification when required Non-Participating Member • Member must get Precertification when required. (Call Member Services.) • Member may be financially responsible for charges/costs related to the service and/or setting in whole or in part if the service and / or setting is found to not be Medically Necessary. Blue Card Provider Member (Except for Inpatient Admissions) • Member must get Precertification when required. (Call Member Services.) • Member may be financially responsible for charges/costs related to the service and/or setting in whole or in part if the service and / or setting is found to not be Medically Necessary.
33 Provider Network Status Responsibility to Get Precertification Comments • Blue Card Providers must obtain precertification for all Inpatient Admissions. NOTE: For an Emergency Care admission, precertification is not required. However, you, your authorized representative or Doctor must tell us of the admission as soon as possible. How Decisions are Made The Claims Administrator will use its clinical coverage guidelines, such as medical policy, clinical guidelines, and other applicable policies and procedures to help make Medical Necessity decisions. This includes decisions about Prescription Drugs as detailed in the section “Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider”. Medical policies and clinical guidelines reflect the standards of practice and medical interventions identified as proper medical practice. We reserve the right, on behalf of the Employer, to review and update these clinical coverage guidelines from time to time. You are entitled to ask for and get, free of charge, reasonable access to any records concerning your request. To ask for this information, call the Precertification phone number on the back of your Identification Card. If you are not satisfied with the decision under this section of your benefits, please refer to the “Your Right To Appeal” section to see what rights may be available to you. Decision and Notice Requirements The Claims Administrator will review requests for benefits according to the timeframes listed below. The timeframes and requirements listed are based on federal laws. If you live in and/or get services in a state other than the state where your Plan was issued other state-specific requirements may apply. You may call the phone number on the back of your Identification Card for more details. The Claims Administrator will accept a request for Pre-service Reviews sent to the Plan by your provider through secure electronic submission. Type of Review Timeframe Requirement for Decision and Notification Urgent Pre-service Review 72 hours or 2 business days from the receipt of request whichever is less Non-Urgent Pre-service Review 2 business days from the receipt of request Urgent Continued/Concurrent Stay Review when request is received more than 24 hours before the end of the previous authorization 24 hours from the receipt of the request Urgent Continued/Concurrent Stay Review when request is received less than 24 hours before the end of the previous authorization or no previous authorization exists 72 hours from the receipt of the request or 2 business days from the receipt of request whichever is less
34 Type of Review Timeframe Requirement for Decision and Notification Non-urgent Continued/Concurrent Stay Review for ongoing outpatient treatment 2 business days from the receipt of request Post-Service Review 2 business days from the receipt of request If more information is needed to make the Claims Administrator’s decision, the Claims Administrator will tell the requesting Provider of the specific information needed to finish the review. If the Claims Administrator does not get the specific information it needs by the required timeframe, the Claims Administrator will make a decision based upon the information the Claims Administrator has. The Claims Administrator will notify you and your Provider of its decision as required by state and federal law. Notice may be given by one or more of the following methods: verbal, written, and/or electronic. Important Information On behalf of the Employer, Anthem from time to time certain medical management processes (including utilization management, case management, and disease management) may be waived, enhanced, changed or ended. An alternate benefit may be offered if in our discretion, such change furthers the provision of cost effective, value based and/or quality services. Certain qualifying Providers may be selected to take part in a program or a Provider arrangement that exempts them from certain procedural or medical management processes that would otherwise apply. Your claim may also be exempted from medical review if certain conditions apply. Just because a process is exempted, Provider or Claim from the standards which otherwise would apply, it does not mean that this will occur the future, or will do so in the future for any other Provider, claim or Member. The Plan may stop or change any such exemption with or without advance notice. You may find out whether a Provider is taking part in certain programs or a Provider arrangement by contacting the Member Services number on the back of your ID card. The Claims Administrator also may identify certain Providers to review for potential fraud, waste, abuse or other inappropriate activity if the claims data suggests there may be inappropriate billing practices. If a Provider is selected under this program, then the Plan may use one or more clinical utilization management guidelines in the review of claims submitted by this Provider, even if those guidelines are not used for all Providers delivering services to this Plan’s Members. Health Plan Individual Case Management The Claims Administrator’s health plan individual case management programs (Case Management) help coordinate services for Members with health care needs due to serious, complex, and/or chronic health conditions. The Claims Administrator’s programs coordinate benefits and educate Members who agree to take part in the Case Management program to help meet their health-related needs. The Claims Administrator’s Case Management programs are confidential and voluntary and are made available at no extra cost to you. These programs are provided by, or on behalf of and at the request of, your health plan case management staff. These Case Management programs are separate from any Covered Services you are receiving.
35 If you meet program criteria and agree to take part, the Claims Administrator will help you meet your identified health care needs. This is reached through contact and team work with you and/or your authorized representative, treating Doctor(s), and other Providers. In addition, the Claims Administrator may assist in coordinating care with existing community-based programs and services to meet your needs. This may include giving you information about external agencies and community-based programs and services. In certain cases of severe or chronic illness or injury, the Plan may provide benefits for alternate care that is not listed as a Covered Service. The Plan may also extend Covered Services beyond the Benefit Maximums of this Plan. The Claims Administrator will make any recommendation of alternate or extended benefits to the Plan on a case-by-case basis, if in the Claims Administrator’s discretion the alternate or extended benefit is in the best interest of you and the Plan and you or your authorized representative agree to the alternate or extended benefit in writing. A decision to provide extended benefits or approve alternate care in one case does not obligate the Plan to provide the same benefits again to you or to any other Member. The Plan reserves the right, at any time, to alter or stop providing extended benefits or approving alternate care. In such case, the Claims Administrator will notify you or your authorized representative in writing.
36 What’s Covered This section describes the Covered Services available under your Plan. Covered Services are subject to all the terms and conditions listed in this Booklet, including, but not limited to, Benefit Maximums, Deductibles, Copayments, Coinsurance, Exclusions and Medical Necessity requirements. Please read the “Schedule of Benefits” for details on the amounts you must pay for Covered Services and for details on any Benefit Maximums. Also be sure to read “How Your Plan Works” for more information on your Plan’s rules. Read the “What’s Not Covered” section for more important details on Excluded Services. Your benefits are described below. Benefits are listed alphabetically to make them easy to find. Please note that several sections may apply to your claims. For example, if you have inpatient surgery, benefits for your Hospital stay will be described under “Inpatient Hospital Care” and benefits for your Doctor’s services will be described under “Inpatient Professional Services”. As a result, you should read all sections that might apply to your claims. You should also know that many of Covered Services can be received in several settings, including a Doctor’s office, an Urgent Care Facility, an Outpatient Facility, or an Inpatient Facility. Benefits will often vary depending on where you choose to get Covered Services, and this can result in a change in the amount you need to pay. Please see the “Schedule of Benefits” for more details. Allergy Services Your Plan includes benefits for Medically Necessary allergy testing and treatment, including allergy serum and allergy shots. Ambulance Services Medically Necessary ambulance services are a Covered Service when: • You are transported by a state licensed vehicle that is designed, equipped, and used only to transport the sick and injured and staffed by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), paramedics, or other certified medical professionals. This includes ground, water, fixed wing, and rotary wing air transportation. This also includes services rendered by an Emergency Medical Services Provider Organization within their scope of practice, performed or provided as advanced life support services, and performed or provided during a response initiated through the 911 system regardless of whether the patient is transported. If multiple Emergency Medical Services Provider Organizations qualify and submit a claim to Us, We: - May reimburse for one (1) claim per patient encounter; and - Reimburse the claim submitted by the Emergency Medical Services Provider Organization that performed or provided the majority of advanced life support services to you. And one or more of the following are met: • For ground ambulance, you are taken: - From your home, the scene of an accident or medical Emergency to a Hospital; - Between Hospitals, including when the Claims Administrator requires you to move from a Non- Participating Hospital to a Participating Hospital - Between a Hospital and a Skilled Nursing Facility or other approved Facility. • For air or water ambulance, you are taken: - From the scene of an accident or medical Emergency to a Hospital; - Between Hospitals, including when the Claims Administrator requires you to move from a Non- Participating Hospital to a Participating Hospital
37 - Between a Hospital and an approved Facility. Ambulance services are subject to Medical Necessity reviews by the Claims Administrator. Emergency ground ambulance services do not require precertification and are allowed regardless of whether the Provider is a Participating or Non-Participating Provider. Non-Emergency ambulance services are subject to Medical Necessity reviews by the Claims Administrator. When using an air ambulance, for non-Emergency transportation, the Claims Administrator reserves the right to select the air ambulance Provider. If you do not use the air ambulance Provider we select no benefits may be available. You must be taken to the nearest Facility that can give care for your condition. In certain cases the Claims Administrator may approve benefits for transportation to a Facility that is not the nearest Facility. Benefits also include Medically Necessary treatment of a sickness or injury by medical professionals from an ambulance service, even if you are not taken to a Facility. Ambulance services are not covered when another type of transportation can be used without endangering your health. Ambulance services for your convenience or the convenience of your family or Doctor are not a Covered Service. Other non-covered ambulance services include, but are not limited to, trips to: a) A Doctor’s office or clinic; b) A morgue or funeral home. Important Notes on Air Ambulance Benefits Benefits are only available for air ambulance when it is not appropriate to use a ground or water ambulance. For example, if using a ground ambulance would endanger your health and your medical condition requires a more rapid transport to a Facility than the ground ambulance can provide, the Plan will cover the air ambulance. Air ambulance will also be covered if you are in an area that a ground or water ambulance cannot reach. Air ambulance will not be covered if you are taken to a Hospital that is not an acute care Hospital (such as a Skilled Nursing Facility), or if you are taken to a Physician’s office or your home. Hospital to Hospital Transport If you are moving from one Hospital to another, air ambulance will only be covered if using a ground ambulance would endanger your health and if the Hospital that first treats cannot give you the medical services you need. Certain specialized services are not available at all Hospitals. For example, burn care, cardiac care, trauma care, and critical care are only available at certain Hospitals. To be covered, you must be taken to the closest Hospital that can treat you. Coverage is not available for air ambulance transfers simply because you, your family, or your Provider prefers a specific Hospital or Physician. Athletic Trainer Services Your Plan covers services from an Athletic Trainer who is licensed under applicable state law and provides physical medicine and rehabilitative services within their scope of practice. Autism Spectrum Disorder Services
38 Coverage is provided for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Treatment is limited to services prescribed by your Physician in accordance with a treatment plan. Autism spectrum disorder means a neurological condition, including Asperger's syndrome and autism, as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. Any exclusion or limitation in this Booklet in conflict with the coverage described in this provision will not apply. Coverage for autism spectrum disorders will not be subject to dollar limits, Deductibles, Copayment or Coinsurance provisions that are less favorable than the dollar limits, Deductibles, Copayments or Coinsurance provisions that apply to physical illness under your Plan. Behavioral Health Services Please see “Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services” later in this section. Biomarker Testing Services This Plan provides coverage for biomarker testing when ordered by a qualified health care provider’s scope of practice for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of a Member’s disease or condition when the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence, including but not limited to: • Labeled indications from an FDA-approved or cleared test; • Indicated tests for an FDA-approved Drug; • Warnings and precautions on FDA-approved Drug labels; • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services national coverage determinations; • Medicare Administrative Contractor local coverage determinations; • Nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; or Consensus statements. Cardiac Rehabilitation Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Cellular and Gene Therapy Services Standard: Your Plan includes benefits for certain cellular and gene therapy services, when Anthem approves the benefits in advance through Precertification. See the section “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services” for additional details. Chemotherapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Chronic Pain Management Services Evidence based health care products and services intended to relieve chronic pain that has lasted for at least three (3) months are covered under this Plan. This includes: • Prescription drugs; • Physical Therapy; • Occupational Therapy;
39 • Chiropractic care; • Osteopathic manipulative treatment; and • Athletic Trainer Services. See the sections “Athletic Trainer Services”, “Therapy Services” and “Prescription Drug Benefits at a Retail or Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for further details on the benefits for these services. As used in this section “Chronic pain" means pain that: • persists beyond the usual course of an acute disease or healing of an injury; or • may be associated with an acute or chronic pathologic process that causes continuous or intermittent pain for a period of months or years. Clinical Trials Benefits include coverage for services, such as routine patient care costs, given to you as a participant in an approved clinical trial if the services are Covered Services under this Plan. An “approved clinical trial” means a phase I, phase II, phase III, or phase IV clinical trial that studies the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other life-threatening conditions. The term life-threatening condition means any disease or condition from which death is likely unless the disease or condition is treated. Benefits are limited to the following trials: 1. Federally funded trials approved or funded by one of the following: a. The National Institutes of Health. b. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. c. The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. d. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. e. Cooperative group or center of any of the entities described in (a) through (d) or the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs. f. A qualified non-governmental research entity identified in the guidelines issued by the National Institutes of Health for center support grants. g. Any of the following in i-iii below if the study or investigation has been reviewed and approved through a system of peer review that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines 1) to be comparable to the system of peer review of studies and investigations used by the National Institutes of Health, and 2) assures unbiased review of the highest scientific standards by qualified individuals who have no interest in the outcome of the review. i. The Department of Veterans Affairs. ii. The Department of Defense. iii. The Department of Energy. 2. Studies or investigations done as part of an investigational new drug application reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration; 3. Studies or investigations done for drug trials which are exempt from the investigational new drug application. Your Plan may require you to use a Participating Provider to maximize your benefits. Routine patient care costs include items, services, and drugs provided to you in connection with an approved clinical trial that would otherwise be covered by this Plan.
40 All requests for clinical trials services, including services that are not part of approved clinical trials will be reviewed according to the Claims Administrator’s Clinical Coverage Guidelines, related policies and procedures. Your Plan is not required to provide benefits for the following services. The Plan reserves its right to exclude any of the following services: i. The Investigational item, device, or service; or ii. Items and services that are given only to satisfy data collection and analysis needs and that are not used in the direct clinical management of the patient; or iii. A service that is clearly inconsistent with widely accepted and established standards of care for a particular diagnosis; iv. Any item or service that is paid for, or should have been paid for, by the sponsor of the trial. Dental Services Preparing the Mouth for Medical Treatments Your Plan includes coverage for dental services to prepare the mouth for medical services and treatments such as radiation therapy to treat cancer and prepare for transplants. Covered Services include: • Evaluation • Dental x-rays • Extractions, including surgical extractions • Anesthesia Treatment of Accidental Injury Benefits are also available for dental work needed to treat injuries to the jaw, sound natural teeth, mouth or face as a result of an accident. An injury that results from chewing or biting is not considered an Accidental Injury under this Plan, unless the chewing or biting results from a medical or mental condition. Anesthesia and Hospital Charges for Dental Care Your Plan covers anesthesia and Hospital charges for dental care, for a Member less than 19 years of age or a Member who is physically or mentally disabled, if the Member requires dental treatment to be given in a Hospital or Outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Center. The Indications for General Anesthesia, as published in the reference manual of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, should be used to determine whether performing dental procedures is necessary to treat the Member’s condition under general anesthesia. This coverage does not apply to treatment for temporal mandibular joint disorders (TMJ). Diabetes Equipment, Education, and Supplies Benefits include all Physician prescribed Medically Necessary equipment and supplies used for the management and treatment of diabetes. Screenings for gestational diabetes are covered under “Preventive Care.” Also covered is diabetes self-management training if you have insulin dependent diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes, or elevated blood glucose levels induced by pregnancy or another medical condition when: • Medically Necessary;
41 • Ordered in writing by a Physician, a podiatrist, an advanced practice registered nurse or a physician assistant; and • Provided by a Health Care Professional who is licensed, registered, or certified under state law. For the purposes of this provision, a "Health Care Professional" means the Physician or podiatrist ordering the training or a Provider who has obtained certification in diabetes education by the American Diabetes Association. Diagnostic Services Your Plan includes benefits for tests or procedures to find or check a condition when specific symptoms exist. Tests must be ordered by a Provider and include diagnostic services ordered before a surgery or Hospital admission. Benefits include the following services: Diagnostic Laboratory and Pathology Services • Laboratory and pathology tests, such as blood tests. • Genetic tests, when allowed by the Plan. Diagnostic Imaging Services and Electronic Diagnostic Tests • X-rays / regular imaging services • Ultrasound • Electrocardiograms (EKG) • Electroencephalography (EEG) • Echocardiograms • Hearing and vision tests for a medical condition or injury (not for screenings or preventive care) • Tests ordered before a surgery or admission. Advanced Imaging Services Benefits are also available for advanced imaging services, which include but are not limited to: • CT scan • CTA scan • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) • Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) • Nuclear Cardiology • PET scans • PET/CT Fusion scans • QCT Bone Densitometry • Diagnostic CT Colonography The list of advanced imaging services may change as medical technologies change. Dialysis See “Therapy Services” later in this section. Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies
42 Your Plan includes benefits for durable medical equipment and medical devices when the equipment meets the following criteria: • Is meant for repeated use and is not disposable. • Is used for a medical purpose and is of no further use when medical need ends. • Is meant for use outside a medical Facility. • Is only for the use of the patient. • Is made to serve a medical use. • Is ordered by a Provider. Benefits include purchase-only equipment and devices (e.g., crutches and customized equipment), purchase or rent-to-purchase equipment and devices (e.g., Hospital beds and wheelchairs), and continuous rental equipment and devices (e.g., oxygen concentrator, ventilator, and negative pressure wound therapy devices). Continuous rental equipment must be approved by the Plan. The Plan may limit the amount of coverage for ongoing rental of equipment. The Plan may not cover more in rental costs than the cost of simply purchasing the equipment. Benefits include repair and replacement costs as well as supplies and equipment needed for the use of the equipment or device, for example, a battery for a powered wheelchair. Oxygen and equipment for its administration are also Covered Services. Orthotics Benefits are available for certain types of orthotics (braces, boots, splints). Covered Services include the initial purchase, fitting, and repair of a custom made rigid or semi-rigid supportive device used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or to improve the function of movable parts of the body, or which limits or stops motion of a weak or diseased body part. Orthotic appliances may be replaced once per year per Member when Medically Necessary in the Member’s situation. However, additional replacements will be allowed for Members under age 18 due to rapid growth, or for any Member when an appliance is damaged and cannot be repaired. Coverage for an orthotic custom fabricated brace or support designed as a component for a prosthetic limb is described in more detail below. Prosthetics Your Plan also includes benefits for prosthetics, which are artificial substitutes for body parts for functional or therapeutic purposes, when they are Medically Necessary for activities of daily living. Benefits include the purchase, fitting, adjustments, repairs and replacements. Covered Services may include, but are not limited to: 1) Artificial limbs and accessories. Coverage for a prosthetic limb (artificial leg or arm) is described in more detail below. 2) One pair of glasses or contact lenses used after surgical removal of the lens(es) of the eyes; 3) Breast prosthesis (whether internal or external) and surgical bras after a mastectomy, as required by the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act. This includes coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses and one (1) additional breast prosthesis per breast affected by the mastectomy. 4) Colostomy and other ostomy (surgical construction of an artificial opening) supplies directly related to ostomy care. 5) Restoration prosthesis (composite facial prosthesis)
43 6) Wigs needed after cancer treatment, limited to the maximum shown in the Schedule of Benefits. 7) Benefits are also available for cochlear implants. 8) Wearable cardioverter defibrillators and any necessary accessory and ongoing monitoring services. Prosthetic Limbs & Orthotic Custom Fabricated Brace or Support Prosthetic limbs (artificial leg or arm) and a Medically Necessary orthotic custom fabricated brace or support designed as a component of a prosthetic limb, including repairs or replacements, will be covered if: • Determined by your Physician to be Medically Necessary to restore or maintain your ability to perform activities of daily living or essential job related activities; and • Not solely for comfort or convenience. Coverage for Prosthetic limbs and orthotic devices under this provision must be equal to the coverage that is provided for the same device, repair, or replacement under the federal Medicare program. Reimbursement must be equal to the reimbursement that is provided for the same device, repair, or replacement under the federal Medicare reimbursement schedule, unless a different reimbursement rate is negotiated. Prosthetic limbs and Orthotic custom fabricated braces or supports designed as components for a prosthetic limb are covered the same as any other Medically Necessary items and services and will be subject to the same annual Deductible, Coinsurance, Copayment as other Covered Services under your Plan. Medical and Surgical Supplies Your Plan includes coverage for medical and surgical supplies that serve only a medical purpose, are used once, and are purchased (not rented). Covered supplies include syringes, needles, surgical dressings, splints, and other similar items that serve only a medical purpose. Covered Services do not include items often stocked in the home for general use like Band-Aids, thermometers, and petroleum jelly. Medical food that is Medically Necessary and prescribed by a Physician for the treatment of an inherited metabolic disease is covered. Medical foods mean a formula that is intended for the dietary treatment of a disease or condition for which nutritional requirements are established by medical evaluation and formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the direction of a Physician. Blood and Blood Products Your Plan also includes coverage for the administration of blood products. Emergency Care Services If you are experiencing an Emergency please call 911 or visit the nearest Hospital for treatment. Emergency Services
44 Benefits are available in a Hospital Emergency Room or freestanding Emergency Facility for services and supplies to treat the onset of symptoms for an Emergency, which is defined below. Services provided for conditions that do not meet the definition of Emergency will not be covered. Emergency (Emergency Medical Condition) “Emergency” or “Emergency Medical Condition” means an accidental traumatic bodily injury or other medical or behavioral health condition that arises suddenly and unexpectedly and manifests itself by acute symptoms of such severity, including severe pain, that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected by a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine to: (a) place an individual's health or the health of another person in serious jeopardy; (b) result in serious impairment to the individual's bodily functions; or (c) result in serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part of the individual. “Stabilize” means the provision of medical treatment to you in an Emergency as may be necessary to assure, within reasonable medical probability that material deterioration of your condition is not likely to result from or during any of the following: • your discharge from an emergency department or other care setting where Emergency Care is provided to you; or • your transfer from an emergency department or other care setting to another facility; or • your transfer from a Hospital emergency department or other Hospital care setting to the Hospital's Inpatient setting. Emergency Care “Emergency Care” means a medical or behavioral health exam done in the Emergency Department of a Hospital or freestanding Emergency Facility, and includes services routinely available in the Emergency Department to evaluate an Emergency Condition. It includes any further medical or behavioral health exams and treatment required to stabilize the patient. Emergency Care may also include necessary services, including observation services, provided as part of the Emergency visit regardless of the department in which the services are provided. Medically Necessary services will be covered whether you get care from a Participating or Non- Participating Provider. Emergency Care you get from a Non-Participating Provider will be covered as a Participating service and will not require Precertification. For Surprise Billing claims, the Non-Participating Provider can only charge you any applicable Deductible, Coinsurance, and/or Copayment and cannot bill you for the difference between the Maximum Allowed Amount and their billed charges until your condition is stable and the Non-Participating Provider has complied with the notice and consent process as described in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet. Your cost shares will be based on the Recognized Amount and will be applied to your Participating Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limit. The Maximum Allowed Amount for Emergency Care from a Non-Participating Provider will be determined using the median Plan Participating contract rate we pay Participating Providers for the geographic area where the service is provided for the same or similar services. If you are admitted to the Hospital from the Emergency Room, be sure that you or your Doctor calls the Claims Administrator as soon as you are stabilized. The Claims Administrator will review your care to decide if a Hospital stay is needed an d how many days you should stay. See “Getting Approval for Benefits” for more details.
45 Treatment you get after your condition has stabilized is not Emergency Care. Please refer to the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet for more details on how this will impact your benefits. Gender Affirming Services This Plan provides benefits for gender affirming services, including gender affirming surgery. To be eligible for benefits, services must be Medically Necessary and all inpatient Facility admissions must be approved in advance through Precertification. Please refer to the “Getting Approval for Benefits” section for further details. Details on our medical policies are also available online at www.anthem.com/provider/policies/clinical- guidelines/. Habilitative Services Benefits also include habilitative health care services and devices that help you keep, learn or improve skills and functioning for daily living. Examples include therapy for a child who isn’t walking or talking at the expected age. These services may include physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and other services for people with disabilities in a variety of inpatient and/or outpatient settings. Please see “ Therapy Services” later in this section for further details. Home Health Care Services Benefits are available for Covered Services performed by a Home Health Care Agency or other Provider in your home. To be eligible for benefits, you must essentially be confined to the home, as an alternative to a Hospital stay, and be physically unable to get needed medical services on an outpatient basis. Services must be prescribed by a Doctor and the services must be so inherently complex that they can be safely and effectively performed only by qualified, technical, or professional health staff. Covered Services include but are not limited to: • Intermittent skilled nursing services by an R.N. or L.P.N. • Medical / social services • Diagnostic services • Nutritional guidance • Training of the patient and/or family/caregiver • Home health aide services. You must be receiving skilled nursing or therapy. Services must be given by appropriately trained staff working for the Home Health Care Provider. Other organizations may give services only when approved by the Claims Administrator, and their duties must be assigned and supervised by a professional nurse on the staff of the Home Health Care Provider. • Therapy Services (except for Manipulation Therapy, which will not be covered when given in the home) • Medical supplies • Durable medical equipment • Private duty nursing services • When available in your area, benefits are also available for Intensive In-home Behavioral Health Services. These do not require confinement to the home. These services are described in the “Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services” section below. Benefits may also be available for Inpatient Services in your home. These benefits are separate from the Home Health Care Services benefit, and are described in the “Inpatient Services” section below.
46 Home Infusion Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Hospice Care You are eligible for hospice care if your Physician and the Hospice medical director certify that you are terminally ill and likely have less than twelve (12) months to live. You may access hospice care while participating in a clinical trial or continuing disease modifying therapy, as ordered by your treating Provider. Disease modifying therapy treats the underlying terminal illness. The services and supplies listed below are Covered Services when given by a Hospice for the palliative care of pain and other symptoms that are part of a terminal disease. Palliative care means care that controls pain and relieves symptoms, but is not meant to cure a terminal illness. Covered Services include: • Care from an interdisciplinary team with the development and maintenance of an appropriate plan of care. • Short-term Inpatient Hospital care when needed in periods of crisis or as respite care. • Skilled nursing services, home health aide services, and homemaker services given by or under the supervision of a registered nurse. • Social services and counseling services from a licensed social worker. • Nutritional support such as intravenous feeding and feeding tubes. • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy given by a licensed therapist. • Pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and supplies needed for the palliative care of your condition, including oxygen and related respiratory therapy supplies. • Bereavement (grief) services, including a review of the needs of the bereaved family and the development of a care plan to meet those needs, both before and after the Member’s death. Bereavement services are available to the patient and those individuals who are closely linked to the patient, including the immediate family, the primary or designated caregiver and individuals with significant personal ties, for one year after the Member’s death. Your Doctor must agree to care by the Hospice and must be consulted in the development of the care plan. The Hospice must keep a written care plan on file and give it to us upon request. Benefits for services beyond those listed above that are given for disease modification or palliation, such as but not limited to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are available to a Member in Hospice. These services are covered under other parts of this Plan. Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell) Services, Cellular and Gene Therapy Services Your Plan includes coverage for Medically Necessary human organ and tissue transplants as well as certain cellular and gene therapies. To be eligible for coverage, we must approve the benefits in advance through Precertification and services must be performed by an approved Participating Provider to be covered at the Participating level. Certain transplants (e.g., cornea) are covered like any other surgery, under the regular inpatient and outpatient benefits described elsewhere in this Booklet. In this section you will see some key terms, which are defined below:
47 Covered Procedure As decided by us, a Covered Procedure includes: • Any Medically Necessary human solid organ, tissue, and stem cell / bone marrow transplants and infusions, and • Any Medically Necessary cellular or other gene therapies, and • Any Medically Necessary acquisition procedures, mobilization, collection and storage. It also includes Medically Necessary myeloablative or reduced intensity preparative chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these therapies, Approved Participating Provider A Provider who has entered into an agreement with us to provide Covered Procedures to you. The agreement may only cover certain Covered Procedures or all Covered Procedures. Approved Participating Providers may include the following: • Blue Distinction Center (BDC) Facility: Blue Distinction facilities have met or exceeded national quality standards for care delivery of Covered Procedures. • Centers of Medical Excellence (CME) Facility: Centers of Medical Excellence facilities have met or exceeded quality standards for care delivery of Covered Procedures. All Other Providers Any Provider that is NOT an Approved Participating Provider. This includes Participating Providers who participate in the Plan’s networks, but who are not an Approved Participating Provider for a Covered Procedure, as well Out-of-Network Providers. Prior Approval and Precertification To maximize your benefits, you should call our Transplant Department as soon as you think you may need a Covered Procedure to talk about your benefit options. You must do this before you receive services. We will help you maximize your benefits by giving you coverage information, including details on what is covered as well as information on any clinical coverage guidelines, medical policies, Approved Participating Provider rules, or Exclusions that apply. Call the Member Services phone number on the back of your Identification Card and ask for the transplant coordinator. You or your Provider must call our Transplant Department for Precertification prior to the Covered Procedure whether this is performed in an Inpatient or Outpatient setting. Your Doctor must certify, and we must agree, that the Covered Procedure is Medically Necessary. Your Doctor should send a written request for Precertification to us as soon as possible to start this process. Not getting Precertification will result in a denial of benefits. Please note that there are cases where your Provider asks for approval for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) testing, donor searches and/or a collection and storage of stem cells prior to the final decision as to what Covered Procedure will be needed. In these cases, the HLA testing and donor search charges will be covered as routine diagnostic tests. The collection and storage request will be reviewed for Medical Necessity and may be approved. However, such an approval for HLA testing, donor search and/or collection and storage is NOT an approval for the later Covered Procedure. A separate Medical Necessity decision will be needed for the Covered Procedure.
48 Transportation and Lodging The Plan will cover the cost of reasonable and necessary travel costs when you get prior approval and need to travel more than 75 miles from your permanent home to reach the Facility where the Covered Procedure will be performed. Help with travel costs includes transportation to and from the Facility and lodging for the patient and one companion. If the Member receiving care is a minor, then reasonable and necessary costs for transportation and lodging may be allowed for two companions. You must send itemized receipts for transportation and lodging costs in a form satisfactory to us when claims are filed. Call us for complete information or refer to IRS Publication 502. For lodging and ground transportation benefits, the Plan will cover costs up to the current limits set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. Non-Covered Services for transportation and lodging include, but are not limited to: • Child care, • Mileage within the city where the Covered Procedure is performed, • Rental cars, buses, taxis, or shuttle service, except as specifically approved by us, • Frequent Flyer miles, • Coupons, Vouchers, or Travel tickets, • Prepayments or deposits, • Services for a condition that is not directly related, or a direct result, of the Covered Procedure, • Phone calls, • Laundry, • Postage, • Entertainment, • Travel costs for donor companion/caregiver, • Return visits for the donor for a treatment of an illness found during the evaluation, • Meals. Infertility Services Please see “Maternity and Reproductive Health Services” later in this section. Inpatient Services Inpatient Hospital Care Covered Services include acute care in a Hospital setting. Benefits for room, board, and nursing services include: • A room with two or more beds. • A private room. The most the Plan will cover for private rooms is the Hospital’s average semi-private room rate unless it is Medically Necessary that you use a private room for isolation and no isolation facilities are available. • A room in a special care unit approved by the Claims Administrator. The unit must have facilities, equipment, and supportive services for intensive care or critically ill patients.
49 • Routine nursery care for newborns during the mother’s normal Hospital stay. • Meals, special diets. • General nursing services. Benefits for ancillary services include: • Operating, childbirth, and treatment rooms and equipment. • Prescribed Drugs. • Anesthesia, anesthesia supplies and services given by the Hospital or other Provider. • Medical and surgical dressings and supplies, casts, and splints. • Diagnostic services. • Therapy services. Inpatient Professional Services Covered Services include: • Medical care visits. • Intensive medical care when your condition requires it. • Treatment for a health problem by a Doctor who is not your surgeon while you are in the Hospital for surgery. Benefits include treatment by two or more Doctors during one Hospital stay when the nature or severity of your health problem calls for the skill of separate Doctors. • A personal bedside exam by another Doctor when asked for by your Doctor. Benefits are not available for staff consultations required by the Hospital, consultations asked for by the patient, routine consultations, phone consultations, or EKG transmittals by phone. • Surgery and general anesthesia. • Newborn exam. A Doctor other than the one who delivered the child must do the exam. • Professional charges to interpret diagnostic tests such as imaging, pathology reports, and cardiology. *When available in your area, certain Providers have programs available that may allow you to receive Inpatient Services in your home instead of staying in a Hospital. To be eligible, your condition and the Covered Services to be delivered must be appropriate for the home setting. Your home must also meet certain accessibility requirements. These programs are voluntary and are separate from the benefits under “Home Health Care Services.” Your Provider will contact you if you are eligible, and provide you with details on how to enroll. If you choose to participate, the cost-shares listed in your Schedule of Benefits under “Inpatient Services” will apply. Maternity and Reproductive Health Services Maternity Services Covered Services include services needed during a normal or complicated pregnancy and for services needed for a miscarriage. Covered maternity services include: • Professional and Facility services for childbirth in a Facility or the home including the services of an appropriately licensed nurse midwife; • Routine nursery care for the newborn during the mother’s normal Hospital stay, including circumcision of a covered male Dependent; • Prenatal, postnatal, and postpartum services; and • Fetal screenings, which are genetic or chromosomal tests of the fetus, as allowed by the Plan. If you are pregnant on your Effective Date and in the first trimester of the pregnancy, you must change to a Participating Provider to have Covered Services covered at the Participating level. If you are pregnant
50 on your Effective Date and in your second or third trimester of pregnancy (13 weeks or later) as of the Effective Date, benefits for obstetrical care will be available at the Participating level even if a Non- Participating Provider is used if you fill out a Continuation of Care Request Form and send it to the Claims Administrator. Covered Services will include the obstetrical care given by that Provider through the end of the pregnancy and the immediate post-partum period. Important Note About Maternity Admissions: Under federal law, the Plan may not limit benefits for any Hospital length of stay for childbirth for the mother or newborn to less than 48 hours after vaginal birth, or less than 96 hours after a cesarean section (C-section). However, federal law as a rule does not stop the mother’s or newborn’s attending Provider, after consulting with the mother, from discharging the mother or her newborn earlier than 48 hours, or 96 hours, as applicable. In any case, as provided by federal law, the Plan may not require a Provider to get authorization from the Claims Administrator before prescribing a length of stay which is not more than 48 hours for a vaginal birth or 96 hours after a C-section. In addition, coverage is provided for an examination given at the earliest feasible time to your newborn child for the detection of the following disorders: • Phenylketonuria. • Hypothyroidism • Hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell anemia. • Galactosemia. • Maple syrup urine disease. • Homocystinuria. • Inborn errors of metabolism that result in an intellectual disability and that are designated by State of Indiana • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. • Biotinidase deficiency. • Disorders detected by tandem mass spectrometry or other technologies with the same or greater detection capabilities as tandem mass spectrometry, if the state determines that the technology is available for use by a designated laboratory under the applicable state law. • Spinal muscular atrophy • Severe combined immunodeficiency • Physiologic hearing screening examination at the earliest feasible time for the detection of hearing impairments • Pulse oximetry screening examination at the earliest feasible time for the detection of low oxygen levels. • Krabbe disease. • Pompe disease. • Hurler syndrome (MPS1). • Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Contraceptive Benefits Benefits include contraceptive devices such as diaphragms, intra uterine devices (IUDs), and implants. Certain contraceptives are covered under the “Preventive Care” benefit. Please see that section for further details.
51 Sterilization Services Benefits include sterilization services and services to reverse a non-elective sterilization that resulted from an illness or injury. Reversals of elective sterilizations are not covered. Sterilizations for women are covered under the “Preventive Care” benefit. Infertility Services Important Note: Although this Plan offers limited coverage of certain infertility services, it does not cover all forms of infertility treatment. Benefits do not include assisted reproductive technologies (ART) or the diagnostic tests and Drugs to support it. Examples of ART include artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). Covered Services include diagnostic tests to find the cause of infertility, such as diagnostic laparoscopy, endometrial biopsy, and semen analysis. Benefits also include services to treat the underlying medical conditions that cause infertility (e.g., endometriosis, obstructed fallopian tubes, and hormone deficiency). Fertility treatments such as artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization are not a Covered Service. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services Covered Services include the following: • Inpatient Services in a Hospital or any Facility that must be covered by law. Inpatient benefits include psychotherapy, psychological testing, electroconvulsive therapy, and detoxification. • Residential Treatment in a licensed Residential Treatment Center that offers individualized and intensive treatment and includes: • Observation and assessment by a physician weekly or more often, • Rehabilitation and therapy. • Outpatient Services including office visits, therapy and treatment, Partial Hospitalization/Day Treatment Programs, and Intensive Outpatient Programs and (when available in your area) Intensive In-Home Behavioral Health Services. Virtual Visits as described under the “Virtual Visits (Telemedicine / Telehealth Visits)” section. Examples of Providers from whom you can receive Covered Services include: • Psychiatrist, • Psychologist, • Neuropsychologist, • Licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.), • Mental health clinical nurse specialist, • Licensed marriage and family therapist (L.M.F.T.), • License Mental Health Counselor (L.M.H.C.) or • Any agency licensed to give these services, when they must be covered by law. Occupational Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Office and Home Visits Covered Services include:
52 Office Visits for medical care (including second surgical opinions) to examine, diagnose, and treat an illness or injury. Consultations between your Primary Care Physician and a Specialist, when approved by Anthem. Home Visits for medical care to examine, diagnose, and treat an illness or injury. Please note that Doctor and Primary Care Provider visits in the home are different than the “Home Health Care Services” benefit described earlier in this Booklet. Retail Health Clinic Care for limited basic health care services to Members on a “walk-in” basis. These clinics are normally found in major pharmacies or retail stores. Health care services are typically given by Physician’s Assistants or Nurse Practitioners. Services are limited to routine care and treatment of common illnesses for adults and children. Walk-In Doctor’s Office for services limited to routine care and treatment of common illnesses for adults and children. You do not have to be an existing patient or have an appointment to use a walk-in Doctor’s office. Urgent Care as described in “Urgent Care Services” later in this section. Virtual Visits as described under the “Virtual Visits (Telemedicine / Telehealth Visits)” section. Prescription Drugs Administered in the Office Orthotics Please see “Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies. Outpatient Facility Services Your Plan includes Covered Services in an: • Outpatient Hospital, • Freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Center, • Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Facility, or • Other Facilities approved by the Plan. Benefits include Facility and related (ancillary) charges, when proper, such as: • Surgical rooms and equipment, • Prescription Drugs, including Specialty Drugs, • Anesthesia and anesthesia supplies and services given by the Hospital or other Facility, • Medical and surgical dressings and supplies, casts, and splints, • Diagnostic services, • Therapy services. Physical Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Preventive Care
53 Preventive care includes screenings and other services for adults and children. All recommended preventive services will be covered as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and applicable state law. This means many preventive care services are covered with no Deductible, Copayments or Coinsurance when you use a Participating Provider. Certain benefits for Members who have current symptoms or a diagnosed health problem may be covered under the “Diagnostic Services” benefit instead of this benefit, if the coverage does not fall within the state or ACA-recommended preventive services. Covered Services fall under the following broad groups: 1. Services with an “A” or “B” rating from the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Examples include screenings for: a. Breast cancer, b. Cervical cancer, c. Colorectal cancer - This includes the preventive colonoscopy, anesthesia, polyp removal and pathology tests in connection with the preventive screening. It also includes a preventive screening following a positive non-invasive stool-based screening test or following a positive direct visualization test (i.e., flexible sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography), d. High blood pressure, e. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, f. Cholesterol, g. Child and adult obesity. 2. Immunizations for children, adolescents, and adults recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 3. Preventive care and screenings for infants, children, and adolescents as listed in the guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration; 4. Preventive care and screening for women as listed in the guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, including: a. Women’s contraceptives, sterilization treatments, and counseling. Coverage includes contraceptive devices such as diaphragms. Benefits are not available, however, for intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants. b. Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling. Benefits for breast pumps are limited to one pump per pregnancy . c. Gestational diabetes screening. 5. Preventive care services for smoking cessation and tobacco cessation for Members age 18 and older as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force including counseling. 6. Prescription Drugs and OTC items identified as an A or B recommendation by the United States Preventive Services Task Force when prescribed by a Provider including: a. Aspirin b. Folic acid supplement c. Bowel preparations d. FDA-approved preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), related services and monitoring including follow- up HIV testing and additional testing to monitor the effects of the PrEP medications.
54 Please note that certain age and gender and quantity limitations apply. You may call Member Services at the number on your Identification Card for more details about these services or view the federal government’s websites, http://www.healthcare.gov/what-are-my-preventive- care-benefits, http://www.ahrq.gov, and http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/. In addition to the Federal requirements above, preventive coverage also includes the following Covered Services: • Routine screening mammograms. • Routine prostate specific antigen testing. • Routine colorectal cancer examination and related laboratory tests. • Follow-up colonoscopy to a colorectal cancer screening test assigned either an "A" or "B" grade by the United States Preventive Services Task Force that was positive. Preventive Care for Chronic Conditions (per IRS guidelines) Members with certain chronic health conditions may be able to receive preventive care for those conditions prior to meeting their Deductible when services are provided by a Participating Provider. These benefits are available if the care qualifies under guidelines provided by the Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (referred to as “the agencies”). Details on those guidelines can be found on the IRS’s website at the following link: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-expands-list-of-preventive-care-for-hsa-participants-to-include-certain- care-for-chronic-conditions The agencies will periodically review the list of preventive care services and items to determine whether additional services or items should be added or if any should be removed from the list. You will be notified if updates are incorporated into your Plan. Please refer to the Schedule of Benefits for further details on how benefits will be paid. Prosthetics Please see “Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Devices, and Supplies” earlier in this section. Pulmonary Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Radiation Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Rehabilitation Services Benefits include services in a Hospital, free-standing Facility, Skilled Nursing Facility, or in an outpatient day rehabilitation program. Covered Services involve a coordinated team approach and several types of treatment, including skilled nursing care, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and services of a social worker or psychologist.
55 To be Covered Services, rehabilitation services must involve goals you can reach in a reasonable period of time. Benefits will end when treatment is no longer Medically Necessary and you stop progressing toward those goals. Respiratory Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Skilled Nursing Facility When you require Inpatient skilled nursing and related services for convalescent and rehabilitative care, Covered Services are available if the Facility is licensed or certified under state law as a Skilled Nursing Facility. Custodial Care is not a Covered Service. Smoking Cessation Please see “Preventive Care” section in this booklet. Speech Therapy Please see “Therapy Services” later in this section. Surgery Your Plan covers surgical services on an Inpatient or outpatient basis, including office surgeries. Covered Services include: • Accepted operative and cutting procedures; • Other invasive procedures, such as angiogram, arteriogram, amniocentesis, tap or puncture of brain or spine; • Endoscopic exams, such as arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy; • Treatment of fractures and dislocations; • Anesthesia (including services of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) and surgical support when Medically Necessary; • Medically Necessary pre-operative and post-operative care. Oral Surgery Important Note: Although this Plan covers certain oral surgeries, many oral surgeries (e.g. removal of wisdom teeth) are not covered. Benefits are limited to certain oral surgeries including: • Treatment of medically diagnosed cleft lip, cleft palate, or ectodermal dysplasia; • Orthognathic surgery for a physical abnormality that prevents normal function of the upper and/or lower jaw and is Medically Necessary to attain functional capacity of the affected part. • Oral / surgical correction of accidental injuries as indicated in the “Dental Services” section. • Treatment of non-dental lesions, such as removal of tumors and biopsies. • Incision and drainage of infection of soft tissue not including odontogenic cysts or abscesses.
56 Reconstructive Surgery Benefits include reconstructive surgery to correct significant deformities caused by congenital or developmental abnormalities, illness, injury or an earlier treatment in order to create a more normal appearance. Benefits include surgery performed to restore symmetry after a mastectomy. Note: This section does not apply to orthognathic surgery. See the “Oral Surgery” section above for that benefit. Mastectomy Notice A Member who is getting benefits for a mastectomy or for follow-up care for a mastectomy and who chooses breast reconstruction, will also get coverage for: • Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy has been performed; • Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to give a symmetrical appearance; and • Prostheses and treatment of physical problems of all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedemas. Members will have to pay the same Deductible, Coinsurance, and/or Copayments that normally apply to surgeries in this Plan. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and Craniomandibular Joint Services Benefits are available to treat temporomandibular and craniomandibular disorders. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone at the side of the head and the craniomandibular joint involves the head and neck muscles. Covered Services include removable appliances for TMJ repositioning and related surgery, medical care, and diagnostic services. Covered Services do not include fixed or removable appliances that involve movement or repositioning of the teeth, repair of teeth (fillings), or prosthetics (crowns, bridges, dentures). Therapy Services Physical Medicine Therapy Services Your Plan includes coverage for the therapy services described below. To be a Covered Service, the therapy must improve your level of function within a reasonable period of time. Covered Services include: • Physical therapy – The treatment by physical means to ease pain, restore health, and to avoid disability after an illness, injury, or loss of an arm or a leg. It includes hydrotherapy, heat, physical agents, bio-mechanical and neuro-physiological principles and devices. • Speech therapy and speech-language pathology (SLP) services – Services to identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Therapy will develop or treat communication or swallowing skills to correct a speech impairment. • Post-cochlear implant aural therapy – Services to help a person understand the new sounds they hear after getting a cochlear implant. • Occupational therapy – Treatment to restore a physically disabled person’s ability to do activities of daily living, such as walking, eating, drinking, dressing, using the toilet, moving from a wheelchair to a bed, and bathing. It also includes therapy for tasks needed for the person’s job. Occupational therapy does not include recreational or vocational therapies, such as hobbies, arts and crafts. • Chiropractic / Osteopathic / Manipulation therapy – Includes therapy to treat problems of the bones, joints, and the back. The two therapies are similar, but chiropractic therapy focuses on the
57 joints of the spine and the nervous system, while osteopathic therapy also focuses on the joints and surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments. Other Therapy Services Benefits are also available for: • Cardiac Rehabilitation – Medical evaluation, training, supervised exercise, and psychosocial support to care for you after a cardiac event (heart problem). Benefits do not include home programs, on-going conditioning, or maintenance care. • Chemotherapy – Treatment of an illness by chemical or biological antineoplastic agents. See the section “Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider” for more details. • Dialysis – Services for acute renal failure and chronic (end-stage) renal disease, including hemodialysis, home intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), home continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), and home continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Covered Services include dialysis treatments in an outpatient dialysis Facility. Covered Services also include home dialysis and training for you and the person who will help you with home self-dialysis. The Plan will not require you to receive dialysis treatment at a Participating Dialysis Facility if that facility is further than 30 miles from your home. If you require dialysis treatment and the nearest Participating Dialysis Facility is more than 30 miles from your home, the Plan will allow you to receive treatment at a Non- Participating Dialysis Facility nearest to your home as an Authorized Service. • Infusion Therapy – Nursing, durable medical equipment and Drug services that are delivered and administered to you through an I.V. in your home. Also includes Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), Enteral nutrition therapy, antibiotic therapy, pain care and chemotherapy. May include injections (intra-muscular, subcutaneous, continuous subcutaneous). See the section “Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider” for more details. • Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Includes outpatient short-term respiratory care to restore your health after an illness or injury. • Cognitive rehabilitation therapy – Medically Necessary cognitive rehabilitation, including therapy following a post-traumatic brain injury or cerebral vascular accident. • Radiation Therapy – Treatment of an illness by x-ray, radium, or radioactive isotopes. Covered Services include treatment (teletherapy, brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation, photon or high energy particle sources), materials and supplies needed, and treatment planning. • Respiratory Therapy – Includes the use of dry or moist gases in the lungs, nonpressurized inhalation treatment; intermittent positive pressure breathing treatment, air or oxygen, with or without nebulized medication, continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPAP); continuous negative pressure ventilation (CNP); chest percussion; therapeutic use of medical gases or Drugs in the form of aerosols, and equipment such as resuscitators, oxygen tents, and incentive spirometers; broncho- pulmonary drainage and breathing exercises. Transplant Services Please see “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant” earlier in this section. Urgent Care Services Often an urgent rather than an Emergency health problem exists. An urgent health problem is an unexpected illness or injury that calls for care that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled office visit. Urgent health problems are not life threatening and do not call for the use of an Emergency Room. Urgent health problems include earache, sore throat, and fever (not above 104 degrees). Benefits for urgent care include:
58 • X-ray services; • Care for broken bones; • Tests such as flu, urinalysis, pregnancy test, rapid strep; • Lab services; • Stitches for simple cuts; and • Draining an abscess. Virtual Visits (Telemedicine / Telehealth Visits) Covered Services include Telemedicine / Telehealth visits that are appropriately provided as described below. This includes visits with Providers who also provide services in person, as well as online-only Providers. • “Telemedicine / Telehealth” means the delivery of health care or other health services using electronic communications and information technology, in compliance with HIPAA including: live (synchronous) secure videoconferencing or secure instant messaging through our mobile app; store and forward (asynchronous) technology. Covered Services provided through Telemedicine/ Telehealth are provided to facilitate the medical exams, consultations, and behavioral health, including substance use disorder evaluations and treatment. In-person contact between a Provider and the patient is not required for Telemedicine/ Telehealth services, and the type of setting where these services are provided is not limited. Please Note: Not all health services can be delivered through virtual visits. Certain services require equipment and/or direct physical hands-on care that cannot be provided remotely. Also, please note that not all Providers offer virtual visits. Benefits do not include the use of facsimile, audio only telephone, texting (outside of our mobile app), electronic mail, or non-secure instant messaging unless you have an already established relationship with the Provider. Benefits also do not include reporting normal lab or other test results, requesting office visits, getting answers to billing, insurance coverage or payment questions, asking for referrals to Providers outside our network, benefit precertification, or Provider to Provider discussions except as approved under “Office and Home Visits.” If you have any questions about this coverage, please contact Member Services at the number on the back of your Identification Card. Vision Services to the End of the Month in Which They Turn 19 The vision benefits described in this section only apply to Members through the end of the month that the Member turns 19. Routine Eye Exam This Plan covers a complete eye exam with dilation, as needed. The exam is used to check all aspects of your vision. An eye exam does not include a contact lens fitting fee. [Include only if materials covered: Eyeglass Lenses This Plan also covers a choice of eyeglass lenses. Benefits include factory scratch coating. Covered eyeglass lenses include standard plastic (CR39) lenses up to 55mm in: • Single vision • Bifocal • Trifocal (FT 25-28)
59 • Progressive Frames A selection of frames is covered under this Plan. Members must choose a frame from the Anthem formulary. Contact Lenses The Plan offers the following benefits for contact lenses: • Elective Contact Lenses – Contacts chosen for comfort or appearance; • Non-Elective Contact Lenses – Only for the following medical conditions: − Keratoconus when your vision is not correctable to 20/40 in either or both eyes using standard spectacle lenses. − High Ametropia exceeding -12D or +9D in spherical equivalent. − Anisometropia of 3D or more. − When your vision can be corrected three lines of improvement on the visual acuity chart when compared to best corrected standard spectacle lenses. Special Note: Benefits are not available for non-elective contact lenses if the Member has undergone prior elective corneal surgery, such as radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), or LASIK. This Plan only covers a choice of contact lenses or eyeglass lenses, but not both. If you choose contact lenses during a Benefit Period, no benefits will be available for eyeglass lenses until the next Benefit Period. If you choose eyeglass lenses during a Benefit Period, no benefits will be available for contact lenses until the next Benefit Period. Vision Services for Members Age 19 and Older The vision benefits described in this section only apply to Members age 19 or older. Routine Eye Exam This Plan covers a complete eye exam with dilation, as needed. The exam is used to check all aspects of your vision. An eye exam does not include a contact lens fitting fee. Vision Services (All Members / All Ages) Benefits include medical and surgical treatment of injuries and illnesses of the eye. Certain vision screenings required by Federal law are covered under the “Preventive Care” benefit. Benefits do not include glasses or contact lenses except as listed in the “Prosthetics” benefit.
60 Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider Your Plan covers Prescription Drugs, including Specialty Drugs that must be administered to you as part of a doctor’s visit, home care visit, or at an outpatient Facility when they are Covered Services. This may include Drugs for infusion therapy, chemotherapy, blood products, certain injectables, and any Drug that must be administered by a Provider. This section applies when a Provider orders the Drug and a medical Provider administers it to you in a medical setting. Prescription Drugs you get from a Retail or Mail Order Pharmacy are not covered by this Plan. Important Details About Prescription Drug Coverage Your Plan includes certain features to determine when Prescription Drugs should be covered, which are described below. As part of these features, your prescribing Doctor may be asked to give more details before the Claims Administrator can decide if the Prescription Drug is eligible for coverage. In order to determine if the Prescription Drug is eligible for coverage, the Claims Administrator has established criteria. The criteria, which are called drug edits, may include requirements regarding one or more of the following: • Quantity, dose, and frequency of administration, • Specific clinical criteria including, but not limited to, requirements regarding age, test result requirements, and/or presence of a specific condition or disease, • Specific Provider qualifications including, but not limited to, REMS certification (Risk, Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies), • Step therapy requiring one Drug, Drug regimen, or treatment be used prior to use of another Drug, Drug regimen, or treatment for safety and/or cost-effectiveness when clinically similar results may be anticipated. • Use of an Anthem Prescription Drug List (a formulary developed by the Plan) which is a list of FDA- approved Drugs that have been reviewed and recommended for use based on their quality and cost effectiveness. Covered Prescription Drugs To be a Covered Service, Prescription Drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, under federal law, require a Prescription. Prescription Drugs must be prescribed by a licensed Provider and Controlled Substances must be prescribed by a licensed Provider with an active DEA license. Compound ingredients within a compound drug are a Covered Service when a commercially available dosage form of a Medically Necessary medication is not available, ingredients of the compound drug are FDA approved, require a prescription to dispense, and are not essentially the same as an FDA-approved product from a drug manufacturer. Non-FDA approved, non-proprietary, multisource ingredients that are vehicles essential for compound administration may be covered. Precertification Precertification may be required for certain Prescription Drugs to help make sure proper use and guidelines for Prescription Drug coverage are followed. The Claims Administrator will give the results of its decision to both you and your Provider. For a list of Prescription Drugs that need precertification, please call the phone number on the back of your Identification Card. The list will be reviewed and updated from time to time. Including a Prescription
61 Drug or related item on the list does not guarantee coverage under your Plan. Your Provider may check with the Plan to verify Prescription Drug coverage, to find out which drugs are covered under this section and if any drug edits apply. Please refer to the section “Getting Approval for Benefits” for more details. If precertification is denied you have the right to file a Grievance as outlined in the “Your Right To Appeal” section of this Booklet. Designated Pharmacy Provider Anthem, on behalf of the Employer, in its discretion, may establish one or more Designated Pharmacy Provider programs which provide specific pharmacy services (including shipment of Prescription Drugs) to Members. An In-Network Provider is not necessarily a Designated Pharmacy Provider. To be a Designated Pharmacy Provider, the In-Network Provider must have signed a Designated Pharmacy Provider Agreement with Anthem. You or your Provider can contact Member Services to learn which Pharmacy or Pharmacies are part of a Designated Pharmacy Provider program. For Prescription Drugs that are shipped to you or your Provider and administered in your Provider’s office, you and your Provider are required to order from a Designated Pharmacy Provider. A Patient Care coordinator will work with you and your Provider to obtain Precertification and to assist shipment to your Provider’s office. The Plan may also be required to use a Designated Pharmacy Provider to obtain Prescription Drugs for treatment of certain clinical conditions such as Hemophilia. The Plan reserves the right to modify the list of Prescription Drugs as well as the setting and/or level of care in which the care is provided to you. The Plan may, from time to time, change with or without advance notice, the Designated Pharmacy Provider for a Drug, if in its discretion, such change can help provide cost effective, value based and/or quality services. If you are required to use a Designated Pharmacy Provider and you choose not to obtain your Prescription Drug from a Designated Pharmacy Provider, coverage will be provided at the Non- Participating level. You can get the list of the Prescription Drugs covered under this section by calling Member Services at the phone number on the back of your Identification Card or check the Claims Administrator’s website at www.anthem.com. Therapeutic Equivalents Therapeutic equivalents is a program that tells you and your Doctor about alternatives to certain prescribed Drugs. We may contact you and your Doctor to make you aware of these choices. Only you and your Doctor can determine if the therapeutic equivalent is right for you. For questions or issues about therapeutic Drug equivalents call Member Services at the phone number on the back of your Identification Card.
62 What’s Not Covered In this section you will find a review of items that are not covered by your Plan. Excluded items will not be covered even if the service, supply, or equipment is Medically Necessary. This section is only meant to be an aid to point out certain items that may be misunderstood as Covered Services. This section is not meant to be a complete list of all the items that are excluded by your Plan. 1. Abortion Services, supplies, Prescription Drugs, and other care for abortions and/or fetal reduction surgery. This Exclusion does not apply to abortions permitted under state law. 2. Administrative Charges a) Charges to complete claim forms, b) Charges to get medical records or reports, c) Membership, administrative, or access fees charged by Doctors or other Providers. Examples include, but are not limited to, fees for educational brochures or calling you to give you test results. 3. Aids for Non-verbal Communication Devices and computers to assist in communication and speech except for speech aid devices and tracheo-esophageal voice devices approved by Anthem. 4. Alternative / Complementary Medicine Services or supplies for alternative or complementary medicine. This includes, but is not limited to: a. Acupuncture, b. Acupressure, or massage to help alleviate pain, treat illness or promote health by putting pressure to one or more areas of the body, c. Holistic medicine, d. Homeopathic medicine, e. Hypnosis, f. Aroma therapy, g. Massage and massage therapy, except for massage therapy services that are part of a physical therapy treatment plan and covered under the “Therapy Services” section of this Booklet, h. Reiki therapy, i. Herbal, vitamin or dietary products or therapies, j. Naturopathy, k. Thermography, l. Orthomolecular therapy, m. Contact reflex analysis, n. Bioenergetic synchronization technique (BEST), o. Iridology-study of the iris, p. Auditory integration therapy (AIT), q. Colonic irrigation, r. Magnetic innervation therapy, s. Electromagnetic therapy. 5. Applied Behavioral Treatment (including, but not limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis) for all indications except as described under Autism Services in the “What’s Covered” section unless otherwise required by law. 6. Autopsies Autopsies and post-mortem testing.
63 7. Before Effective Date or After Termination Date Charges for care you get before your Effective Date or after your coverage ends, except as written in this Plan. 8. Certain Providers Service you get from Providers that are not licensed by law to provide Covered Services as defined in this Booklet. Examples of non-covered providers include, but are not limited to, masseurs or masseuses (massage therapists), and physical therapist technicians. 9. Charges Not Supported by Medical Records Charges for services not described in your medical records. 10. Chats or Texts Chats and texting are not a Covered Service unless appropriately provided via a secure and compliant application, according to applicable legal requirements. 11. Charges Over the Maximum Allowed Amount Charges over the Maximum Allowed Amount for Covered Services except for Surprise Billing Claims as outlined in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet. 12. Clinical Trial Non-Covered Services Any Investigational drugs or devices, non-health services required for you to receive the treatment, the costs of managing the research, or costs that would not be a Covered Service under this Plan for non-Investigational treatments. 13. Clinically-Equivalent Alternatives Certain Prescription Drugs may not be covered if you could use a clinically equivalent Drug, unless required by law. “Clinically equivalent” means Drugs that for most Members, will give you similar results for a disease or condition. If you have questions about whether a certain Drug is covered and which Drugs fall into this group, please call the number on the back of your Identification Card, or visit the website at www.anthem.com. If you or your Doctor believes you need to use a different Prescription Drug, please have your Doctor or pharmacist get in touch with the Plan. The Plan will cover the other Prescription Drug only if agreed that it is Medically Necessary and appropriate over the clinically equivalent Drug. Benefits will be reviewed for the Prescription Drug from time to time to make sure the Drug is still Medically Necessary. 14. Cochlear Implants Services for cochlear implants. 15. Complications of/or Services Related to Non-covered Services Services, supplies, or treatment related to or, for problems directly related to a service that is not covered by this Plan. Directly related means that the care took place as a direct result of the non-Covered Service and would not have taken place without the non-Covered Service. 16. Compound Ingredients Compound ingredients that are not FDA approved or do not require a prescription to dispense, and the compound medication is not essentially the same as an FDA- approved product from a drug manufacturer. Exceptions to non-FDA approved compound ingredients may include multi-source, non-proprietary vehicles and/or pharmaceutical adjuvants. 17. Cosmetic Services Treatments, services, Prescription Drugs, equipment, or supplies given for cosmetic services. Cosmetic services are meant to preserve, change, or improve how you look or are given for social reasons. No benefits are available for surgery or treatments to change the texture or look of your skin or to change the size, shape or look of facial or body features (such as your nose, eyes, ears, cheeks, chin, chest or breasts). This Exclusion does not apply to reconstructive surgery for breast symmetry after a mastectomy and surgery to correct birth defects and birth abnormalities. 18. Court Ordered Testing Court ordered testing or care unless Medically Necessary. 19. Crime Treatment of an injury or illness that results from a crime you committed, or tried to commit. This Exclusion does not apply if your involvement in the crime was solely the result of a medical or mental condition, or where you were the victim of a crime, including domestic violence. 20. Cryopreservation Charges associated with the cryopreservation of eggs, embryos, or sperm, including collection, storage, and thawing.
64 21. Custodial Care Custodial Care, convalescent care or rest cures. This Exclusion does not apply to Hospice services. 22. Delivery Charges Charges for delivery of Prescription Drugs. 23. Dental Devices for Snoring Oral appliances for snoring. 24. Dental Treatment Dental treatment, except as listed below. Excluded treatment includes but is not limited to preventive care and fluoride treatments; dental X- rays, supplies, appliances and all associated costs; and diagnosis and treatment for the teeth, jaw or gums such as: • Removing, restoring, or replacing teeth; • Medical care or surgery for dental problems (unless listed as a Covered Service in this Booklet); • Services to help dental clinical outcomes. Dental treatment for injuries that are a result of biting or chewing is also excluded. This Exclusion does not apply to services that the Plan must cover by law. 25. Drugs Contrary to Approved Medical and Professional Standards Drugs given to you or prescribed in a way that is against approved medical and professional standards of practice. 26. Drugs Over Quantity or Age Limits Drugs which are over any quantity or age limits set by the Plan. 27. Drugs Over the Quantity Prescribed or Refills After One Year Drugs in amounts over the quantity prescribed, or for any refill given more than one year after the date of the original Prescription Order. 28. Drugs That Do Not Need a Prescription Drugs that do not need a prescription by federal law (including Drugs that need a prescription by state law, but not by federal law), except for injectable insulin or other Drugs provided in the Preventive Care paragraph of the "What’s Covered" section. 29. Drugs Prescribed by Providers Lacking Qualifications/Certifications Prescription Drugs prescribed by a Provider that does not have the necessary qualifications and including certifications as determined by the Plan. 30. Educational Services Services, supplies or room and board for teaching, vocational, or self-training purposes. This includes, but is not limited to boarding schools and/or the room and board and educational components of a residential program where the primary focus of the program is educational in nature rather than treatment based. 31. Emergency Room Services for non-Emergency Care Services provided in an emergency room for conditions that do not meet the definition of Emergency. This includes, but is not limited to suture removal in an emergency room. For non-emergency care please use the closest Participating Urgent Care Center or your Primary Care Physician. 32. Experimental or Investigational Services Services or supplies that are found to be Experimental / Investigational. This also applies to services related to Experimental / Investigational services, whether you get them before, during, or after you get the Experimental / Investigational service or supply. The fact that a service or supply is the only available treatment will not make it Covered Service if the Plan concludes it is Experimental / Investigational. Details on the criteria the Plan uses to determine if a Service is Experimental or Investigational is outlined below. 33. Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses Eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct your eyesight unless listed as covered in this Booklet. This Exclusion does not apply to lenses needed after a covered eye surgery. 34. Eye Exercises Orthoptics and vision therapy. 35. Eye Surgery Eye surgery to fix errors of refraction, such as near-sightedness. This includes, but is not limited to, LASIK, radial keratotomy or keratomileusis, and excimer laser refractive keratectomy.
65 36. Family Members Services prescribed, ordered, referred by or given by a member of your immediate family, including your spouse, child, brother, sister, parent, in-law, or self. 37. Foot Care Routine foot care unless Medically Necessary. This Exclusion applies to cutting or removing corns and calluses; trimming nails; cleaning and preventive foot care, including but not limited to: a) Cleaning and soaking the feet. b) Applying skin creams to care for skin tone. c) Other services that are given when there is not an illness, injury or symptom involving the foot. 38. Foot Orthotics Foot orthotics, orthopedic shoes or footwear or support items unless used for a systemic illness affecting the lower limbs, such as severe diabetes, or as required by law. 39. Foot Surgery Surgical treatment of flat feet; subluxation of the foot; weak, strained, unstable feet; tarsalgia; metatarsalgia; hyperkeratosis. 40. Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Other Inappropriate Billing Services from a Non-Participating Provider that are determined to be not payable as a result of fraud, waste, abuse or inappropriate billing activities. This includes a Non-Participating Provider's failure to submit medical records required to determine the appropriateness of a claim. 41. Free Care Services you would not have to pay for if you didn’t have this Plan. This includes, but is not limited to government programs, services during a jail or prison sentence, services you get from Workers’ Compensation, and services from free clinics. If your Employer is not required to have Workers’ Compensation coverage, this Exclusion does not apply. This Exclusion will apply if you get the benefits in whole or in part. This Exclusion also applies whether or not you claim the benefits or compensation, and whether or not you get payments from any third party. 42. Growth Hormone Treatment Any treatment, device, drug, service or supply (including surgical procedures, devices to stimulate growth and growth hormones), solely to increase or decrease height or alter the rate of growth. 43. Health Club Memberships and Fitness Services Health club memberships, workout equipment, charges from a physical fitness or personal trainer, or any other charges for activities, equipment, or facilities used for physical fitness, even if ordered by a Doctor. This Exclusion also applies to health spas. 44. Hearing Aids Hearing aids , including bone-anchored hearing aids, or exams to prescribe or fit hearing aids and over-the-counter hearing aids, unless listed as covered in this Booklet. This Exclusion does not apply to cochlear implants. 45. Home Health Care a) Services given by registered nurses and other health workers who are not employees of or working under an approved arrangement with a Home Health Care Provider. b) Private duty nursing. c) Food, housing, homemaker services and home delivered meals. 46. Hospital Services Billed Separately Services rendered by Hospital resident Doctors or interns that are billed separately. This includes separately billed charges for services rendered by employees of Hospitals, labs or other institutions, and charges included in other duplicate billings. 47. Hyperhidrosis Treatment Medical and surgical treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). 48. Infertility Treatment Testing or treatment related to infertility.
66 49. Lost or Stolen Drugs Refills of lost or stolen Drugs. 50. Maintenance Therapy Rehabilitative treatment given when no further gains are clear or likely to occur. Maintenance therapy includes care that helps you keep your current level of function and prevents loss of that function, but does not result in any change for the better. This Exclusion does not apply to “Habilitative Services” as described in the “What’s Covered” section. 51. Medical Equipment, Devices and Supplies a) Replacement or repair of purchased or rental equipment because of misuse, abuse, or loss/theft. b) Surgical supports, corsets, or articles of clothing unless needed to recover from surgery or injury. c) Non-Medically Necessary enhancements to standard equipment and devices. d) Supplies, equipment and appliances, including wigs, that include comfort, luxury, or convenience items or features that exceed what is Medically Necessary in your situation. Reimbursement will be based on the Maximum Allowed Amount for a standard item that is a Covered Service, serves the same purpose, and is Medically Necessary. Any expense, including items you purchase with features that exceed what is Medically Necessary, will be limited to the Maximum Allowed Amount for the standard item, and the additional costs will be your responsibility. e) Disposable supplies for use in the home such as bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptics, dressings, ace-type bandages, and any other supplies, dressings, appliances or devices that are not specifically listed as covered in the “What's Covered” section. f) Continuous glucose monitoring systems. These are covered under the Prescription Drug Benefit at a Retail or Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy. 52. Medicare For which benefits are payable under Medicare Parts A, B, and/or D, or would have been payable if you had applied for Parts A and/or B, except as listed in this Booklet or as required by federal law, as described in the section titled "Medicare" in General Provisions. You should sign up for Medicare Part B as soon as possible to avoid large Out-of-Pocket costs. If you do not enroll in Medicare Part B when you are eligible, you may have large out-of-pocket costs. Please refer to Medicare.gov for more details on when you should enroll and when you are allowed to delay enrollment without penalties. 53. Missed or Cancelled Appointments Charges for missed or cancelled appointments. 54. Non-approved Drugs Drugs not approved by the FDA. 55. Non-Approved Facility Services from a Provider that does not meet the definition of Facility. 56. Non-Medically Necessary Services Services the Plan concludes are not Medically Necessary. This includes services that do not meet the Plan’s medical policy, clinical coverage, or benefit policy guidelines. 57. Nutritional or Dietary Supplements Nutritional and/or dietary supplements, except as described in this Booklet or that must be covered by law. This Exclusion includes, but is not limited to, nutritional formulas and dietary supplements that you can buy over-the-counter and those you can get without a written Prescription or from a licensed pharmacist. 58. Off label use Off label use, unless the Plan approves it, or when: (1) The Drug is recognized for treatment of the indication in at least one (1) standard reference compendium; (2) The Drug is recommended for that particular type of cancer and found to be safe and effective in formal clinical studies, the results of which have been published in a peer reviewed professional medical journal published in the United States or Great Britain. 59. Oral Surgery Extraction of teeth, surgery for impacted teeth and other oral surgeries for to treat the teeth or bones and gums directly supporting the teeth, except as listed in this Booklet. 60. Personal Care, Convenience and Mobile/Wearable Devices
67 a) Items for personal comfort, convenience, protection, cleanliness such as air conditioners, humidifiers, water purifiers, sports helmets, raised toilet seats, and shower chairs, b) First aid supplies and other items kept in the home for general use (bandages, cotton-tipped applicators, thermometers, petroleum jelly, tape, non-sterile gloves, heating pads), c) Home workout or therapy equipment, including treadmills and home gyms, d) Pools, whirlpools, spas, or hydrotherapy equipment, e) Hypo-allergenic pillows, mattresses, or waterbeds, f) Residential, auto, or place of business structural changes (ramps, lifts, elevator chairs, escalators, elevators, stair glides, emergency alert equipment, handrails). g) Consumer wearable / personal mobile devices (such as a smart phone, smart watch, or other personal tracking devices), including any software or applications. 61. Prescription Drugs Prescription Drugs received from a Retail or Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy. This Exclusion does not apply to Prescription Drugs used to treat diabetes. 62. Private Duty Nursing Private Duty Nursing Services given in a Hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility; Private Duty Nursing Services are Covered Services only when given as part of the “Home Care Services” benefit. 63. Prosthetics Prosthetics for sports or cosmetic purposes. This exclusion does not apply to wigs needed after cancer treatment. 64. Residential accommodations Residential accommodations to treat medical or behavioral health conditions, except when provided in a Hospital, Hospice, Skilled Nursing Facility, or Residential Treatment Center. This Exclusion includes procedures, equipment, services, supplies or charges for the following: a) Domiciliary care provided in a residential institution, treatment center, halfway house, or school because a Member’s own home arrangements are not available or are unsuitable, and consisting chiefly of room and board, even if therapy is included. b) Care provided or billed by a hotel, health resort, convalescent home, rest home, nursing home or other extended care facility home for the aged, infirmary, school infirmary, institution providing education in special environments, supervised living or halfway house, or any similar facility or institution. c) Services or care provided or billed by a school, Custodial Care center for the developmentally disabled, or outward-bound programs, even if psychotherapy is included. d) Services or care billed by a program or facility that principally or primarily provides services for individuals with a medical or Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder diagnosis or condition in an outdoor environment, including wilderness, adventure, outdoor programs or camps. 65. Routine Physicals and Immunizations Physical exams and immunizations required for travel, enrollment in any insurance program, as a condition of employment, for licensing, sports programs, or for other purposes, which are not required by law under the “Error! Reference source not found.” benefit. 66. Services Not Appropriate for Virtual Telemedicine / Telehealth Visits Services that Anthem determines require in-person contact and/or equipment that cannot be provided remotely. 67. Sexual Dysfunction Services or supplies for male or female sexual problems. 68. Stand-By Charges Stand-by charges of a Doctor or other Provider. 69. Sterilization Services to reverse an elective sterilization.
68 70. Surrogate Mother Services Services or supplies for a person not covered under this Plan for a surrogate pregnancy (including, but not limited to, the bearing of a child by another woman for an infertile couple). 71. Temporomandibular Joint Treatment Fixed or removable appliances which move or reposition the teeth, fillings, or prosthetics (crowns, bridges, dentures). 72. Travel Costs Mileage, lodging, meals, and other Member-related travel costs except as described in this Plan. 73. Vein Treatment Treatment of varicose veins or telangiectatic dermal veins (spider veins) by any method (including sclerotherapy or other surgeries) for cosmetic purposes. 74. Vision Services Vision services not described as Covered Services in this Booklet. 75. Waived Cost-Shares Non-Participating Provider For any service for which you are responsible under the terms of this Plan to pay a Copayment, Coinsurance or Deductible, and the Copayment, Coinsurance or Deductible is waived by a Non-Participating Provider. 76. Weight Loss Programs Programs, whether or not under medical supervision, unless listed as covered in this Booklet. This Exclusion includes, but is not limited to, commercial weight loss programs (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss) and fasting programs. This Exclusion does not apply to weight management programs required under federal law as part of the “Preventive Care” benefit. 77. Weight Loss Surgery Bariatric surgery. This includes but is not limited to Roux-en-Y (RNY), Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery or other gastric bypass surgery (surgeries lower stomach capacity and divert partly digested food from the duodenum to the jejunum, the section of the small intestine extending from the duodenum), or Gastroplasty, (surgeries that reduce stomach size), or gastric banding procedures. EXPERIMENTAL OR INVESTIGATIONAL SERVICES EXCLUSION Any Drug, biologic, device, diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply, used in or directly related to the diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a disease, injury, illness, or other health problem which is determined to be Experimental or Investigational is not covered by your Plan. The Plan will deem any Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply to be Experimental or Investigational if determined that one of more of the criteria listed below apply when the service is rendered with respect to the use for which benefits are sought. The Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply: • cannot be legally marketed in the United States without the final approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other licensing or regulatory agency, and such final approval has not been granted; • has been determined by the FDA to be contraindicated for the specific use; or • is subject to review and approval of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or other body serving a similar function; or • is given because of informed consent documents that describe the Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply as Experimental or Investigational, or otherwise show that the safety, toxicity, or efficacy of the Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply is under evaluation.
69 Any service not deemed Experimental or Investigational based on the criteria above may still be deemed Experimental or Investigational. In deciding whether a service is Experimental or Investigational, the Plan will consider the information described below and assess whether: • the scientific evidence is conclusory concerning the effect of the service on health outcomes; • the evidence demonstrates the service improves net health outcomes of the total population for whom the service might be proposed by producing beneficial effects that outweigh any harmful effects; • the evidence demonstrates the service has been shown to be as beneficial for the total population for whom the service might be proposed as any established alternatives; and • the evidence demonstrates the service has been shown to improve the net health outcomes of the total population for whom the service might be proposed under the usual conditions of medical practice outside clinical investigatory settings. The information considered or reviewed to decide whether a drug, biologic, device, diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply is Experimental or Investigational under the above criteria may include one or more items from the following list which is not all inclusive: • published authoritative, peer-reviewed medical or scientific literature, or the absence thereof; or • evaluations of national medical associations, consensus panels, and other technology evaluation bodies; or • documents issued by and/or filed with the FDA or other federal, state or local agency with the authority to approve, regulate, or investigate the use of the Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply; or • documents of an IRB or other similar body performing substantially the same function; or • consent document(s) and/or the written protocol(s)used by the treating Physicians, other medical professionals, or facilities or by other treating Physicians, other medical professionals or facilities studying substantially the same Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply; or • medical records; or • the opinions of consulting Providers and other experts in the field. The Plan has the sole authority and discretion to identify and weigh all information and decide all questions pertaining to whether a Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply is Experimental or Investigational.
70 Claims Payment This section describes how the Claims Administrator reimburses claims and what information is needed when you submit a claim. A claim must be filed for you to get benefits. Many Hospitals, Doctors and Other Providers will submit a claim for you. If you file the claim, use a claim form as described later in this section. Maximum Allowed Amount General This section describes how the Claims Administrator determines the amount of reimbursement for Covered Services. Reimbursement for services rendered by Participating and Non-Participating Providers is based on this Booklet’s Maximum Allowed Amount for the Covered Service that you receive. Please see “Inter-Plan Arrangements” later in this section for additional information. The Maximum Allowed Amount for this Plan is the maximum amount of reimbursement allowed for services and supplies: • That meet the definition of Covered Services, to the extent such services and supplies are covered under your Plan and are not excluded; • That are Medically Necessary; and • That are provided in accordance with all applicable preauthorization, utilization management or other requirements set forth in your Booklet. You will be required to pay a portion of the Maximum Allowed Amount to the extent you have not met your Deductible or have a Copayment or Coinsurance. Except for Surprise Billing Claims, when you receive Covered Services from a Non-Participating Provider, you may be responsible for paying any difference between the Maximum Allowed Amount and the Provider’s actual charges. This amount can be significant. *Surprise Billing Claims are described in the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet. Please refer to that section for further details. When you receive Covered Services from Provider, the Claims Administrator will, to the extent applicable, apply claim processing rules to the claim submitted for those Covered Services. These rules evaluate the claim information and, among other things, determine the accuracy and appropriateness of the procedure and diagnosis codes included in the claim. Applying these rules may affect the Claims Administrator’s determination of the Maximum Allowed Amount. The Claims Administrator’s application of these rules does not mean that the Covered Services you received were not Medically Necessary. It means the Claims Administrator had determined that the claim was submitted inconsistent with procedure coding rules and/or reimbursement policies. For example, your Provider may have submitted the claim using several procedure codes when there is a single procedure code that includes all of the procedures that were performed. When this occurs, the Maximum Allowed Amount will be based on the single procedure code rather than a separate Maximum Allowed Amount for each billed code. Likewise, when multiple procedures are performed on the same day by the same Doctor or other healthcare professional, the Plan may reduce the Maximum Allowed Amounts for those secondary and subsequent procedures because reimbursement at 100% of the Maximum Allowed Amount for those procedures would represent duplicative payment for components of the primary procedure that may be considered incidental or inclusive.
71 Participating Provider Status The Maximum Allowed Amount may vary depending upon whether the Provider is a Participating Provider or a Non-Participating Provider. A Participating Provider is a Provider who has signed a Participating agreement with the Plan. For Covered Services performed by a Participating Provider, the Maximum Allowed Amount for this Booklet is the rate the Provider has agreed with the Claims Administrator to accept as reimbursement for the Covered Services. Because Participating Providers have agreed to accept the Maximum Allowed Amount as payment in full for those Covered Services, they should not send you a bill or collect for amounts above the Maximum Allowed Amount. However, you may receive a bill or be asked to pay all or a portion of the Maximum Allowed Amount to the extent you have not met your Deductible or have a Copayment or Coinsurance. Please call Member Services for help in finding a Participating Provider or visit www.anthem.com. Providers who have not signed any contract with the Claims Administrator and are not in any of the Claims Administrator’s networks are Non-Participating Providers, subject to Blue Cross Blue Shield Association rules governing claims filed by certain ancillary providers. For Covered Services you receive from an Non-Participating Provider, the Maximum Allowed Amount for this Plan will be one of the following as determined by us: 1. An amount based on the non-Participating Provider fee schedule/rate, which the Plan has established in its discretion, and which the Plan reserves the right to modify from time to time, after considering one or more of the following: reimbursement amounts accepted by like/similar providers contracted with the Claims Administrator, reimbursement amounts paid by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the same services or supplies, and other industry cost, reimbursement and utilization data; or 2. An amount based on reimbursement or cost information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”). When basing the Maximum Allowed amount upon the level or method of reimbursement used by CMS, the Claims Administrator will update such information, which is unadjusted for geographic locality, no less than annually; or 3. An amount based on information provided by a third party vendor, which may reflect one or more of the following factors: (1) the complexity or severity of treatment; (2) level of skill and experience required for the treatment; or (3) comparable Providers’ fees and costs to deliver care, or 4. An amount negotiated by the Claims Administrator or a third party vendor, which has been agreed to by the Provider. This may include rates for services coordinated through case management, or 5. An amount based on or derived from the total charges billed by the Non-Participating Provider. Providers who are not contracted for this product, but are contracted for other products with the Claims Administrator are also considered Non-Participating. For this Plan, the Maximum Allowed Amount for services from these Providers will be one of the five methods shown above unless the contract between the Claims Administrator and that Provider specifies a different amount. For Covered Services rendered outside the Claims Administrator’s Service Area by Non-Participating Providers, claims may be priced using the local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan’s Non-Participating provider fee schedule / rate or the pricing arrangements required by applicable state or federal law. In certain situations, the Maximum Allowed Amount for out of area claims may be based on billed charges, the pricing the Plan would use if the healthcare services had been obtained within the Claims Administrator’s Service Area, or a special negotiated price.
72 Unlike Participating Providers, Non-Participating Providers may send you a bill and collect for the amount of the Provider’s charge that exceeds the Maximum Allowed Amount unless your claim involves a Surprise Billing Claim. You are responsible for paying the difference between the Maximum Allowed Amount and the amount the Provider charges. This amount can be significant. Choosing a Participating Provider will likely result in lower Out-of-Pocket costs to you. Please call Member Services for help in finding a Participating Provider or visit the Claims Administrator’s website at www.anthem.com. Member Services is also available to assist you in determining this Booklet’s Maximum Allowed Amount for a particular service from a Non-Participating Provider. In order for the Claims Administrator to assist you, you will need to obtain from your Provider the specific procedure code(s) and diagnosis code(s) for the services the Provider will render. You will also need to know the Provider’s charges to calculate your Out-of-Pocket responsibility. Although Member Services can assist you with this pre-service information, the final Maximum Allowed Amount for your claim will be based on the actual claim submitted by the Provider. For Prescription Drugs, the Maximum Allowed Amount is the amount determined by the Claims Administrator using Prescription Drug cost information provided by the Pharmacy Benefits Manager. Member Cost Share For certain Covered Services and depending on your Plan design, you may be required to pay a part of the Maximum Allowed Amount as your cost share amount (for example, Deductible, Copayment, and/or Coinsurance). The Plan will not provide any reimbursement for non-Covered Services. You may be responsible for the total amount billed by your Provider for non-Covered Services, regardless of whether such services are performed by a Participating or Non-Participating Provider. Non-Covered Services include services specifically excluded from coverage by the terms of your Plan and received after benefits have been exhausted Benefits may be exhausted by exceeding, for example, benefit caps or day/visit limits. Federal/State Taxes/Surcharges/Fees Federal or state laws or regulations may require a surcharge, tax or other fee. If applicable, we will include any such surcharge, tax or other fee as part of the claim charge passed on to you. Claims Review The Claims Administrator has processes to review claims before and after payment to detect fraud, waste, abuse and other inappropriate activity. Members seeking services from Non-Participating Providers could be balanced billed by the Non-Participating Provider for those services that are determined to be not payable as a result of these review processes. A claim may also be determined to be not payable due to a Provider's failure to submit medical records with the claims that are under review in these processes. Notice of Claim / Claims Forms / Proof of Loss After you get Covered Services, the Plan must receive written notice of your claim in order for benefits to be paid. • Participating Providers will submit claims for you. They are responsible for ensuring that claims have the information the Plan needs to determine benefits. If the claim does not include enough information, we will ask them for more details, and they will be required to supply those details within certain timeframes.
73 • Non-Participating claims can be submitted by the Provider if the Provider is willing to file on your behalf. However, if the Provider is not submitting on your behalf, you will be required to submit the claim. Claim forms are usually available from the Provider. If they do not have a claims form, you can send a written request to us, or contact Member Services and ask for a claims form to be sent to you. We will send the form to you within 15 days. If you do not receive the claims form within 15 days, you can still submit written notice of the claim without the claim form. The same information that would be given on the claim form must be included in the written notice of claim, including: • Name of patient. • Patient’s relationship with the Subscriber. • Identification number. • Date, type, and place of service. • Your signature and the Provider’s signature. Non-Participating claims must be submitted within 90 days. In certain cases, state or federal law may allow additional time to file a claim, if you could not reasonably file within the 90-day period. Failure to file a claim within 90 days shall not invalidate nor reduce any claim if it was not reasonably possible to file the claim within such time, provided such proof is submitted as soon as reasonably possible and in no event, except in the absence of legal capacity, later than one year from the time the claim is required to be filed. The claim must have the information the Plan needs to determine benefits. If the claim does not include enough information, we will ask you for more details and inform you of the time by which we need to receive that information. Once we receive the required information, we will process the claim according to the terms of your Plan. Please note that failure to submit the information we need by the time listed in our request could result in the denial of your claim, unless state or federal law requires an extension. Please contact Member Services if you have any questions or concerns about how to submit claims. Time Benefits Payable The Plan will pay all benefits within 30 days for clean claims filed electronically, or 45 days for clean claims filed on paper, except for claims for Emergency Care Services or Surprise Bills for Air Ambulance Services or non-Emergency Services performed by NonParticipating Providers at certain participating Facilities, which will be paid within 30 calendar days of receipt of information necessary to determine claim payment. "Clean claims" means a claim submitted by you or a Provider that has no defect, impropriety, or particular circumstance requiring special treatment preventing payment. If the Claims Administrator has not received the information it needs to process a claim, the Claims Administrator will ask for the additional information necessary to complete the claim. You will receive a copy of that request for additional information, for your information. In those cases, the Plan cannot complete the processing of the claim until the additional information requested has been received. The Claims Administrator will make its request for additional information within 30 days of its initial receipt of the claim and will complete its processing of the claim within 15 days after its receipt of all requested information. Member’s Cooperation You will be expected to complete and submit to the Plan all such authorizations, consents, releases, assignments and other documents that may be needed in order to obtain or assure reimbursement under Medicare, Workers’ Compensation or any other governmental program. If you fail to cooperate, you will be responsible for any charge for services.
74 Payment of Benefits You authorize the Claims Administrator, in its own discretion and on behalf of the Employer, to make payments directly to Providers for Covered Services. In no event, however, shall the Plan’s right to make payments directly to a Provider be deemed to suggest that any Provider is a beneficiary with independent claims and appeal rights under the Plan. The Claims Administrator also reserves the right, in its own discretion, except for claims for Emergency Care or Surprise Billing Claims for air ambulance services or non-Emergency services performed by Non-Participating Providers at certain Participating Facilities, which will be paid directly to Providers and Facilities. In the event that payment is made directly to you, you have the responsibility to apply this payment to the claim from the Non-Participating Provider. Payments and notice regarding the receipt and/or adjudication of claims may also be sent to an Alternate Recipient (which is defined herein as any child of a Subscriber who is recognized under a “Qualified Medical Child Support Order” as having a right to enrollment under the Employer’s Plan), or that person’s custodial parent or designated representative. Any payments made by the Claims Administrator (whether to any Provider for Covered Service or You) will discharge the Plan’s obligation to pay for Covered Services. You cannot assign your right to receive payment to anyone, except as required by a “Qualified Medical Child Support Order” as defined by, and if subject to, ERISA or any applicable Federal law. Once a Provider performs a Covered Service, the Claims Administrator will not honor a request to withhold payment of the claims submitted. The coverage, rights, and benefits under the Plan are not assignable by any Member without the written consent of the Plan, except as provided above. This prohibition against assignment includes rights to receive payment, claim benefits under the Plan and/or law, sue or otherwise begin legal action, or request Plan documents or any other information that a Participant or beneficiary may request under ERISA. Any assignment made without written consent from the Plan will be void and unenforceable. Inter-Plan Arrangements Out-of-Area Services Overview Anthem has a variety of relationships with other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Licensees. Generally, these relationships are called “Inter-Plan Arrangements.” These Inter-Plan Arrangements work based on rules and procedures issued by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (“Association”). Whenever you access healthcare services outside the geographic area Anthem serves (the “Anthem Service Area”), the claim for those services may be processed through one of these Inter-Plan Arrangements. The Inter-Plan Arrangements are described below. When you receive care outside of the Anthem Service Area, you will receive it from one of two kinds of Providers. Most Providers (“Participating providers”) contract with the local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan in that geographic area (“Host Blue”). Some Providers (“Non-Participating providers”) don’t contract with the Host Blue. The Plan explains below how it pays both kinds of Providers. Inter-Plan Arrangements Eligibility – Claim Types Most claim types are eligible to be processed through Inter-Plan Arrangements, as described above. Examples of claims that are not included are Prescription Drugs that you obtain from a Pharmacy and most dental or vision benefits. A. BlueCard® Program
75 Under the BlueCard® Program, when you receive Covered Services within the geographic area served by a Host Blue, Anthem will still fulfill its contractual obligations. But, the Host Blue is responsible for: (a) contracting with its Providers; and (b) handling its interactions with those Providers. When you receive Covered Services outside the Anthem Service Area and the claim is processed through the BlueCard Program, the amount you pay is calculated based on the lower of: • the billed charges for Covered Services; or • the negotiated price that the Host Blue makes available to Anthem. Often, this “negotiated price” will be a simple discount that reflects an actual price that the Host Blue pays to the Provider. Sometimes, it is an estimated price that takes into account special arrangements with that Provider. Sometimes, such an arrangement may be an average price, based on a discount that results in expected average savings for services provided by similar types of Providers. Estimated and average pricing arrangements may also involve types of settlements, incentive payments and/or other credits or charges. Estimated pricing and average pricing also take into account adjustments to correct for over- or underestimation of past pricing of claims, as noted above. However, such adjustments will not affect the price used for your claim because they will not be applied after a claim has already been paid. B. Special Cases: Value-Based Programs BlueCard® Program If you receive Covered Services under a Value-Based Program inside a Host Blue’s Service Area, you will not be responsible for paying any of the Provider Incentives, risk-sharing, and/or Care Coordinator Fees that are a part of such an arrangement, except when a Host Blue passes these fees to Anthem through average pricing or fee schedule adjustments. Additional information is available upon request. C. Inter-Plan Programs: Federal/State Taxes/Surcharges/Fees Federal or state laws or regulations may require a surcharge, tax or other fee. If applicable, the Claims Administrator will include any such surcharge, tax or other fee as part of the claim charge passed on to you. D. Non-Participating Providers Outside Our Service Area 1. Allowed Amounts and Member Liability Calculation When Covered Services are provided outside of Anthem’s Service Area by Non-Participating Providers, the Plan may determine benefits and make payment based on pricing from either the Host Blue or the pricing arrangements required by applicable state or federal law. In these situations, the amount you pay for such services as Deductible, Copayment or Coinsurance will be based on that allowed amount. Also, you may be responsible for the difference between the amount that the Non-Participating Provider bills and the payment the Plan will make for the Covered Services as set forth in this paragraph. Federal or state law, as applicable, will govern payments for Non-Participating Emergency services. 2. Exceptions In certain situations, the Plan may use other pricing methods, such as billed charges or the pricing it would use if the healthcare services had been obtained within the Anthem Service Area, or a special negotiated price to determine the amount the Plan will pay for services provided by Non- Participating Providers. In these situations, you may be liable for the difference between the
76 amount that the Non-Participating Provider bills and the payment the Plan makes for the Covered Services as set forth in this paragraph. E. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® Program If you plan to travel outside the United States, call Member Services to find out your Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® benefits. Benefits for services received outside of the United States may be different from services received in the United States. Remember to take an up to date health ID card with you. When you are traveling abroad and need medical care, you can call the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® Service Center any time. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll free number is 800-810-2583. Or you can call them collect at 804-673-1177. If you need inpatient hospital care, you or someone on your behalf, should contact the Claims Administrator for preauthorization. Keep in mind, if you need Emergency medical care, go to the nearest hospital. There is no need to call before you receive care. Please refer to the “Getting Approval for Benefits” section in this Booklet for further information. You can learn how to get preauthorization when you need to be admitted to the hospital for Emergency or non- emergency care. How Claims are Paid with Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® In most cases, when you arrange inpatient hospital care with Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core®, claims will be filed for you. The only amounts that you may need to pay up front are any Copayment, Coinsurance or Deductible amounts that may apply. You will typically need to pay for the following services up front: • Doctors services; • Inpatient hospital care not arranged through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core®; and • Outpatient services. You will need to file a claim form for any payments made up front. When you need Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® claim forms you can get international claims forms in the following ways: • Call the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® Service Center at the numbers above; or • Online at www.bcbsglobalcore.com. You will find the address for mailing the claim on the form.
77 Coordination of Benefits When Members Are Covered Under More Than One Plan This Coordination of Benefits (COB) provision applies when you have health care coverage under more than one Plan. Please note that several terms specific to this provision are listed below. Some of these terms have different meanings in other parts of the Booklet, e.g., Plan. For this provision only, "Plan” will have the meanings as specified below. In the rest of the Booklet, Plan has the meaning listed in the Definitions section. The order of benefit determination rules determine the order in which each Plan will pay a claim for benefits. The Plan that pays first is called the Primary Plan. The Primary Plan must pay benefits according to its policy terms regardless of the possibility that another Plan may cover some expenses. The Plan that pays after the Primary Plan is the Secondary Plan. The Secondary Plan may reduce the benefits it pays so that payments from all Plans do not exceed 100% of the total Allowable expense. The Allowable expense under COB is generally the higher of the Primary and Secondary Plans’ allowable amounts. A Non-Participating Provider can bill you for any remaining Coinsurance, Deductible and/or Copayment under the higher of the Plans’ allowable amounts. This higher allowable amount may be more than the Maximum Allowed Amount. COB DEFINITIONS Plan is any of the following that provides benefits or services for medical or dental care or treatment. If separate contracts are used to provide coordinated coverage for members of a group, the separate contracts are considered parts of the same Plan and there is no COB among those separate contracts. 1. Plan includes: Group and non-group insurance contracts and subscriber contracts; Health maintenance organization (HMO) contracts; Uninsured arrangements of group or group-type coverage; Coverage under group or non-group closed panel plans; Group-type contracts; Medical care components of long term care contracts, such as skilled nursing care; medical benefits under group or individual automobile contracts (whether “fault” or “no fault”); Other governmental benefits, except for Medicare, Medicaid or a government plan that, by law, provides benefits that are in excess of those of any private insurance plan or other nongovernmental plan. 2. Plan does not include: Accident only coverage; Specified disease or specified accident coverage; Limited health benefit coverage; Benefits for non-medical components of long-term care policies; Hospital indemnity coverage benefits or other fixed indemnity coverage; School accident-type coverages covering grammar, high school, and college students for accidents only, including athletic injuries, either on a twenty-four (24) hour or "to and from school" basis; and Medicare supplement policies. Each contract for coverage under items 1. or 2. above is a separate Plan. If a Plan has two parts and COB rules apply only to one of the two, each of the parts is treated as a separate Plan. This Plan means the part of the contract providing health care benefits that the COB provision applies to and which may be reduced because of the benefits of other plans. Any other part of the contract providing health care benefits is separate from this Plan. A contract may apply one COB provision to certain benefits, such as dental benefits, coordinating only with similar benefits, and may apply another COB provision to coordinate other benefits. The order of benefit determination rules determine whether this Plan is a Primary Plan or Secondary Plan when you have health care coverage under more than one Plan.
78 When this Plan is primary, it determines payment for its benefits first before those of any other Plan without considering any other Plan's benefits. When this Plan is secondary, it determines its benefits after those of another Plan and may reduce the benefits it pays so that all Plan benefits do not exceed 100% of the total Allowable expense. Allowable expense is a health care expense, including Deductibles, Coinsurance and Copayments, that is covered at least in part by any Plan covering you. When a Plan provides benefits in the form of services, the reasonable cash value of each service will be considered an Allowable expense and a benefit paid. An expense that is not covered by any Plan covering you is not an Allowable expense. In addition, any expense that a Provider by law or in accordance with a contractual agreement is prohibited from charging you is not an Allowable expense; however, if a Provider has a contractual agreement with both the Primary and Secondary Plans, then the higher of the of the contracted fees is the Allowable expense, and the Provider may charge up to the higher contracted fee. The following are non-Allowable expenses: 1. The difference between the cost of a semi-private hospital room and a private hospital room is not an Allowable expense, unless one of the Plans provides coverage for private hospital room expenses. 2. If you are covered by 2 or more Plans that calculate their benefit payments on the basis of usual and customary fees or relative value schedule reimbursement method or other similar reimbursement methods, any amount in excess of the highest reimbursement amount for a specific benefit is not an Allowable expense. 3. If you are covered by 2 or more Plans that provide benefits or services on the basis of negotiated fees, an amount in excess of the highest of the negotiated fees is not an Allowable expense. 4. If you are covered by one Plan that calculates its benefits or services on the basis of usual and customary fees or relative value schedule reimbursement method or other similar reimbursement method and another Plan that provides its benefits or services on the basis of negotiated fees, the Primary Plan's payment arrangement will be the Allowable expense for all Plans. However, if the Provider has contracted with the Secondary Plan to provide the benefit or service for a specific negotiated fee or payment amount that is different than the Primary Plan's payment arrangement and if the Provider's contract permits, the negotiated fee or payment will be the Allowable expense used by the Secondary Plan to determine its benefits. 5. The amount of any benefit reduction by the Primary Plan because you have failed to comply with the Plan provisions is not an Allowable expense. Examples of these types of Plan provisions include second surgical opinions, precertification of admissions or services, and Participating Provider arrangements. 6. The amount that is subject to the Primary high-deductible health plan’s deductible, if the Claims Administrator has been advised by you that all Plans covering you are high-deductible health plans and you intend to contribute to a health savings account established in accordance with Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 7. Any amounts incurred or claims made under the Prescription Drug program of this Plan. Closed panel plan is a Plan that provides health care benefits primarily in the form of services through a panel of Providers that contract with or are employed by the Plan, and that excludes coverage for services provided by other Providers, except in cases of emergency or referral by a panel member. Custodial parent is the parent awarded custody by a court decree or, in the absence of a court decree, is the parent with whom the child resides more than one half of the calendar year excluding any temporary visitation.
79 The Plan shall be secondary in coverage to any medical payments provision, no-fault automobile insurance policy, or personal injury protection policy regardless of any election made by anyone to the contrary. The Plan shall also be secondary to any excess insurance policy, including, but not limited to, school and/or athletic policies. This provision applies notwithstanding any coordination of benefits term to the contrary. ORDER OF BENEFIT DETERMINATION RULES When you are covered by two or more Plans, the rules for determining the order of benefit payments are: The Primary Plan pays or provides its benefits according to its terms of coverage and without regard to the benefits of under any other Plan. 1. Except as provided in Paragraph 2. below, a Plan that does not contain a coordination of benefits provision that is consistent with this COB provision is always primary unless the provisions of both Plans state that the complying Plan is primary. 2. Coverage that is obtained by virtue of membership in a group that is designed to supplement a part of a basic package of benefits and provides that this supplementary coverage will be excess to any other parts of the Plan provided by the contract holder. Examples of these types of situations are major medical coverages that are placed over base plan hospital and surgical benefits, and insurance type coverages that are written in connection with a closed panel plan to provide Non-Participating benefits. A Plan may consider the benefits paid or provided by another Plan in calculating payment of its benefits only when it is secondary to that other Plan. Each Plan determines its order of benefits using the first of the following rules that apply: Rule 1 - Non-Dependent or Dependent. The Plan that covers you other than as a Dependent, for example as an employee, member, policyholder, subscriber or retiree is the Primary Plan, and the Plan that covers you as a Dependent is the Secondary Plan. However, if you are a Medicare beneficiary and, as a result of federal law, Medicare is secondary to the Plan covering you as a Dependent and primary to the Plan covering you as other than a Dependent (e.g. a retired employee), then the order of benefits between the two Plans is reversed so that the Plan covering you as an employee, member, policyholder, subscriber or retiree is the Secondary Plan and the other Plan covering you as a Dependent is the Primary Plan. Rule 2 - Dependent Child Covered Under More Than One Plan. Unless there is a court decree stating otherwise, when a Dependent child is covered by more than one Plan the order of benefits is determined as follows: 1. For a Dependent child whose parents are married or are living together, whether or not they have ever been married: • The Plan of the parent whose birthday falls earlier in the calendar year is the Primary Plan; or • If both parents have the same birthday, the Plan that has covered the parent the longest is the Primary Plan. 2. For a Dependent child whose parents are divorced or separated or not living together, whether or not they have ever been married: • If a court decree states that one of the parents is responsible for the Dependent child's health care expenses or health care coverage and the Plan of that parent has actual knowledge of those terms, that Plan is primary. This rule applies to plan years commencing after the Plan is given
80 notice of the court decree; • If a court decree states that both parents are responsible for the Dependent child's health care expenses or health care coverage, the provisions of 1. above will determine the order of benefits; • If a court decree states that the parents have joint custody without specifying that one parent has responsibility for the health care expenses or health care coverage of the Dependent child, the provisions of 1. above will determine the order of benefits; or • If there is no court decree assigning responsibility for the Dependent child's health care expenses or health care coverage, the order of benefits for the child are as follows: - The Plan covering the Custodial parent; - The Plan covering the spouse of the Custodial parent; - The Plan covering the non-custodial parent; and then - The Plan covering the spouse of the non-custodial parent. 3. For a Dependent child covered under more than one Plan of individuals who are not the parents of the child, the provisions of item 1. above will determine the order of benefits as if those individuals were the parents of the child. Rule 3 - Active Employee or Retired or Laid-off Employee. The Plan that covers you as an active employee, that is, an employee who is neither laid off nor retired, is the Primary Plan. The Plan also covering you as a retired or laid-off employee is the Secondary Plan. The same would hold true if you are a Dependent of an active employee and you are a Dependent of a retired or laid-off employee. If the other Plan does not have this rule, and as a result, the Plans do not agree on the order of benefits, this rule is ignored. This rule does not apply if “Rule 1 - Non-Dependent or Dependent” can determine the order of benefits. Rule 4 - COBRA or State Continuation Coverage. If you are covered under COBRA or under a right of continuation provided by state or other federal law and are covered under another Plan, the Plan covering you as an employee, member, subscriber or retiree or covering you as a Dependent of an employee, member, subscriber or retiree is the Primary Plan and the COBRA or state or other federal continuation coverage is the Secondary Plan. If the other Plan does not have this rule, and as a result, the Plans do not agree on the order of benefits, this rule is ignored. This rule does not apply if “Rule 1 - Non- Dependent or Dependent” can determine the order of benefits. Rule 5 - Longer or Shorter Length of Coverage. The Plan that covered you longer is the Primary Plan and the Plan that covered you the shorter period of time is the Secondary Plan. Rule 6. If the preceding rules do not determine the order of benefits, the Allowable expenses will be shared equally between the Plans meeting the definition of Plan. In addition, This Plan will not pay more than it would have paid had it been the Primary Plan. EFFECT ON THE BENEFITS OF THIS PLAN When this Plan is secondary, it may reduce its benefits so that the total benefits paid or provided by all Plans during a plan year are not more than the total Allowable expenses. In determining the amount to be paid for any claim, the Secondary Plan will calculate the benefits it would have paid in the absence of other health care coverage and apply that calculated amount to any Allowable expense under its Plan that is unpaid by the Primary Plan. The Secondary Plan may then reduce its payment by the amount so that, when combined with the amount paid by the Primary Plan, the total benefits paid or provided by all
81 Plans for the claim do not exceed the total Allowable expense for that claim. Because the Allowable expense is generally the higher of the Primary and Secondary Plans’ allowable amounts, a Participating Provider can bill you for any remaining Coinsurance, Deductible and/or Copayment under the higher allowable amount. In addition, the Secondary Plan will credit to its Plan deductible any amounts it would have credited to its deductible in the absence of other health care coverage. If you are enrolled in two or more Closed panel plans and if, for any reason, including the provision of service by a non-panel Provider, benefits are not payable by one closed panel plan, COB will not apply between that Plan and other closed panel plans. RIGHT TO RECEIVE AND RELEASE NEEDED INFORMATION Certain facts about health care coverage and services are needed to apply these COB rules and to determine benefits payable under this Plan and other Plans. The Plan may get the facts it needs from or give them to other organizations or persons for the purpose of applying these rules and determining benefits payable under this Plan and other Plans covering the person claiming benefits. The Plan need not tell, or get the consent of, any person to do this. Each person claiming benefits under this Plan must give the Plan any facts it needs to apply those rules and determine benefits payable. FACILITY OF PAYMENT A payment made under another Plan may include an amount that should have been paid under this Plan. If it does, this Plan may pay that amount to the organization that made that payment. That amount will then be treated as though it were a benefit paid under this Plan. This Plan will not have to pay that amount again. The term "payment made" includes providing benefits in the form of services, in which case "payment made" means the reasonable cash value of the benefits provided in the form of services. RIGHT OF RECOVERY If the amount of the payments made by this Plan is more than should have paid under this COB provision, this Plan may recover the excess from one or more of the persons: 1. This Plan has paid or for whom this Plan paid; or 2. Any other person or organization that may be responsible for the benefits or services provided for the Member. The "amount of the payments made" includes the reasonable cash value of any benefits provided in the form of services.
82 Subrogation and Reimbursement These Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions apply when the Plan pays benefits as a result of injuries or illnesses You sustained, and You have a right to a Recovery or have received a Recovery from any source. Definitions As used in these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions, “You” or “Your” includes anyone on whose behalf the plan pays benefits. These Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions apply to all current or former plan participants and plan beneficiaries. The provisions also apply to the parents, guardian, or other representative of a dependent child who incurs claims and is or has been covered by the Plan. The Plan’s rights under these provisions shall also apply to the personal representative or administrator of Your estate, Your heirs or beneficiaries, minors, and legally incompetent or disabled persons. If the covered person is a minor, any amount recovered by the minor, the minor’s trustee, guardian, parent, or other representative, shall be subject to these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions. Likewise, if the covered person’s relatives, heirs, and/or assignees make any Recovery because of injuries sustained by the covered person, or because of the death of the covered person, that Recovery shall be subject to this provision, regardless of how any Recovery is allocated or characterized. As used in these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions, “Recovery” includes, but is not limited to, monies received from any person or party, any person’s or party’s liability insurance coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, personal umbrella coverage, workers’ compensation insurance or fund, premises medical payments coverage, restitution, or “no-fault” or personal injury protection insurance and/or automobile medical payments coverage, or any other first or third party insurance coverage, whether by lawsuit, settlement or otherwise. Regardless of how You or Your representative or any agreements allocate or characterize the money You receive as a Recovery, it shall be subject to these provisions. Subrogation Immediately upon paying or providing any benefit under the Plan, the Plan shall be subrogated to, or stand in the place of, all of Your rights of recovery with respect to any claim or potential claim against any party, due to an injury, illness or condition to the full extent of benefits provided or to be provided by the Plan. The Plan has the right to recover payments it makes on Your behalf from any party or insurer responsible for compensating You for Your illnesses or injuries. The Plan has the right to take whatever legal action it sees fit against any person, party, or entity to recover the benefits paid under the Plan. The Plan may assert a claim or file suit in Your name and take appropriate action to assert its subrogation claim, with or without Your consent. The Plan is not required to pay You part of any recovery it may obtain, even if it files suit in Your name. Reimbursement If You receive any payment as a result of an injury, illness or condition, You agree to reimburse the Plan first from such payment for all amounts the Plan has paid and will pay as a result of that injury, illness or condition, up to and including the full amount of Your recovery. If You obtain a Recovery and the Plan has not been repaid for the benefits the Plan paid on Your behalf, the Plan shall have a right to be repaid from the Recovery in the amount of the benefits paid on Your behalf. You must promptly reimburse the Plan from any Recovery to the extent of benefits the Plan paid on Your behalf regardless of whether the payments You receive make You whole for Your losses, illnesses and/or injuries. Secondary to Other Coverage The Plan shall be secondary in coverage to any medical payments provision, no-fault automobile insurance policy, or personal injury protection policy regardless of any election made by You to the
83 contrary. The Plan shall also be secondary to any excess insurance policy, including, but not limited to, school and/or athletic policies. This provision applies notwithstanding any coordination of benefits term to the contrary. Assignment In order to secure the Plan’s rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement Provisions, You agree to assign to the Plan any benefits or claims or rights of recovery You have under any automobile policy or other coverage, to the full extent of the Plan’s subrogation and reimbursement claims. This assignment allows the Plan to pursue any claim You may have regardless of whether You choose to pursue the claim. Applicability to All Settlements and Judgments Notwithstanding any allocation or designation of Your Recovery made in any settlement agreement, judgment, verdict, release, or court order, the Plan shall have a right of full recovery, in first priority, against any Recovery You make. Furthermore, the Plan’s rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions will not be reduced due to Your own negligence. The terms of these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions shall apply and the Plan is entitled to full recovery regardless of whether any liability for payment is admitted and regardless of whether the terms of any settlement, judgment, or verdict pertaining to Your Recovery identify the medical benefits the Plan provided or purport to allocate any portion of such Recovery to payment of expenses other than medical expenses. The Plan is entitled to recover from any Recovery, even those designated as being for pain and suffering, non- economic damages, and/or general damages only. Constructive Trust By accepting benefits from the Plan, You agree that if You receive any payment as a result of an injury, illness or condition, You will serve as a constructive trustee over those funds. You and Your legal representative must hold in trust for the Plan the full amount of the Recovery to be paid to the Plan immediately upon receipt. Failure to hold such funds in trust will be deemed a breach of your fiduciary duty to the Plan. Any Recovery You obtain must not be dissipated or disbursed until such time as the Plan has been repaid in accordance with these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions. Lien Rights The Plan will automatically have a lien to the extent of benefits paid by the Plan for the treatment of Your illness, injury or condition upon any Recovery related to treatment for any illness, injury or condition for which the Plan paid benefits. The lien may be enforced against any party who possesses funds or proceeds from Your Recovery including, but not limited to, you, your representative or agent, and/or any other source possessing funds from Your Recovery. You and Your legal representative acknowledge that the portion of the Recovery to which the Plan’s equitable lien applies is a Plan asset. The Plan shall be entitled to equitable relief, including without limitation restitution, the imposition of a constructive trust or an injunction, to the extent necessary to enforce the Plan’s lien and/or to obtain (or preclude the transfer, dissipation or disbursement of) such portion of any Recovery in which the Plan may have a right or interest. First-Priority Claim By accepting benefits from the Plan, You acknowledge the Plan’s rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions are a first priority claim and are to be repaid to the Plan before You receive any Recovery for your damages. The Plan shall be entitled to full reimbursement on a first-dollar basis from any Recovery, even if such payment to the Plan will result in a Recovery which is insufficient to make You whole or to compensate You in part or in whole for the losses, injuries, or illnesses You sustained. The “made-whole” rule does not apply. To the extent that the total assets from which a Recovery is available are insufficient to satisfy in full the Plan's subrogation claim and any claim held by
84 You, the Plan's subrogation claim shall be first satisfied before any part of a Recovery is applied to Your claim, Your attorney fees, other expenses or costs. The Plan is not responsible for any attorney fees, attorney liens, other expenses or costs You incur. The ''common fund'' doctrine does not apply to any funds recovered by any attorney You hire regardless of whether funds recovered are used to repay benefits paid by the Plan. Cooperation You agree to cooperate fully with the Plan’s efforts to recover benefits paid. The duty to cooperate includes, but is not limited, to the following: • You must promptly notify the Plan of how, when and where an accident or incident resulting in personal injury or illness to You occurred, all information regarding the parties involved and any other information requested by the Plan. • You must notify the plan within 30 days of the date when any notice is given to any party, including an insurance company or attorney, of Your intention to pursue or investigate a claim to recover damages or obtain compensation due to Your injury, illness or condition. • You must cooperate with the Plan in the investigation, settlement and protection of the Plan's rights. In the event that You or Your legal representative fails to do whatever is necessary to enable the Plan to exercise its subrogation or reimbursement rights, the Plan shall be entitled to deduct the amount the Plan paid from any future benefits under the Plan. • You and your agents shall provide all information requested by the Plan, the Claims Administrator or its representative including, but not limited to, completing and submitting any applications or other forms or statements as the Plan may reasonably request and all documents related to or filed in personal injury litigation. • You recognize that to the extent that the Plan paid or will pay benefits under a capitated agreement, the value of those benefits for purposes of these provisions will be the reasonable value of those payments or the actual paid amount, whichever is higher. • You must not do anything to prejudice the Plan's rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from making any settlement or recovery that attempts to reduce or exclude the full cost of all benefits provided by the Plan. • You must send the Plan copies of all police reports, notices or other papers received in connection with the accident or incident resulting in personal injury or illness to You. • You must promptly notify the Plan if You retain an attorney or if a lawsuit is filed on Your behalf. • You must immediately notify the Plan if a trial is commenced, if a settlement occurs or if potentially dispositive motions are filed in a case. In the event that You or Your legal representative fails to do whatever is necessary to enable the Plan to exercise its rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions, the Plan shall be entitled to deduct the amount the Plan paid from any future benefits under the Plan. If You fail to repay the Plan, the Plan shall be entitled to deduct any of the unsatisfied portion of the amount of benefits the Plan has paid or the amount of Your Recovery whichever is less, from any future benefit under the Plan if: The amount the Plan paid on Your behalf is not repaid or otherwise recovered by the Plan; or You fail to cooperate. In the event You fail to disclose the amount of Your settlement to the Plan, the Plan shall be entitled to deduct the amount of the Plan’s lien from any future benefit under the Plan. The Plan shall also be entitled to recover any of the unsatisfied portion of the amount the Plan has paid or the amount of Your Recovery, whichever is less, directly from the Providers to whom the Plan has made payments on Your behalf. In such a circumstance, it may then be Your obligation to pay the Provider the full billed amount, and the Plan will not have any obligation to pay the Provider or reimburse You.
85 You acknowledge the Plan has the right to conduct an investigation regarding the injury, illness or condition to identify potential sources of recovery. The Plan reserves the right to notify all parties and their agents of its lien. Agents include, but are not limited to, insurance companies and attorneys. You acknowledge the Plan has notified you that it has the right pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), 42 U.S.C. Section 1301 et seq, to share Your personal health information in exercising these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions. The Plan is entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs incurred in enforcing its rights under these Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions. Discretion The Plan Administrator has sole discretion to interpret the terms of the Subrogation and Reimbursement provisions of this Plan in its entirety and reserves the right to make changes as it deems necessary.
86 Your Right To Appeal The Plan wants your experience to be as positive as possible. There may be times, however, when you have a complaint, problem, or question about your Plan or a service you have received. In those cases, please contact Member Services by calling the number on the back of your ID card. The Claims Administrator will try to resolve your complaint informally by talking to your Provider or reviewing your claim. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you have the right to file an appeal, which is defined as follows: For purposes of these Appeal provisions, “claim for benefits” means a request for benefits under the Plan. The term includes both pre-service and post-service claims. • A pre-service claim is a claim for benefits under the plan for which you have not received the benefit or for which you may need to obtain approval in advance. • A post-service claim is any other claim for benefits under the plan for which you have received the service. If your claim is denied or if your coverage is rescinded: • you will be provided with a written notice of the denial or rescission; and • you are entitled to a full and fair review of the denial or rescission. The procedure the Claims Administrator will follow will satisfy the requirements for a full and fair review under applicable federal regulations. Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination If your claim is denied, the Claims Administrator’s notice of the adverse benefit determination (denial) will include: • information sufficient to identify the claim involved; • the specific reason(s) for the denial; • a reference to the specific plan provision(s) on which the Claims Administrator’s determination is based; • a description of any additional material or information needed to perfect your claim; • an explanation of why the additional material or information is needed; • a description of the plan’s review procedures and the time limits that apply to them, including a statement of your right to bring a civil action under ERISA within one year of the grievance or appeals decision if you submit a grievance or appeal and the claim denial is upheld; • information about any internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion relied upon in making the claim determination and about your right to request a copy of it free of charge, along with a discussion of the claims denial decision; • information about the scientific or clinical judgment for any determination based on medical necessity or experimental treatment, or about your right to request this explanation free of charge, along with a discussion of the claims denial decision; and • Information regarding your potential right to an External Appeal pursuant to federal law. For claims involving urgent/concurrent care: • the Claims Administrator’s notice will also include a description of the applicable urgent/concurrent review process; and • the Claims Administrator may notify you or your authorized representative within 72 hours orally and then furnish a written notification.
87 Appeals You have the right to appeal an adverse benefit determination (claim denial or rescission of coverage). You or your authorized representative must file your appeal within 180 calendar days after you are notified of the denial or rescission. You will have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records, and other information supporting your claim. The Claims Administrator’s review of your claim will take into account all information you submit, regardless of whether it was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The Claims Administrator’s shall offer a single mandatory level of appeal and an additional voluntary second level of appeal which may be a panel review, independent review, or other process consistent with the entity reviewing the appeal. The time frame allowed for the Claims Administrator to complete its review is dependent upon the type of review involved (e.g. pre-service, concurrent, post-service, urgent, etc.). For pre-service claims involving urgent/concurrent care, you may obtain an expedited appeal. You or your authorized representative may request it orally or in writing. All necessary information, including the Claims Administrator’s decision, can be sent between the Claims Administrator and you by telephone, facsimile or other similar method. To file an appeal for a claim involving urgent/concurrent care, you or your authorized representative must contact the Claims Administrator at the number shown on your identification card and provide at least the following information: • the identity of the claimant; • the date (s) of the medical service; • the specific medical condition or symptom; • the provider’s name; • the service or supply for which approval of benefits was sought; and • any reasons why the appeal should be processed on a more expedited basis. All other requests for appeals should be submitted in writing by the Member or the Member’s authorized representative, except where the acceptance of oral appeals is otherwise required by the nature of the appeal (e.g. urgent care). You or your authorized representative must submit a request for review to: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, ATTN: Appeals, P.O. Box 105568; Atlanta, GA 30348-5568. You must include Your Member Identification Number when submitting an appeal. Upon request, the Claims Administrator will provide, without charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to your claim. “Relevant” means that the document, record, or other information: • was relied on in making the benefit determination; or • was submitted, considered, or produced in the course of making the benefit determination; or • demonstrates compliance with processes and safeguards to ensure that claim determinations are made in accordance with the terms of the plan, applied consistently for similarly-situated claimants; or • is a statement of the plan’s policy or guidance about the treatment or benefit relative to your diagnosis. The Claims Administrator will also provide you, free of charge, with any new or additional evidence considered, relied upon, or generated in connection with your claim. In addition, before you receive an adverse benefit determination on review based on a new or additional rationale, the Claims Administrator will provide you, free of charge, with the rationale. For Out of State Appeals You have to file Provider appeals with the Host Plan. This means Providers must file appeals with the same plan to which the claim was filed.
88 How Your Appeal will be Decided When the Claims Administrator considers your appeal, the Claims Administrator will not rely upon the initial benefit determination or, for voluntary second-level appeals, to the earlier appeal determination. The review will be conducted by an appropriate reviewer who did not make the initial determination and who does not work for the person who made the initial determination. A voluntary second-level review will be conducted by an appropriate reviewer who did not make the initial determination or the first-level appeal determination and who does not work for the person who made the initial determination or first- level appeal determination. If the denial was based in whole or in part on a medical judgment, including whether the treatment is experimental, investigational, or not medically necessary, the reviewer will consult with a health care professional who has the appropriate training and experience in the medical field involved in making the judgment. This health care professional will not be one who was consulted in making an earlier determination or who works for one who was consulted in making an earlier determination. Notification of the Outcome of the Appeal If you appeal a claim involving urgent/concurrent care, the Claims Administrator will notify you of the outcome of the appeal as soon as possible, but not later than 72 hours after receipt of your request for appeal. If you appeal any other pre-service claim, the Claims Administrator will notify you of the outcome of the appeal within 30 days after receipt of your request for appeal. If you appeal a post-service claim, the Claims Administrator will notify you of the outcome of the appeal within 60 days after receipt of your request for appeal. Appeal Denial If your appeal is denied, that denial will be considered an adverse benefit determination. The notification from the Claims Administrator will include all of the information set forth in the above section entitled “Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination.” If, after the Plan’s determination that you are appealing, the Claims Administrator considers, relies on or generates any new or additional evidence in connection with your claim, the Claims Administrator will provide you with that new or additional evidence, free of charge. The Claims Administrator will not base its appeal(s) decision(s) on a new or additional rationale without first providing you (free of charge) with, and a reasonable opportunity to respond to, any such new or additional rationale. If the Claims Administrator fails to follow the appeal procedures outlined under this section the appeals process may be deemed exhausted. However, the appeals process will not be deemed exhausted due to minor violations that do not cause, and are not likely to cause, prejudice or harm so long as the error was for good cause or due to matters beyond the Claims Administrator’s control. Voluntary Second Level Appeals If you are dissatisfied with the Plan's mandatory first level appeal decision, a voluntary second level appeal may be available. If you would like to initiate a second level appeal, please write to the address listed above. Voluntary appeals must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the denial of the first level appeal. You are not required to complete a voluntary second level appeal prior to submitting a request for an independent External Review.
89 External Review If the outcome of the mandatory first level appeal is adverse to you and it was based on medical judgment, or if it pertained to a rescission of coverage, you may be eligible for an independent External Review pursuant to federal law. You must submit your request for External Review to the Claims Administrator within four (4) months of the notice of your final internal adverse determination. A request for an External Review must be in writing unless the Claims Administrator determines that it is not reasonable to require a written statement. You do not have to re-send the information that you submitted for internal appeal. However, you are encouraged to submit any additional information that you think is important for review. For pre-service claims involving urgent/concurrent care, you may proceed with an Expedited External Review without filing an internal appeal or while simultaneously pursuing an expedited appeal through the Claims Administrator’s internal appeal process. You or your authorized representative may request it orally or in writing. All necessary information, including the Claims Administrator’s decision, can be sent between the Claims Administrator and you by telephone, facsimile or other similar method. To proceed with an Expedited External Review, you or your authorized representative must contact the Claims Administrator at the number shown on your identification card and provide at least the following information: • the identity of the claimant; • the date (s) of the medical service; • the specific medical condition or symptom; • the provider’s name; • the service or supply for which approval of benefits was sought; and • any reasons why the appeal should be processed on a more expedited basis. All other requests for External Review should be submitted in writing unless the Claims Administrator determines that it is not reasonable to require a written statement. Such requests should be submitted by you or your authorized representative to: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, ATTN: Appeals, P.O. Box 105568; Atlanta, GA 30348-5568. You must include Your Member Identification Number when submitting an appeal. This is not an additional step that you must take in order to fulfill your appeal procedure obligations described above. Your decision to seek External Review will not affect your rights to any other benefits under this health care plan. There is no charge for you to initiate an independent External Review. The External Review decision is final and binding on all parties except for any relief available through applicable state laws or ERISA. Requirement to file an Appeal before filing a lawsuit No lawsuit or legal action of any kind related to a benefit decision may be filed by you in a court of law or in any other forum, unless it is commenced within one year of the Plan's final decision on the claim or other request for benefits. If the Plan decides a grievance or appeal is untimely, the Plan's latest decision on the merits of the underlying claim or benefit request is the final decision date. You must exhaust the Plan's internal Appeals Procedure but not including any voluntary level of appeal, before filing a lawsuit or taking other legal action of any kind against the Plan. If your health benefit plan is sponsored by your employer and subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and your grievance or appeal as described above results in an adverse benefit determination, you have a right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA within one year of the appeal decision.
90 The Claims Administrator reserves the right to modify the policies, procedures and timeframes in this section upon further clarification from Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor. Prescription Drug List Exceptions Please refer to the “Prescription Drug List” and “Step Therapy Protocol Exceptions” sections in “Prescription Drug Benefit at a Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for the process to submit an exception request for Drugs not on the Prescription Drug List or that require Step Therapy.
91 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members In this section you will find information on who is eligible for coverage under this Plan and when Members can be added to your coverage. Eligibility requirements are described in general terms below. For more specific information, please see your Human Resources or Benefits Department. Who is Eligible for Coverage The Subscriber To be eligible to enroll as a Subscriber, the individual must: • Be an employee member, or retiree of the Employer, and: • Be entitled to participate in the benefit Plan arranged by the Employer; • Have satisfied any probationary or waiting period established by the Employer and (for non-retirees) and perform the duties of your principal occupation for the Employer; Dependents To be eligible to enroll as a Dependent, you must be listed on the enrollment form completed by the Subscriber, meet all Dependent eligibility criteria established by the Employer, and be one of the following: • The Subscriber's spouse. For information on spousal eligibility please contact the Employer. • The Subscriber’s Domestic Partner, if Domestic Partner coverage is allowed under the Group’s Plan. Please contact the Group to determine if Domestic Partners are eligible under this Plan. Domestic Partner, or Domestic Partnership means a person of the same or opposite sex who has signed the Domestic Partner Affidavit certifying that he or she is the Subscriber’s sole Domestic Partner and has been for 12 months or more; he or she is mentally competent; he or she is not related to the Subscriber by blood closer than permitted by state law for marriage; he or she is not married to anyone else; and he or she is financially interdependent with the Subscriber. For purposes of this Plan, a Domestic Partner shall be treated the same as a spouse, and a Domestic Partner’s child, adopted child, or child for whom a Domestic Partner has legal guardianship shall be treated the same as any other child. Any federal or state law that applies to a Member who is a spouse or child under this Plan shall also apply to a Domestic Partner or a Domestic Partner’s child who is a Member under this Plan. This includes but is not limited to, COBRA, FMLA, and COB. A Domestic Partner’s or a Domestic Partner’s child’s coverage ends on the date of dissolution of the Domestic Partnership. To apply for coverage as Domestic Partners, both the Subscriber and the Domestic Partner must complete and sign the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership in addition to the Enrollment Application, and must meet all criteria stated in the Affidavit. Signatures must be witnessed and notarized by a notary public. The Employer reserves the right to make the ultimate decision in determining eligibility of the Domestic Partner. • The Subscriber’s or the Subscriber’s spouse’s children, including natural children, stepchildren, newborn and legally adopted children and children who the Employer has determined are covered under a Qualified Medical Child Support Order as defined by ERISA or any applicable state law. • Children for whom the Subscriber or the Subscriber’s spouse is a legal guardian or as otherwise required by law.
92 All enrolled eligible children will continue to be covered until the age limit listed in the Schedule of Benefits. Coverage may be continued past the age limit in the following circumstance: • For those already enrolled Dependents who cannot work to support themselves due to mental, intellectual, or physical impairment. The Dependent’s impairment must start before the end of the period they would become ineligible for coverage. The Plan must be informed of the Dependent’s eligibility for continuation of coverage within 120 days after the Dependent would normally become ineligible. You must then give proof as often as the Plan requires. This will not be more often than once a year after the two-year period following the child reaching the limiting age. You must give the proof at no cost to the Plan. You must notify the Claims Administrator or the Employer if the Dependent’s marital status changes and they are no longer eligible for continued coverage. You may be required to give proof of continued eligibility for any enrolled child. Your failure to give this information could result in termination of a child’s coverage. To obtain coverage for children, you may be required to give the Claims Administrator and/or Employer a copy of any legal documents awarding guardianship of such child(ren) to you. Types of Coverage Your Employer offers the enrollment options listed below. After reviewing the available options, you may choose the option that best meets your needs. The options are as follows: • Subscriber only (also referred to as single coverage); • Subscriber and spouse; or Domestic Partner; • Subscriber and one child; • Subscriber and children; • Subscriber and family. When You Can Enroll Initial Enrollment The Employer will offer an initial enrollment period to new Subscribers and their Dependents when the Subscriber is first eligible for coverage. Coverage will be effective based on the waiting period chosen by the Employer, and will not exceed 90 days. If you did not enroll yourself and/or your Dependents during the initial enrollment period you will only be able to enroll during an Open Enrollment period or during a Special Enrollment period, as described below. Open Enrollment Open Enrollment refers to a period of time, usually 60 days, during which eligible Subscribers and Dependents can apply for or change coverage. Open Enrollment occurs only once per year. The Employer will notify you when Open Enrollment is available. Special Enrollment Periods If a Subscriber or Dependent does not apply for coverage when they were first eligible, they may be able to join the Plan prior to Open Enrollment if they qualify for Special Enrollment. Except as noted otherwise below, the Subscriber or Dependent must request Special Enrollment within 31 days of a qualifying event.
93 Special Enrollment is available for eligible individuals who: • Lost eligibility under a prior health plan for reasons other than non-payment of fees or due to fraud or intentional misrepresentation of a material fact. • Exhausted COBRA benefits or stopped receiving group contributions toward the cost of the prior health plan. • Lost employer contributions towards the cost of the other coverage; • Are now eligible for coverage due to marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption. Important Notes about Special Enrollment: • Members who enroll during Special Enrollment are not considered Late Enrollees. • Individuals must request coverage within 31 days of a qualifying event (i.e., marriage, exhaustion of COBRA, etc.). Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Special Enrollment Eligible Subscribers and Dependents may also enroll under two additional circumstances: • The Subscriber’s or Dependent’s Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage is terminated as a result of loss of eligibility; or • The Subscriber or Dependent becomes eligible for a subsidy (state premium assistance program). The Subscriber or Dependent must request Special Enrollment within 60 days of the above events. Late Enrollees If the Subscriber does not enroll themselves and/or their Dependents when first eligible or during a Special Enrollment period, will not be eligible to enroll until the next Open Enrollment Period. Members Covered Under the Employer’s Prior Plan Members who were previously enrolled under another plan offered by the Employer that is being replaced by this Plan are eligible for coverage on the Effective Date of this coverage. Enrolling Dependent Children Newborn Children Newborn children are covered automatically from the moment of birth for a period of 31 days. To continue coverage beyond the 31 day period you should submit an application / change form to the Employer, within 31 days following the birth, to add the newborn to your Plan. Even if no additional fee is required, you should still submit an application / change form to the Employer to add the newborn to your Plan, to make sure the Claims Administrator has accurate records and are able to cover your claims. Newborn children coverage will be for injury or sickness, including: • The necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities; and
94 • Medical and dental treatment (including orthodontic and oral surgery treatment) involved in the management of birth defects for cleft lip and cleft palate. Adopted Children A child will be considered adopted from the earlier of: (1) the moment of placement in your home; or (2) the date of an entry of an order granting custody of the child to you. The child will continue to be considered adopted unless the child is removed from your home prior to issuance of a legal decree of adoption. Your Dependent’s Effective Date will be the date of the adoption or placement for adoption if you send the Employer the completed application / change form within 31 days of the event. To continue coverage beyond the 31 day period you should submit an application / change form to the Employer, within 31 days following the adoption or placement for adoption. Adding a Child due to Award of Legal Custody or Guardianship If you or your spouse is awarded legal custody or guardianship for a child, an application must be submitted within 31 days of the date legal custody or guardianship is awarded by the court. Coverage will be effective on the date the court granted legal custody or guardianship. Qualified Medical Child Support Order If you are required by a qualified medical child support order or court order, as defined by ERISA and/or applicable state or federal law, to enroll your child in this Plan, the Plan will permit the child to enroll at any time without regard to any Open Enrollment limits and will provide the benefits of this Plan according to the applicable requirements of such order. However, a child's coverage will not extend beyond any Dependent Age Limit listed in the Schedule of Benefits.
95 Updating Coverage and/or Removing Dependents You are required to notify the Employer of any changes that affect your eligibility or the eligibility of your Dependents for this Plan. When any of the following occurs, contact the Employer and complete the appropriate forms: • Changes in address; • Marriage or divorce; • Death of an enrolled family member (a different type of coverage may be necessary); • Enrollment in another health plan or in Medicare; • Eligibility for Medicare; • Dependent child reaching the Dependent Age Limit (see “Termination and Continuation of Coverage”); • Enrolled Dependent child either becomes totally or permanently disabled, or is no longer disabled. Failure to notify the Employer of individuals no longer eligible for services will not obligate the Plan to cover such services, even if Fees are received for those individuals. All notifications must be in writing and on approved forms. Nondiscrimination No person who is eligible to enroll will be refused enrollment based on health status, health care needs, genetic information, previous medical information, disability, sexual orientation or identity, gender, or age. Statements and Forms All Members must complete and submit applications or other forms or statements that the Employer may reasonably request. Any rights to benefits under this Plan are subject to the condition that all such information is true, correct, and complete. Any material misrepresentation by you may result in termination of coverage as provided in the "Termination and Continuation of Coverage" section. The Plan will not use a statement made by you to void your coverage after that coverage has been in effect for two years. This does not apply, however, to fraudulent misstatements.
96 Termination and Continuation of Coverage Termination Except as otherwise provided, your coverage may terminate in the following situations: • When the Administrative Services Agreement between the Employer and us terminates. If your coverage is through an association, your coverage will terminate when the Administrative Services Agreement between the association and us terminates, or when your Employer leaves the association. It will be the Employer’s responsibility to notify you of the termination of coverage. • If you choose to terminate your coverage. • If you or your Dependents cease to meet the eligibility requirements of the Plan, subject to any applicable continuation requirements. If you cease to be eligible, you must notify the Employer immediately. You shall be responsible for payment for any services incurred by you after you cease to meet eligibility requirements. • If you elect coverage under another carrier’s health benefit plan, which is offered by the Employer as an option instead of this Plan, subject to the consent of the Employer. The Employer agrees to immediately notify the Claims Administrator that you have elected coverage elsewhere. • If you perform an act, practice, or omission that constitutes fraud or make an intentional misrepresentation of material fact, as prohibited by the terms of your Plan, your coverage and the coverage of your dependents can be retroactively terminated or rescinded if: 1) your coverage has been in force for less than two years, or 2) the fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact concerns eligibility. A rescission of coverage means that the coverage may be legally voided back to the start of your coverage under the Plan, just as if you never had coverage under the Plan. You will be provided with a thirty (30) calendar day advance notice with appeal rights before your coverage is retroactively terminated or rescinded. You are responsible for paying the Plan for the cost of previously received services based on the Maximum Allowed Amount for such services, less any Copayments made or Fees paid for such services. • If you fail to pay or fail to make satisfactory arrangements to pay your Fees, the Employer may terminate your coverage and may also terminate the coverage of your Dependents. • If you permit the use of your or any other Member’s Plan Identification Card by any other person; use another person’s Identification Card; or use an invalid Identification Card to obtain services, your coverage will terminate immediately upon written notice to the Employer. Anyone involved in the misuse of a Plan Identification Card will be liable to and must reimburse the Plan for the Maximum Allowed Amount for services received through such misuse. You will be notified in writing of the date your coverage ends by either the Plan or the Employer. Removal of Members Upon written request through the Employer, you may cancel your coverage and/or your Dependent’s coverage from the Plan. If this happens, no benefits will be provided for Covered Services after the termination date.
97 Continuation of Coverage Under Federal Law (COBRA) The following applies if you are covered by an Employer that is subject to the requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985, as amended. COBRA continuation coverage can become available to you when you would otherwise lose coverage under your Employer's health Plan. It can also become available to other Members of your family, who are covered under the Employer's health Plan, when they would otherwise lose their health coverage. For additional information about your rights and duties under federal law, you should contact the Employer. Qualifying events for Continuation Coverage under Federal Law (COBRA) COBRA continuation coverage is available when your coverage would otherwise end because of certain “qualifying events.” After a qualifying event, COBRA continuation coverage must be offered to each person who is a “qualified beneficiary.” You, your spouse and your Dependent children could become qualified beneficiaries if you were covered on the day before the qualifying event and your coverage would be lost because of the qualifying event. Qualified beneficiaries who elect COBRA must pay for this COBRA continuation coverage. This benefit entitles each Member of your family who is enrolled in the Plan to elect continuation independently. Each qualified beneficiary has the right to make independent benefit elections at the time of annual enrollment. Covered Subscribers may elect COBRA continuation coverage on behalf of their spouses, and parents or legal guardians may elect COBRA continuation coverage on behalf of their children. A child born to, or placed for adoption with, a covered Subscriber during the period of continuation coverage is also eligible for election of continuation coverage. Qualifying Event Length of Availability of Coverage For Subscribers: Voluntary or Involuntary Termination (other than gross misconduct) or Loss of Coverage Under an Employer’s Health Plan Due to Reduction In Hours Worked 18 months For Dependents: A Covered Subscriber’s Voluntary or Involuntary Termination (other than gross misconduct) or Loss of Coverage Under an Employer’s Health Plan Due to Reduction In Hours Worked Covered Subscriber’s Entitlement to Medicare Divorce or Legal Separation Death of a Covered Subscriber 18 months 36 months 36 months 36 months For Dependent Children: Loss of Dependent Child Status 36 months
98 COBRA coverage will end before the end of the maximum continuation period listed above if you become entitled to Medicare benefits. In that case, a qualified beneficiary – other than the Medicare beneficiary – is entitled to continuation coverage for no more than a total of 36 months. (For example, if you become entitled to Medicare prior to termination of employment or reduction in hours, COBRA continuation coverage for your spouse and children can last up to 36 months after the date of Medicare entitlement.) If Your Employer Offers Retirement Coverage If you are a retiree under this Plan, filing a proceeding in bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code may be a qualifying event. If a proceeding in bankruptcy is filed with respect to your Employer, and that bankruptcy results in the loss of coverage, you will become a qualified beneficiary with respect to the bankruptcy. Your Dependents will also become qualified beneficiaries if bankruptcy results in the loss of their coverage under this Plan. If COBRA coverage becomes available to a retiree and his or her covered family members as a result of a bankruptcy filing, the retiree may continue coverage for life and his or her Dependents may also continue coverage for a maximum of up to 36 months following the date of the retiree’s death. Second qualifying event If your family has another qualifying event (such as a legal separation, divorce, etc.) during the initial 18 months of COBRA continuation coverage, your Dependents can receive up to 18 additional months of COBRA continuation coverage, for a maximum of 36 months from the original qualifying event. Such additional coverage is only available if the second qualifying event would have caused your Dependents to lose coverage under the Plan had the first qualifying event not occurred. Notification Requirements The Employer will offer COBRA continuation coverage to qualified beneficiaries only after the Employer has been notified that a qualifying event has occurred. When the qualifying event is the end of employment or reduction of hours of employment, death of the Subscriber, commencement of a proceeding in bankruptcy with respect to the employer, or the Subscriber's becoming entitled to Medicare benefits (under Part A, Part B, or both), the Employer will notify the COBRA Claims Administrator (e.g., Human Resources or their external vendor) of the qualifying event. You Must Give Notice of Some Qualifying Events For other qualifying events (e.g., divorce or legal separation of the Subscriber and spouse or a Dependent child’s losing eligibility for coverage as a Dependent child), you must notify the Employer within 60 days after the qualifying event occurs. Electing COBRA Continuation Coverage To continue your coverage, you or an eligible family Member must make an election within 60 days of the date your coverage would otherwise end, or the date the company’s benefit Plan Claims Administrator notifies you or your family Member of this right, whichever is later. You must pay the total fees appropriate for the type of benefit coverage you choose to continue. If the Fee rate changes for active associates, your monthly Fee will also change. The Fee You must pay cannot be more than 102 of the Fee charged for Employees with similar coverage, and it must be paid to the company’s benefit plan Claims Administrator within 30 days of the date due, except that the initial Fee payment must be made before 45 days after the initial election for continuation coverage, or Your continuation rights will be forfeited.
99 Disability extension of 18-month period of continuation coverage For Subscribers who are determined, at the time of the qualifying event, to be disabled under Title II (OASDI) or Title XVI (SSI) of the Social Security Act, and Subscribers who become disabled during the first 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage, coverage may continue from 18 to 29 months. These Subscribers’ Dependents are also eligible for the 18- to 29-month disability extension. (This also applies if any covered family Member is found to be disabled.) This would only apply if the qualified beneficiary gives notice of disability status within 60 days of the disabling determination. In these cases, the Employer can charge 150% of fees for months 19 through 29. This would allow health coverage to be provided in the period between the end of 18 months and the time that Medicare begins coverage for the disabled at 29 months. (If a qualified beneficiary is determined by the Social Security Administration to no longer be disabled, such qualified beneficiary must notify the Plan Claims Administrator of that fact in writing within 30 days after the Social Security Administration’s determination.) Trade Adjustment Act Eligible Individual If you don’t initially elect COBRA coverage and later become eligible for trade adjustment assistance under the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 due to the same event which caused you to be eligible initially for COBRA coverage under this Plan, you will be entitled to another 60-day period in which to elect COBRA coverage. This second 60-day period will commence on the first day of the month on which you become eligible for trade adjustment assistance. COBRA coverage elected during this second election period will be effective on the first day of the election period. When COBRA Coverage Ends COBRA benefits are available without proof of insurability and coverage will end on the earliest of the following: • A covered individual reaches the end of the maximum coverage period; • A covered individual fails to pay a required Fees on time; • A covered individual becomes covered under any other group health plan after electing COBRA. If the other group health plan contains any exclusion or limitation on a pre-existing condition that applies to you, you may continue COBRA coverage only until these limitations cease; • A covered individual becomes entitled to Medicare after electing COBRA; or • The Employer terminates all of its group welfare benefit plans. Other coverage options besides COBRA Continuation Coverage Instead of enrolling in COBRA continuation coverage, there may be other coverage options for you and your family through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, or other group health plan coverage options (such as a spouse’s plan) through what is called a “special enrollment period.” Some of these options may cost less than COBRA continuation coverage. You can learn more about many of these options at www.healthcare.gov. If You Have Questions Questions concerning your Employer's health Plan and your COBRA continuation coverage rights should be addressed to the Employer. For more information about your rights under ERISA, including COBRA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws affecting group health plans, contact the nearest Regional or District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in your area or visit the EBSA website at www.dol.gov/ebsa. (Addresses and phone numbers of Regional and District EBSA Offices are available through EBSA’s website.)
100 Indiana Public Employee Continuation of Coverage If you are covered through an Employer that is a local unit public employer, as defined by Indiana law, you may be eligible for continuation of coverage under this Plan beyond the date your coverage would otherwise end. Please see your Employer's Human Resources or benefits department for further information concerning your eligibility for continuation of coverage. Continuation of Coverage Due To Military Service Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), the Subscriber or his / her Dependents may have a right to continue health care coverage under the Plan if the Subscriber must take a leave of absence from work due to military leave. Employers must give a cumulative total of five years and in certain instances more than five years, of military leave. “Military service” means performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis and includes active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, and full-time National Guard duty. During a military leave covered by USERRA, the law requires employers to continue to give coverage under this Plan to its Members. The coverage provided must be identical to the coverage provided to similarly situated, active employees and Dependents. This means that if the coverage for similarly situated, active employees and Dependents is modified, coverage for you (the individual on military leave) will be modified. You may elect to continue to cover yourself and your eligible Dependents by notifying your employer in advance and submitting payment of any required contribution for health coverage. This may include the amount the employer normally pays on your behalf. If your military service is for a period of time less than 31 days, you may not be required to pay more than the active Member contribution, if any, for continuation of health coverage. For military leaves of 31 days or more, you may be required to pay up to 102% of the full cost of coverage, i.e., the employee and employer share. The amount of time you continue coverage due to USERRA will reduce the amount of time you will be eligible to continue coverage under COBRA. Maximum Period of Coverage During a Military Leave Continued coverage under USERRA will end on the earlier of the following events: 1. The date you fail to return to work with the Employer following completion of your military leave. Subscribers must return to work within: a) The first full business day after completing military service, for leaves of 30 days or less. A reasonable amount of travel time will be allowed for returning from such military service. b) 14 days after completing military service for leaves of 31 to 180 days, c) 90 days after completing military service for leaves of more than 180 days; or 2. 24 months from the date your leave began. Reinstatement of Coverage Following a Military Leave
101 Regardless of whether you continue coverage during your military leave, if you return to work your health coverage and that of your eligible Dependents will be reinstated under this Plan if you return within: 1. The first full business day of completing your military service, for leaves of 30 days or less. A reasonable amount of travel time will be allowed for returning from such military service; 2. 14 days of completing your military service for leaves of 31 to 180 days; or 3. 90 days of completing your military service for leaves of more than 180 days. If, due to an illness or injury caused or aggravated by your military service, you cannot return to work within the time frames stated above, you may take up to: 1. Two years; or 2. As soon as reasonably possible if, for reasons beyond your control you cannot return within two years because you are recovering from such illness or injury. If your coverage under the Plan is reinstated, all terms and conditions of the Plan will apply to the extent that they would have applied if you had not taken military leave and your coverage had been continuous. Any Probationary Periods will apply only to the extent that they applied before. Please note that, regardless of the continuation and/or reinstatement provisions listed above, this Plan will not cover services for any illness or injury caused or aggravated by your military service, as indicated in the "What’s Not Covered" section. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 A Subscriber who takes a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (the Act) will still be eligible for this Plan during their leave. The Plan will not consider the Subscriber and his or her Dependents ineligible because the Subscriber is not at work. If the Subscriber ends their coverage during the leave, the Subscriber and any Dependents who were covered immediately before the leave may be added back to the Plan when the Subscriber returns to work without medical underwriting. To be added back to the Plan, the Employer may have to give the Claims Administrator evidence that the Family and Medical Leave Act applied to the Subscriber. The Plan may require a copy of the health care Provider statement allowed by the Act.
102 General Provisions Care Coordination Anthems, as the Claims Administrator, pays Participating Providers in various ways to provide Covered Services to you. For example, sometimes the Claims Administrator may pay Participating Providers a separate amount for each Covered Service they provide. The Claims Administrator may also pay them one amount for all Covered Services related to treatment of a medical condition. Other times, the Claims Administrator may pay a periodic, fixed pre-determined amount to cover the costs of Covered Services. In addition, the Claims Administrator may pay Participating Providers financial incentives or other amounts to help improve quality of care and/or promote the delivery of health care services in a cost-efficient manner, or compensate Participating Providers for coordination of Member care. In some instances, Participating Providers may be required to make payment to the Claims Administrator because they did not meet certain standards. You do not share in any payments made by Participating Providers to the Claims Administrator under these programs. Clerical Error A clerical error will never disturb or affect your coverage, as long as your coverage is valid under the rules of the Plan. This rule applies to any clerical error, regardless of whether it was the fault of the Employer or the Plan. Confidentiality and Release of Information Applicable state and federal law requires the Claims Administrator to undertake efforts to safeguard your medical information. For informational purposes only, please be advised that a statement describing the Claims Administrator’s policies and procedures regarding the protection, use and disclosure of your medical information is available on the Claims Administrator’s website and can be furnished to you upon request by contacting the Claims Administrator’s Member Services department. Obligations that arise under state and federal law and policies and procedures relating to privacy that are referenced but not included in this Booklet are not part of the contract between the parties and do not give rise to contractual obligations. Conformity with Law Any term of the Plan which is in conflict with federal law, will hereby be automatically amended to conform with the minimum requirements of such laws. Contract with Anthem The Employer, on behalf of itself and its participants, hereby expressly acknowledges its understanding that this Plan constitutes a Contract solely between the Employer and the Claims Administrator, Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. dba Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem), and that Anthem is an independent corporation licensed to use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and marks in the state of Indiana. The Blue Cross Blue Shield marks are registered by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independently licensed Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. and in other countries. Further, Anthem is not contracting as the agent of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association or any other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan or licensee. The Employer, on behalf of itself and its participants, further acknowledges
103 and agrees that it has not entered into this Contract based upon representations by any person other than Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. and that no person, entity, or organization other than Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. shall be held accountable or liable to the Employer for any of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.’s obligations to the Employer created under the Contract. This paragraph shall not create any additional obligations whatsoever on the Plan’s part other than those obligations created under other terms of this agreement. Employer’s Sole Discretion The Employer may, in its sole discretion, cover services and supplies not specifically covered by the Plan. This applies if the Employer, with advice from us (the Claims Administrator), determines such services and supplies are in lieu of more expensive services and supplies which would otherwise be required for the care and treatment of a Member. Form or Content of Booklet No agent or employee of the Plan is authorized to change the form or content of this Booklet. Changes can only be made through a written authorization, signed by an officer of the Employer. Government Programs The benefits under this Plan shall not duplicate any benefits that you are entitled to, or eligible for, under any other governmental program. This does not apply if any particular laws require the Plan to be the primary payer. If the Plan has duplicated such benefits, all money paid by such programs to you for services you have or are receiving, shall be returned by or on your behalf to the Plan. Medical Policy and Technology Assessment The Claims Administrator reviews and evaluates new technology according to its technology evaluation criteria developed by its medical directors. Technology assessment criteria are used to determine the Experimental / Investigational status or Medical Necessity of new technology. Guidance and external validation of the Claims Administrator’s medical policy is provided by the Medical Policy and Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) which consists of approximately 20 Doctors from various medical specialties including Anthem’s medical directors, Doctors in academic medicine and Doctors in private practice. Conclusions made are incorporated into medical policy used to establish decision protocols for particular diseases or treatments and applied to Medical Necessity criteria used to determine whether a procedure, service, supply or equipment is covered. Medicare Any benefits covered under both this Plan and Medicare will be covered according to Medicare Secondary Payer legislation, regulations, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines, subject to federal court decisions. Federal law controls whenever there is a conflict among state law, Booklet terms, and federal law. Except when federal law requires the Plan to be the primary payer, the benefits under this Plan for Members age 65 and older, or Members otherwise eligible for Medicare, do not duplicate any benefit for which Members are entitled under Medicare, including Part B. Where Medicare is the responsible payer, all sums payable by Medicare for services provided to you shall be reimbursed by or on your behalf to the Plan, to the extent the Plan has made payment for such services. If you do not enroll in Medicare Part B when you are eligible, you may have large out-of-pocket costs. Please refer to Medicare.gov for
104 more details on when you should enroll, and when you are allowed to delay enrollment without penalties. Member Rights and Responsibilities The delivery of quality healthcare requires cooperation between patients, their Providers and their healthcare benefit plans. One of the first steps is for patients and Providers to understand Member rights and responsibilities. Therefore, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has adopted a Members’ Rights and Responsibilities statement. It can be found on our website FAQs. To access, go to anthem.com and select Member Support. Under the Support column, select FAQs and your state, then the “Laws and Rights That Protect You” category. Then click on the “What are my rights as a member?” question. Members or Providers who do not have access to the website can request copies by contacting Anthem, or by calling the number on the back of the Member ID card. Modifications The Plan Sponsor may change the benefits described in this Benefit Booklet and the Member will be informed of such changes as required by law. This Benefit Booklet shall be subject to amendment, modification, and termination in accordance with any of its provisions by the Employer, or by mutual agreement between the Claims Administrator and the Employer without the consent or concurrence of any Member. By electing medical and Hospital benefits under the Plan or accepting the Plan benefits, all Members legally capable of contracting, and the legal representatives of all Members incapable of contracting, agree to all terms, conditions, and provisions hereof. Not Liable for Provider Acts or Omissions The Plan is not responsible for the actual care you receive from any person. This Booklet does not give anyone any claim, right, or cause of action against Anthem or the Plan based on the actions of a Provider of health care, services, or supplies. Payment Innovation Programs The Claims Administrator pays Participating Providers through various types of contractual arrangements. Some of these arrangements – Payment Innovation Programs (Program(s)) – may include financial incentives to help improve quality of care and promote the delivery of health care services in a cost-efficient manner. These Programs may vary in methodology and subject area of focus and may be modified by the Claims Administrator from time to time, but they will be generally designed to tie a certain portion of a Participating Provider’s total compensation to pre-defined quality, cost, efficiency or service standards or metrics. In some instances, Participating Providers may be required to make payment to the Claims Administrator under the Program as a consequence of failing to meet these pre-defined standards. The Programs are not intended to affect your access to health care. The Program payments are not made as payment for specific Covered Services provided to you, but instead, are based on the Participating Provider’s achievement of these pre-defined standards. You are not responsible for any Copayment or Coinsurance amounts related to payments made by the Claims Administrator or to the Claims Administrator under the Program(s), and you do not share in any payments made by Participating Providers to the Claims Administrator under the Program(s).
105 Policies, Procedures and Pilot Programs We, on behalf of the Employer, may adopt reasonable policies, procedures, rules and interpretations to promote the orderly and efficient administration of the Plan with which a Member shall comply. Under the terms of the Administrative Services Agreement, we, on behalf of the Employer, have the authority, in our discretion, to institute from time to time, pilot or test programs for utilization management, care management, case management, clinical quality, disease management or wellness initiatives in certain designated geographic areas. These pilot initiatives are part of our ongoing effort to find innovative ways to make available high quality and more affordable healthcare. A pilot initiative may affect some, but not all Members under the Plan. These programs will not result in the payment of benefits which are not provided in the Employer's Group Health Plan, unless otherwise agreed to by the Employer. We reserve the right to discontinue a pilot initiative at any time without advance notice to Employer. Program Incentives The Plan may offer incentives from time to time, at our discretion, in order to introduce you to covered programs and services available under this Plan. The Plan may also offer, at our discretion, the ability for you to participate in certain voluntary health or condition-focused digital applications or use other technology based interactive tool, or receive educational information in order to help you stay engaged and motivated, manage your health, and assist in your overall health and well-being. The purpose of these programs and incentives include, but are not limited to, making you aware of cost effective benefit options or services, helping you achieve your best health, and encouraging you to update Member- related information. These incentives may be offered in various forms such as retailer coupons, gift cards, health related merchandise, and discounts on fees or Member cost shares. Acceptance of these incentives is voluntary as long as Anthem offers the incentives program. Motivational rewards, awards or points for achieving certain milestones may be a feature of the program. We may discontinue a program or an incentive for a particular covered program or service at any time. If you have any questions about whether receipt of an incentive or retailer coupon results in taxable income to you, we recommend that you consult your tax advisor. Protected Health Information Under HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Privacy Regulations issued under HIPAA, contain provisions designed to protect the privacy of certain individually identifiable health information. Your Employer's Group Health Plan has a responsibility under the HIPAA Privacy Regulations to provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices. This notice sets forth the Employer's rules regarding the disclosure of your information and details about a number of individual rights you have under the Privacy Regulations. As the Claims Administrator of your Employer's Plan, Anthem has also adopted a number of privacy practices and has described those in its Privacy Notice. If you would like a copy of Anthem's Notice, contact the Member Services number on the back of your Identification Card. Relationship of Parties (Employer-Member-Anthem) The Employer is fiduciary agent of the Member. The Claims Administrator’s notice to the Employer will constitute effective notice to the Member. It is the Employer’s duty to notify the Claims Administrator of eligibility data in a timely manner. This Plan is not responsible for payment of Covered Services of Members if the Employer fails to provide the Claims Administrator with timely notification of Member enrollments or terminations.
106 Relationship of Parties (Anthem and Participating Providers) The relationship between Anthem and Participating Providers is an independent contractor relationship. Participating Providers are not agents or employees of ours, nor is Anthem, or any employee of Anthem, an employee or agent of Participating Providers. Your health care Provider is solely responsible for all decisions regarding your care and treatment, regardless of whether such care and treatment is a Covered Service under this Plan. We shall not be responsible for any claim or demand on account of damages arising out of, or in any manner connected with, any injuries suffered by you while receiving care from any Participating Provider or in any Participating Provider’s Facilities. Your Participating Provider’s agreement for providing Covered Services may include financial incentives or risk sharing relationships related to the provision of services or referrals to other Providers, including Participating Providers, Non-Participating Providers, and disease management programs. If you have questions regarding such incentives or risk sharing relationships, please contact your Provider or the Claims Administrator. Reservation of Discretionary Authority Anthem, as the Claims Administrator, shall have all the powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out its duties in connection with the operation of the Plan and interpretation of the Benefit Booklet. This includes, without limitation, the power to construe the Administrative Services Agreement, to determine questions arising under the Plan, to resolve Member Appeals and to make, establish and amend the rules, regulations and procedures with regard to the interpretation of the Benefit Booklet of the Plan. A specific limitation or exclusion will override more general benefit language. Anthem has complete discretion to interpret the Benefit Booklet. Anthem's determination may include, without limitation, determination of whether the services, treatment, or supplies are Medically Necessary, Experimental/Investigative, whether surgery is cosmetic, and whether charges are consistent with the Plan's Maximum Allowed Amount. A Member may utilize all applicable Appeals procedures. Right of Recovery and Adjustment Whenever payment has been made in error, the Plan will have the right to recover such payment from you or, if applicable, the Provider or otherwise make appropriate adjustment to claims. In most instances such recovery or adjustment activity shall be limited to the calendar year in which the error is discovered We, as the Claims Administrator, has oversight responsibility for compliance with Provider and vendor contracts. The Claims Administrator may enter into a settlement or compromise regarding enforcement of these contracts and may retain any recoveries made from a Provider or vendor resulting from these audits if the return of the overpayment is not feasible. Additionally, the Claims Administrator has established recovery and adjustment policies to determine which recoveries and adjustments are to be pursued, when to incur costs and expenses and settle or compromise recovery or adjustment amounts. The Claims Administrator will not pursue recoveries for overpayments or adjustments for underpayments if the cost of the activity exceeds the overpayment or underpayment amount. The Claims Administrator reserves erve the right to deduct or offset, including cross plan offsetting on Participating claims and on Out-Of-Network claims where the Out-Of-Network Provider agrees to cross plan offsetting, any amounts paid in error from any pending or future claim.
107 Unauthorized Use of Identification Card If you permit your Identification Card to be used by someone else or if you use the card before coverage is in effect or after coverage has ended, you will be liable for payment of any expenses incurred resulting from the unauthorized use. Fraudulent misuse could also result in termination of the coverage. Value-Added Programs The Claims Administrator may offer health or fitness related programs to the Plan’s Members, through which Members may access discounted rates from certain vendors for products and services available to the general public. Products and services available under this program are not Covered Services under your Plan but are in addition to Plan benefits. As such, program features are not guaranteed under your health Plan and could be discontinued at any time. The Claims Administrator does not endorse any vendor, product or service associated with this program. Program vendors are solely responsible for the products and services you receive. Value of Covered Services For purposes of subrogation, reimbursement of excess benefits, or reimbursement under any Workers’ Compensation or Employer Liability Law, the value of Covered Services shall be the amount paid for the Covered Services. Voluntary Clinical Quality Programs The Plan may offer additional opportunities to assist you in obtaining certain covered preventive or other care (e.g., well child check-ups or certain laboratory screening tests) that you have not received in the recommended timeframe. These opportunities are called voluntary clinical quality programs. They are designed to encourage you to get certain care when you need it and are separate from Covered Services under your Plan. These programs are not guaranteed and could be discontinued at any time. The Plan will give you the choice and if you choose to participate in one of these programs, and obtain the recommended care within the program’s timeframe, you may receive incentives such as gift cards or retailer coupons, which the Plan encourages you to use for health and wellness related activities or items. Under other clinical quality programs, you may receive a home test kit that allows you to test for immediate results or collect the specimen for certain covered laboratory tests at home and mail it to the laboratory for processing. You may also be offered a home visit appointment to collect such specimens and complete biometric screenings. You may need to pay any cost shares that normally apply to such covered laboratory tests (e.g., those applicable to the laboratory processing fee) but will not need to pay for the home test kit or the home visit. If you have any questions about whether receipt of a gift card or retailer coupon results in taxable income to you, it is recommended that you consult your tax advisor. Voluntary Wellness Incentive Programs The Claims Administrator may offer health or fitness related program options for purchase by your Employer to help you achieve your best health. These programs are not Covered Services under your Plan, but are separate components, which are not guaranteed under this Plan and could be discontinued at any time. If your Employer has selected one of these options to make available to all employees, you may receive incentives such as gift cards by participating in or completing such voluntary wellness promotion programs as health assessments, weight management or tobacco cessation coaching. Under other options your Employer may select, you may receive such incentives by achieving specified standards based on health factors under wellness programs that comply with applicable law. If you think you might be unable to meet the standard, you might qualify for an opportunity to earn the same reward
108 by different means. You may contact the Claims Administrator at the Member Services number on your ID card and the Claims Administrator will work with you (and, if you wish, your Doctor) to find a wellness program with the same reward that is right for you in light of your health status. (If you receive a gift card as a wellness reward and use it for purposes other than for qualified medical expenses, this may result in taxable income to you. For additional guidance, please consult your tax advisor.) Waiver No agent or other person, except an authorized officer of the Employer, is able to disregard any conditions or restrictions contained in this Booklet, to extend the amount of time for making a payment to the Plan, or to bind the Plan by making any promise or representation or by giving or receiving any information. Workers’ Compensation The benefits under this Plan are not designed to duplicate benefits that you are eligible for under Workers’ Compensation Law. All money paid or owed by Workers’ Compensation for services provided to you shall be paid back by, or on your behalf of to the Plan if it has made or makes payment for the services received. It is understood that coverage under this Plan does not replace or affect any Workers’ Compensation coverage requirements.
109 Definitions If a word or phrase in this Booklet has a special meaning, such as Medical Necessity or Experimental / Investigational, it will start with a capital letter, and be defined below. If you have questions on any of these definitions, please call Member Services at the number on the back of your Identification Card. Accidental Injury An unexpected Injury for which you need Covered Services while enrolled in this Plan. It does not include injuries that you get benefits for under any Workers’ Compensation, Employer’s liability or similar law. Ambulatory Surgery Center A facility licensed as an Ambulatory Surgery Center as required by law that must satisfy our accreditation requirements and be approved by us. Approved In-Network Provider Please see the “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services” benefit in the “What’s Covered” section. Athletic Trainer Please see the “Athletic Trainer Services” benefit in the “What’s Covered” section for details. Administrative Services Agreement The agreement between the Claims Administrator and the Employer regarding the administration of certain elements of the health care benefits of the Employer's Group Health Plan. Benefit Period The length of time the Plan will cover benefits for Covered Services. For Calendar Year plans, the Benefit Period starts on January 1st and ends on December 31st. For Plan Year plans, the Benefit Period starts on your Employer’s effective or renewal date and lasts for 12 months. (See your Employer for details.) The Schedule of Benefits shows if your Plan’s Benefit Period is a Calendar Year or a Plan Year. If your coverage ends before the end of the year, then your Benefit Period also ends. Benefit Period Maximum The most the Plan will cover for a Covered Service during a Benefit Period. Biomarker A characteristic that is measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a specific therapeutic intervention, including but not limited to: • Known gene-drug interaction for medications being considered for use or already being administered; and • Gene mutations and protein expression.
110 Biomarker Testing The analysis of a patient’s tissue, blood, or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker, including not limited to single-analyte tests, multiplex panel tests and whole genome sequencing. Booklet This document (also called the Benefit Booklet), which describes the terms of your benefits. It is part of the Plan offered by your Employer. Centers of Medical Excellence (COE) Network A network of health care facilities, which have been selected to give specific services to Members based on their experience, outcomes, efficiency, and effectiveness. A Participating Provider under this Plan is not necessarily a COE. To be a COE, the Provider must have signed a Center of Medical Excellence Agreement with the Claims Administrator. Claims Administrator The company the Employer chose to administer its health benefits. Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., dba Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield was chosen to administer this Plan. The Claims Administrator provides administrative claims payment services only and does not assume any financial risk or obligation with respect to claims. Coinsurance Your share of the cost for Covered Services, which is a percent of the Maximum Allowed Amount. You normally pay Coinsurance after you meet your Deductible. For example, if your Plan lists 20% Coinsurance on office visits, and the Maximum Allowed Amount is $100, your Coinsurance would be $20 after you meet the Deductible. The Plan would then cover the rest of the Maximum Allowed Amount. See the ‘Error! Reference source not found.” for details. Your Coinsurance will not be reduced by any refunds, rebates, or any other form of negotiated post-payment adjustments. Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Please refer to the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet for details. Copayment A fixed amount you pay toward a Covered Service. You normally have to pay the Copayment when you get health care. The amount can vary by the type of Covered Service you get. For example, you may have to pay a $15 Copayment for an office visit, but a $150 Copayment for Emergency Room Services. See the ‘Error! Reference source not found.” for details. Your Copayment will be the lesser of the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits and the Maximum Allowed Amount. Covered Procedure Please see the “Human Organ and Tissue Transplant (Bone Marrow / Stem Cell), Cellular and Gene Therapy Services” benefit in the “What’s Covered” section. Covered Services
111 Health care services, supplies, or treatment described in this Booklet that are given to you by a Provider. To be a Covered Service the service, supply or treatment must be: • Medically Necessary or specifically included as a benefit under this Booklet. • Within the scope of the Provider’s license. • Given while you are covered under the Plan. • Not Experimental / Investigational, excluded, or limited by this Booklet, or by any amendment or rider to this Booklet. • Approved by the Claims Administrator before you get the service if prior authorization is needed. A charge for a Covered Service will apply on the date the service, supply, or treatment was given to you. The date for applying Deductible and other cost shares for an Inpatient stay is the date of you enter the Facility. Covered Services do not include services or supplies not described in the Provider records. Custodial Care Any type of care, including room and board, that (a) does not require the skills of professional or technical workers; (b) is not given to you or supervised by such workers or does not meet the rules for post- Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility care; (c) is given when you have already reached the greatest level of physical or mental health and are not likely to improve further. Custodial Care includes any type of care meant to help you with activities of daily living that does not require the skill of trained medical or paramedical workers. Examples of Custodial Care include: • Help in walking, getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, or using the toilet, • Changing dressings of non-infected wounds, after surgery or chronic conditions, • Preparing meals and/or special diets, • Feeding by utensil, tube, or gastrostomy, • Common skin and nail care, • Supervising medicine that you can take yourself, • Catheter care, general colostomy or ileostomy care, • Routine services which the Plan decides can be safely done by you or a non-medical person without the help of trained medical and paramedical workers, • Residential care and adult day care, • Protective and supportive care, including education, • Rest and convalescent care. Care can be Custodial even if it is recommended by a professional or performed in a Facility, such as a Hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility, or at home. Deductible The amount you must pay for Covered Services before benefits begin under this Plan. For example, if your Deductible is $1,000, your Plan won’t cover anything until you meet the $1,000 Deductible. The Deductible may not apply to all Covered Services. Please see the “Error! Reference source not found.” for details.
112 Dependent A member of the Subscriber’s family who meets the rules listed in the “Please refer to the “Prescription Drug List” and “Step Therapy Protocol Exceptions” sections in “Prescription Drug Benefit at a Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for the process to submit an exception request for Drugs not on the Prescription Drug List or that require Step Therapy.
113 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members” section and who has enrolled in the Plan. Doctor See the definition of “Physician.” Effective Date The date your coverage begins under this Plan. Emergency (Emergency Medical Condition) Please see the "What’s Covered" section. Emergency Care Please see the "What’s Covered" section. Employee A person who is engaged in active employment with the Employer and is eligible for Plan coverage under the employment rules of the Employer. The Employee is also called the Subscriber. Employer An Employer who has allowed its Employees to participate in the Plan by acting as the Plan Sponsor or adopting the Plan as a participating Employer by executing a formal document that so provides. The Employer or other organization has an Administrative Services Agreement with the Claims Administrator to administer this Plan. Excluded Services (Exclusion) Health care services your Plan doesn’t cover. Experimental or Investigational (Experimental / Investigational) Any Drug, biologic, device, Diagnostic, product, equipment, procedure, treatment, service, or supply used in or directly related to the diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a disease, injury, illness, or other health condition which the Claims Administrator determines to be unproven. For how this is determined, see the “What’s Not Covered” section. Facility A facility including but not limited to, a Hospital, freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Center, Residential Treatment Center, Skilled Nursing Facility, as defined in this Booklet. The Facility must be licensed as required by law, satisfy our accreditation requirements, and be approved by us. Fee(s) The amount you must pay to be covered by this Plan. Home Health Care Agency
114 A Provider licensed when required by law and approved by us, that: 1. Gives skilled nursing and other services on a visiting basis in your home; and 2. Supervises the delivery of services under a plan prescribed and approved in writing by the attending Doctor. Hospice A Provider that gives care to terminally ill patients and their families, either directly or on a consulting basis with the patient’s Doctor. It must be licensed by the appropriate agency. Hospital A facility licensed as a Hospital as required by law that must satisfy our accreditation requirements and be approved by us. The term Hospital does not include a Provider, or that part of a Provider, used mainly for: 1. Nursing care 2. Rest care 3. Convalescent care 4. Care of the aged 5. Custodial Care 6. Educational care 7. Subacute care Identification Card (ID Card) The card given to you that showing your Member identification, group numbers, and the plan you have. Inpatient A Member who is treated as a registered bed patient in a Hospital and for whom a room and board charge is made. Intensive In-Home Behavioral Health Program A range of therapy services provided in the home to address symptoms and behaviors that, as the result of a Mental Disorder or Substance Use Disorder, put the Members and others at risk of harm. Intensive Outpatient Program Short-term behavioral health treatment that provides a combination of individual, group and family therapy. Late Enrollees Subscribers or Dependents who enroll in the Plan after the initial enrollment period. A person will not be considered a Late Enrollee if he or she enrolls during a Special Enrollment period. Please see the “Please refer to the “Prescription Drug List” and “Step Therapy Protocol Exceptions” sections in “Prescription Drug Benefit at a Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for the process to submit an exception request for Drugs not on the Prescription Drug List or that require Step Therapy.
115 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members” section for further details. Maximum Allowed Amount The maximum payment that the Plan will allow for Covered Services. For more information, see the “Claims Payment” section. Medical Necessity (Medically Necessary) An intervention that is or will be provided for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of a condition, illness, disease or injury and that is determined by the Claims Administrator to be: • Medically appropriate for and consistent with the symptoms and proper diagnosis or treatment of the Member’s condition, illness, disease or injury; • Obtained from a Provider; • Provided in accordance with applicable medical and/or professional standards; • Known to be effective, as proven by scientific evidence, in materially improving health outcomes; • The most appropriate supply, setting or level of service that can safely be provided to the Member and which cannot be omitted consistent with recognized professional standards of care (which, in the case of hospitalization, also means that safe and adequate care could not be obtained in a less comprehensive setting); • Cost-effective compared to alternative interventions, including no intervention. Cost effective does not always mean lowest cost. It does mean that as to the diagnosis or treatment of the Member’s illness, injury or disease, the service is: (1) not more costly than an alternative service or sequence of services that is medically appropriate, or (2) the service is performed in the least costly setting that is medically appropriate. For example, we will not provide coverage for an inpatient admission for surgery if the surgery could have been performed on an outpatient basis or an infusion or injection of a specialty drug provided in the outpatient department of a hospital if the drug could be provided in a Physician’s office or the home setting; • Not Experimental/Investigative; • Not primarily for the convenience of the Member, the Member’s family or the Provider. • Not otherwise subject to an exclusion under this Booklet. The fact that a Provider may prescribe, order, recommend, or approve care, treatment, services or supplies does not, of itself, make such care, treatment, services or supplies Medically Necessary or a Covered Service and does not guarantee payment. Member People, including the Subscriber and his or her Dependents, who have met the eligibility rules, applied for coverage, and enrolled in the Plan. Members are called “you” and “your” in this Booklet. Non-Participating Provider A Provider that does not have an agreement or contract with the Claims Administrator, or the Claims Administrator’s subcontractor(s) to give services to the Members under this Plan. Open Enrollment A period of time in which eligible people or their dependents can enroll without penalty after the initial enrollment. See the "Please refer to the “Prescription Drug List” and “Step Therapy Protocol Exceptions” sections in “Prescription Drug Benefit at a Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for the process to submit an exception request for Drugs not on the Prescription Drug List or that require Step Therapy.
116 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members" section for more details. Out-of-Pocket Limit The most you pay in Copayments, Deductibles, and Coinsurance during a Benefit Period for Covered Services. The Out-of-Pocket limit does not include amounts over the Maximum Allowed Amount, or charges for health care that your Plan doesn’t cover. Please see the “Schedule of Benefits” for details. Partial Hospitalization Program Structured, multidisciplinary treatment for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, including nursing care and active individual, group and family treatment for Members who require more care than is available in an Intensive Outpatient Program. Participating Provider A Provider that has a contract, either directly or indirectly, with the Claims Administrator, or another organization, to give Covered Services to Members through negotiated payment arrangements. A Provider that is participating for one plan may not be participating for another. Please see “Error! Reference source not found.” in the section “How Your Plan Works” for more information on how to find a Participating Provider for this Plan. Pharmacy A place licensed by state law where you can get Prescription Drugs and other medicines from a licensed pharmacist when you have a prescription from your Doctor. Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Process A process to make clinically based recommendations that will help you access quality, low cost medicines within your Plan. The process includes health care professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, and Doctors. The committees of the National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Process meet regularly to talk about and find the clinical and financial value of medicines for Members. This process first evaluates the clinical evidence of each product under review. The clinical review is then combined with an in-depth review of the market dynamics, Member impact and financial value to make choices for the formulary. Our programs may include, but are not limited to, Drug utilization programs, prior authorization criteria, therapeutic conversion programs, cross-branded initiatives, and Drug profiling initiatives. Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) A Pharmacy benefits management company that manages Pharmacy benefits on our behalf. Our PBM has a nationwide network of Retail Pharmacies, a Home Delivery Pharmacy, and clinical services that include Prescription Drug List management. The management and other services the PBM provides include, but are not limited to: managing a network of Retail Pharmacies and operating a mail service Pharmacy. Our PBM, in consultation with the Plan, also provides services to promote and assist Members in the appropriate use of Pharmacy benefits, such as review for possible excessive use, proper dosage, drug interactions or drug/pregnancy concerns. Physician (Doctor) Includes the following when licensed by law: • Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) legally entitled to practice medicine and perform surgery,
117 • Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) legally licensed to perform the duties of a D.O., • Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), legally licensed to perform the duties of a chiropractor; • Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) legally entitled to practice podiatry, and • Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.D.M.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), legally entitled to provide dental services. Optometrists, Clinical Psychologists (PhD), and surgical chiropodists are also Providers when legally licensed and giving Covered Services within the scope of their licenses. Plan The arrangement chosen by the Plan Sponsor to fund and provide for delivery of the Employer’s health benefits. Plan Claims Administrator The person or entity named by the Plan Sponsor to manage the Plan and answer questions about Plan details. The Plan Claims Administrator is not the Claims Administrator. Plan Sponsor The legal entity that has adopted the Plan and has authority regarding its operation, amendment and termination. The Plan Sponsor is not the Claims Administrator. Precertification Please see the section “Getting Approval for Benefits” for details. Prescription Drug (Drug) A substance, that under the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, must bear a message on its original packing label that says, “Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription.” This includes the following: 1) Compounded (combination) medications, when all of the ingredients are FDA-approved, as designated in the FDA’s Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, require a prescription to dispense, and are not essentially the same as an FDA-approved product from a drug manufacturer. 2) Insulin, diabetic supplies, and syringes. Prescription Order A written request by a Provider, as permitted by law, for a Prescription Drug or medication, and each authorized refill. Primary Care Physician (“PCP”) A Physician who gives or directs health care services for you. The Physician may work in family practice, general practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, geriatrics or any other practice allowed by the Plan. Primary Care Provider
118 A Physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, physician assistant, or any other Provider licensed by law and allowed under the Plan, who gives, directs, or helps you get a range of health care services. Provider A professional or Facility licensed when required by law that gives health care services within the scope of that license, must satisfy our accreditation requirements and be approved by us, on behalf of the Employer. Details on our accreditation requirements can be found at https://www.anthem.com/provider/credentialing/. This includes any Provider that state law says must be covered under this Plan when they give you services that state law says we must cover. Providers that deliver Covered Services are described throughout this Booklet. If you have a question about a Provider not described in this Booklet please call the number on the back of your Identification Card. Recovery Please see the “Subrogation and Reimbursement” section for details. Residential Treatment Center / Facility: An Inpatient Facility that provides multidisciplinary treatment for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder conditions. The Facility must be licensed as a residential treatment center in the state in which it is located, satisfy our accreditation requirements, and be approved by us. The term Residential Treatment Center/Facility does not include a Provider, or that part of a Provider, used mainly for: 1. Nursing care 2. Rest care 3. Convalescent care 4. Care of the aged 5. Custodial Care 6. Educational care Retail Health Clinic A Facility that gives limited basic health care services to Members on a “walk-in” basis. These clinics are often found in major pharmacies or retail stores. Medical services are typically given by Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. Service Area The geographical area where you can get Covered Services. Skilled Nursing Facility An Inpatient Facility that provides multidisciplinary treatment for convalescent and rehabilitative care. It must be licensed as a skilled nursing facility in the state in which it is located, satisfy our accreditation requirements, and be approved by us. A Skilled Nursing Facility is not a place mainly for care of the aged, Custodial Care or domiciliary care, or a place for rest, educational, or similar services. Special Enrollment
119 A period of time in which eligible people or their dependents can enroll after the initial enrollment, typically due to an event such as marriage, birth, adoption, etc. See the “Please refer to the “Prescription Drug List” and “Step Therapy Protocol Exceptions” sections in “Prescription Drug Benefit at a Home Delivery (Mail Order) Pharmacy” for the process to submit an exception request for Drugs not on the Prescription Drug List or that require Step Therapy.
120 Eligibility and Enrollment – Adding Members” section for more details. Specialist (Specialty Care Physician \ Provider or SCP) A Specialist is a Doctor who focuses on a specific area of medicine or group of patients to diagnose, manage, prevent, or treat certain types of symptoms and conditions. A non-Physician Specialist is a Provider who has added training in a specific area of health care. Specialty Drugs Drugs that typically need close supervision and checking of their effect on the patient by a medical professional. These drugs often need special handling, such as temperature-controlled packaging and overnight delivery, and are often not available at retail pharmacies. They may be administered in many forms including, but not limited to, injectable, infused, oral and inhaled. Subscriber An employee of the Employer who is eligible for and has enrolled in the Plan. Surprise Billing Claim Please refer to the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 Notice” at the front of this Booklet for details. Transplant Benefit Period Please see the “What’s Covered” section for details. Urgent Care Center A licensed health care Facility that is separate from a Hospital and whose main purpose is giving immediate, short-term medical care, without an appointment, for urgent care. Utilization Review Evaluation of the necessity, quality, effectiveness, or efficiency of medical or behavioral health services, Prescription Drugs (as set forth in the section Prescription Drugs Administered by a Medical Provider), procedures, and/or facilities.
