2020 APWU Federal Brochure
2020 APWU Federal Brochure
2020 APWU Federal Brochure
www.apwuhp.com
2020
A Fee-for-Service Plan (High Option) and a Consumer Driven Health
Plan with Preferred Provider Organizations
To become a member or associate member: All active Membership dues: Associate members will be billed
Postal Service APWU bargaining unit employees must by the APWU for the $35 annual membership fee,
be, or must become, dues-paying members of the except where exempt by law. APWU will bill new
APWU, to be eligible to enroll in the Health Plan. All associate members for the annual dues when it receives
Federal and other Postal members and annuitants must notice of enrollment. APWU will also bill continuing
become associate member of APWU, see page 124 for associate members for the annual membership. APWU
details. will bill Retirees Department members $36 annual
membership. Active and retiree non-associate APWU
membership dues vary.
High Option: 471 Self Only, 473 Self Plus One, 472 Self and Family
Consumer Driven Option: 474 Self Only, 476 Self Plus One, 475 Self and Family
RI 71-004
Important Notice from APWU Health Plan About
Our Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has determined that the APWU Health Plan prescription drug coverage is, on
average, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay for all Plan participants
and is considered Creditable Coverage. This means you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D and pay extra for
prescription drug coverage. If you decide to enroll in Medicare Part D later, you will not have to pay a penalty for late
enrollment as long as you keep your FEHB coverage.
However, if you choose to enroll in Medicare Part D, you can keep your FEHB coverage and your FEHB plan will
coordinate benefits with Medicare.
Remember: If you are an annuitant and you cancel your FEHB coverage, you may not re-enroll in the FEHB Program.
Please be advised
If you lose or drop your FEHB coverage and go 63 days or longer without prescription drug coverage that’s at least as good
as Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, your monthly Medicare Part D premium will go up at least 1% per month for every
month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go 19 months without Medicare Part D prescription drug
coverage, your premium will always be at least 19 percent higher than what many other people pay. You will have to pay this
higher premium as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the next
Annual Coordinated Election Period (October 15 through December 7) to enroll in Medicare Part D.
You can get more information about Medicare prescription drug plans and the coverage offered in your area from these
places:
• Visit www.medicare.gov for personalized help.
• Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), (TTY: 877-486-2048).
Table of Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................4
Plain Language ..............................................................................................................................................................................4
Stop Health Care Fraud! ...............................................................................................................................................................4
Discrimination is Against the Law ................................................................................................................................................5
Preventing Medical Mistakes ........................................................................................................................................................6
FEHB Facts ...................................................................................................................................................................................8
Coverage information .........................................................................................................................................................8
• No pre-existing condition limitation...............................................................................................................................8
• Minimum essential coverage (MEC) ..............................................................................................................................8
• Minimum value standard ................................................................................................................................................8
• Where you can get information about enrolling in the FEHB Program .........................................................................8
• Types of coverage available for you and your family ....................................................................................................8
• Family Member Coverage ..............................................................................................................................................9
• Children's Equity Act ....................................................................................................................................................10
• When benefits and premiums start ...............................................................................................................................10
• When you retire ............................................................................................................................................................11
When you lose benefits .....................................................................................................................................................11
• When FEHB coverage ends ..........................................................................................................................................11
• Upon divorce.................................................................................................................................................................11
• Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) ...............................................................................................................11
• Converting to individual coverage ...............................................................................................................................12
• Health Insurance Marketplace ......................................................................................................................................12
• APWU Health Plan Notice of Privacy Practices ..........................................................................................................12
Section 1. How This Plan Works ................................................................................................................................................13
General features of our High Option.................................................................................................................................13
General features of our Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) ......................................................................................13
How we pay providers ......................................................................................................................................................14
Your rights and responsibilities .........................................................................................................................................14
Your medical and claims records are confidential ............................................................................................................14
Section 2. Changes for 2020 .......................................................................................................................................................15
Changes to this Plan ..........................................................................................................................................................15
Section 3. How You Get Care ....................................................................................................................................................17
Identification cards ............................................................................................................................................................17
Where you get covered care ..............................................................................................................................................17
• Covered providers.........................................................................................................................................................17
• Covered facilities ..........................................................................................................................................................17
• Transitional care ...........................................................................................................................................................18
• If you are hospitalized when your enrollment begins...................................................................................................18
You need prior Plan approval for certain services ............................................................................................................18
• Inpatient hospital admission, inpatient residential treatment center admission or skilled nursing facility
admission ..........................................................................................................................................................................19
• Other services ...............................................................................................................................................................19
How to request precertification for an admission or get prior authorization for Other services ......................................21
What happens when you do not follow the precertification rules.....................................................................................21
• Radiology/imaging procedures precertification ...........................................................................................................21
• How to precertify a radiology/imaging procedure .......................................................................................................21
• Non-urgent care claims .................................................................................................................................................22
Plain Language
All FEHB brochures are written in plain language to make them easy to understand. Here are some examples:
• Except for necessary technical terms, we use common words. For instance, “you” means the enrollee or family member;
“we” means APWU Health Plan.
• We limit acronyms to ones you know. FEHB is the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. OPM is the United States
Office of Personnel Management. If we use others, we tell you what they mean.
• Our brochure and other FEHB plans’ brochures have the same format and similar descriptions to help you compare plans.
Coverage information
• No pre-existing We will not refuse to cover the treatment of a condition you had before you enrolled in
condition limitation this Plan solely because you had the condition before you enrolled.
• Minimum essential Coverage under this plan qualifies as minimum essential coverage (MEC) and satisfies the
coverage (MEC) Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual shared responsibility
requirement. Please visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at www.irs.gov/uac/
Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision for more
information on the individual requirement for MEC.
• Minimum value Our health coverage meets the minimum value standard of 60% established by the ACA.
standard This means that we provide benefits to cover at least 60% of the total allowed costs of
essential health benefits. The 60% standard is an actuarial value; your specific out-of-
pocket costs are determined as explained in this brochure.
• Where you can get See www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare for enrollment information as well as:
information about • Information on the FEHB Program and plans available to you
enrolling in the FEHB
Program • A health plan comparison tool
• A list of agencies that participate in Employee Express
• A link to Employee Express
• Information on and links to other electronic enrollment systems
Also, your employing or retirement office can answer your questions, and give
you brochures for other plans and other materials you need to make an informed decision
about your FEHB coverage. These materials tell you:
• When you may change your enrollment
• How you can cover your family members
• What happens when you transfer to another Federal agency, go on leave without pay,
enter military service, or retire
• What happens when your enrollment ends
• When the next Open Season for enrollment begins
We don’t determine who is eligible for coverage and, in most cases, cannot change your
enrollment status without information from your employing or retirement office. For
information on your premium deductions, you must also contact your employing or
retirement office.
• Types of coverage Self Only coverage is for you alone. Self Plus One coverage is an enrollment that covers
available for you and you and one eligible family member. Self and Family coverage is for you, and one
your family eligible family member, or your spouse and your dependent children under age 26,
including any foster children authorized for coverage by your employing agency or
retirement office. Under certain circumstances, you may also continue coverage for a
disabled child 26 years of age or older who is incapable of self-support.
Your employing or retirement office will not notify you when a family member is no
longer eligible to receive benefits, nor will we. Please tell us immediately of changes in
family member status, including your marriage, divorce, annulment, or when your child
reaches age 26.
If you or one of your family members is enrolled in one FEHB plan, you or they
cannot be enrolled in or covered as a family member by another enrollee in another
FEHB plan.
If you have a qualifying life event (QLE) - such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a
child - outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you may be eligible to enroll in the
FEHB Program, change your enrollment, or cancel coverage. For a complete list of QLEs,
visit the FEHB website at www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-events/. If you need
assistance, please contact your employing agency, Tribal Benefits Officer, personnel/
payroll office, or retirement office.
• Family Member Family members covered under your Self and Family enrollment are your spouse
Coverage (including a valid common law marriage) and children as described in the chart below. A
Self Plus One enrollment covers you and your spouse, or one other eligible family
member as described in the chart below.
Children Coverage
Natural children, adopted children, and Natural, adopted children and stepchildren
stepchildren are covered until their 26th birthday.
Foster children Foster children are eligible for coverage
until their 26th birthday if you provide
documentation of your regular and
substantial support of the child and sign a
certification stating that your foster child
meets all the requirements. Contact your
human resources office or retirement system
for additional information.
Children incapable of self-support Children who are incapable of self-support
because of a mental or physical disability
that began before age 26 are eligible to
continue coverage. Contact your human
resources office or retirement system for
additional information.
Married children Married children (but NOT their spouse or
their own children) are covered until their
26th birthday.
Children with or eligible for employer- Children who are eligible for or have their
provided health insurance own employer-provided health insurance are
covered until their 26th birthday.
Newborns of covered children are insured only for routine nursery care during the covered
portion of the mother's maternity stay.
• Children's Equity Act OPM has implemented the Federal Employees Health Benefits Children’s Equity Act of
2000. This law mandates that you be enrolled for Self Plus One or Self and Family
coverage in the FEHB Program, if you are an employee subject to a court or
administrative order requiring you to provide health benefits for your child(ren).
If this law applies to you, you must enroll in Self Plus One or for Self and Family
coverage in a health plan that provides full benefits in the area where your children live or
provide documentation to your employing office that you have obtained other health
benefits coverage for your children. If you do not do so, your employing office will enroll
you involuntarily as follows:
• If you have no FEHB coverage, your employing office will enroll you for Self Plus
One or Self and Family coverage, as appropriate, in the lowest-cost nationwide plan
option as determined by OPM;
• If you have a Self Only enrollment in a fee-for-service plan or in an HMO that serves
the area where your children live, your employing office will change your enrollment
to Self Plus One or Self and Family, as appropriate, in the same option of the same
plan; or
• If you are enrolled in an HMO that does not serve the area where the children live,
your employing office will change your enrollment to Self Plus One or Self and
Family, as appropriate, in the lowest-cost nationwide plan option as determined by
OPM.
As long as the court/administrative order is in effect, and you have at least one child
identified in the order who is still eligible under the FEHB Program, you cannot cancel
your enrollment, change to Self Only, or change to a plan that does not serve the area in
which your children live, unless you provide documentation that you have other coverage
for the children.
If the court/administrative order is still in effect when you retire, and you have at least one
child still eligible for FEHB coverage, you must continue your FEHB coverage into
retirement (if eligible) and cannot cancel your coverage, change to Self Only, or change to
a plan that does not serve the area in which your children live as long as the court/
administrative order is in effect. Similarly, you cannot change to Self Plus One if the
court/administrative order identifies more than one child. Contact your employing office
for further information.
• When benefits and The benefits in this brochure are effective January 1. If you joined this Plan during Open
premiums start Season, your coverage begins on the first day of your first pay period that starts on or after
January 1. If you changed plans or plan options during Open Season and you receive
care between January 1 and the effective date of coverage under your new plan or
option, your claims will be paid according to the 2020 benefits of your old plan or
option except when you are enrolled under this Plan's Consumer Driven Option. Under
this Plan's Consumer Driven Option, between January 1 and the effective date of your new
plan (or change to High Option of this Plan) you will not receive a new Personal Care
Account (PCA) for 2020 but any unused PCA benefits from 2019 will be available to
you. However, if your old plan left the FEHB Program at the end of the year, you are
covered under that plan’s 2019 benefits until the effective date of your coverage with your
new plan. Annuitants’ coverage and premiums begin on January 1. If you joined at any
other time during the year, your employing office will tell you the effective date of
coverage.
Under the Consumer Driven Option, if you joined this Plan during Open Season, you
receive the full Personal Care Account (PCA) as of your effective date of coverage. If you
joined at any other time during the year, your PCA and your Deductible for your first year
will be prorated for each full month of coverage remaining in that calendar year.
• When you retire When you retire, you can usually stay in the FEHB Program. Generally, you must have
been enrolled in the FEHB Program for the last five years of your Federal service. If you
do not meet this requirement, you may be eligible for other forms of coverage, such as
Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC).
• When FEHB coverage You will receive an additional 31 days of coverage, for no additional premium, when:
ends • Your enrollment ends, unless you cancel your enrollment; or
• You or a family member no longer eligible for coverage.
Any person covered under the 31 day extension of coverage who is confined in a hospital
or other institution for care or treatment on the 31st day of the temporary extension is
entitled to continuation of the benefits of the Plan during the continuance of the
confinement but not beyond the 60th day after the end of the 31 day temporary extension.
You may be eligible for spouse equity coverage or Temporary Continuation of Coverage
(TCC), or a conversion policy (a non-FEHB individual policy).
• Upon divorce If you are divorced from a Federal employee, or annuitant, you may not continue to get
benefits under your former spouse’s enrollment. This is the case even when the court has
ordered your former spouse to provide health coverage for you. However, you may be
eligible for your own FEHB coverage under either the spouse equity law or Temporary
Continuation of Coverage (TCC). If you are recently divorced or are anticipating a
divorce, contact your ex-spouse’s employing or retirement office to get additional
information about your coverage choices, www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/
plan-information/guides. A carrier may request that an enrollee verify the eligibility of
any or all family members listed as covered under the enrollee's FEHB enrollment.
• Temporary If you leave Federal service, Tribal employment, or if you lose coverage because you no
Continuation of longer qualify as a family member, you may be eligible for Temporary Continuation of
Coverage (TCC) Coverage (TCC). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) did not eliminate TCC or change the
TCC rules. For example, you can receive TCC if you are not able to continue your FEHB
enrollment after you retire, if you lose your Federal job, if you are a covered dependent
child and you turn age 26, regardless of marital status, etc.
You may not elect TCC if you are fired from your Federal or Tribal job due to gross
misconduct.
Enrolling in TCC. Get the RI 79-27, which describes TCC, from your employing or
retirement office or from www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-
information/guides. It explains what you have to do to enroll.
• Converting to If you leave Federal or Tribal service, your employing office will notify you of your right
individual coverage to convert. You must contact us in writing within 31 days after you receive this notice.
However, if you are a family member who is losing coverage, the employing or retirement
office will not notify you. You must contact us in writing within 31 days after you are no
longer eligible for coverage.
Your benefits and rates will differ from those under the FEHB Program; however, you will
not have to answer questions about your health, a waiting period will not be imposed and
your coverage will not be limited due to pre-existing conditions. When you contact us, we
will assist you in obtaining information about health benefits coverage inside or outside
the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace in your state. For assistance in
finding coverage, please contact us at 800-222-2798 or visit our website at www.apwuhp.
com.
• Health Insurance If you would like to purchase health insurance through the ACA's Health Insurance
Marketplace Marketplace, please visit www.HealthCare.gov. This is a website provided by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that provides up-to-date information on the
Marketplace.
• APWU Health Plan The APWU Health Plan's Notice of Privacy Practices describes how medical information
Notice of Privacy about you may be used by the Health Plan, your rights concerning your health information
Practices and how to exercise them, and APWU Health Plan's responsibilities in protecting your
health information. The Notice is posted on the Health Plan's website. If you need to
obtain a copy of the Health Plan's Notice of Privacy Practices, you may either contact the
Health Plan via e-mail through the website, www.apwuhp.com, or by calling
800-222-2798.
Consumer Driven Option PPO Network: If you need assistance identifying a participating provider or to verify their
continued participation, call the Plan's Consumer Driven Option administrator, UnitedHealthcare, at 800-718-1299 or you
can go to their website, www.welcometouhc.com/apwu, for a full nationwide online provider directory. UnitedHealthcare is
the PPO network for all states and Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Printed provider directories are not available.
• Preventive benefits: Preventive care services are generally covered with no cost-sharing and are not subject to
copayments, deductibles or annual limits when received from a network provider.
• For mental health/substance use disorder treatment providers (all states), call UHC Behavorial Health Solutions toll-free
800-718-1299.
• Personal Care Account (PCA) benefits: This component is used first to provide first dollar coverage for covered
medical, dental and vision care services until the account balance is exhausted.
PPO Providers: Allowable benefits are based upon charges and discounts which we or our PPO administrators have
negotiated with participating providers. PPO provider charges are always within our Plan allowance.
Non-PPO providers: We determine our allowance for covered charges by using health care charge data prepared by
Context4Healthcare for the High Option and Fair Health for the Consumer Driven Health Plan, including our own data, when
necessary. We apply this charge data under the High Option at the 70th percentile and under the Consumer Driven Option at
the 80th percentile.
OPM requires that all FEHB plans provide certain information to their FEHB members. You may get information about us,
our networks, and our providers. OPM’s FEHB website, www.opm.gov/insure lists the specific types of information that we
must make available to you. Some of the required information is listed below.
• The American Postal Workers Union Health Plan is a not-for-profit Voluntary Employee’s Beneficiary Association
(VEBA) formed in 1972.
• We meet applicable State and Federal licensing and accreditation requirements for fiscal solvency, confidentiality and
transfer of medical records.
You are also entitled to a wide range of consumer protections and have specific responsibilities as a member of this Plan.
You can view the complete list of these rights and responsibilities by visiting our website APWU Health Plan, www.apwuhp.
com. You can also contact us to request that we mail a copy to you by calling 800-222-2798, or write to APWU Health Plan,
P.O. Box 1358, Glen Burnie, MD 21060-1358. You may also contact us by fax at 410-424-1564.
By law, you have the right to access your protected health information (PHI). For more information regarding access to PHI,
visit our website APWU Health Plan at www.apwuhp.com to obtain our Notice of Privacy Practices. You can also contact us
to request that we mail you a copy of that Notice.
We will keep your medical and claims records confidential. Please note that we may disclose your medical and claims
information (including your prescription drug utilization) to any of your treating physicians or dispensing pharmacies.
If you do not receive your ID card within 30 days after the effective date of your
enrollment, or if you need replacement cards, contact us as follows:
• High Option: Call us at 800-222-2798 or write to us at P.O. Box 1358, Glen Burnie,
MD 21060-1358 or through our website at www.apwuhp.com.
• Consumer Driven Option: Call UnitedHealthcare at 800-718-1299 or write to us at
P.O. Box 740800, Atlanta, GA 30374-0810 or request replacement cards through the
website at www.myuhc.com.
Where you get covered You can get care from any “covered provider” or “covered facility.” How much we pay –
care and you pay – depends on the type of covered provider or facility you use. If you use our
preferred providers, you will pay less.
• Covered providers We provide benefits for the services of covered professional providers, as required by
Section 2706(a) of the Public Health Service Act. Coverage of practitioners is not
determined by your state's designation as a medically underserved area.
Covered professional providers are medical practitioners who perform covered services
when acting within the scope of their license or certification under applicable state law
and who furnish, bill, or are paid for their health care services in the normal course of
business. Covered services must be provided in the state in which the practitioner is
licensed or certified.
• Transitional care Specialty care: If you have a chronic or disabling condition and
• lose access to your specialist because we drop out of the Federal Employees Health
Benefits (FEHB) Program and you enroll in another FEHB plan, or
• lose access to your PPO specialist because we terminate our contract with your
specialist for reasons other than cause,
• you may be able to continue seeing your specialist and receiving any PPO benefits for
up to 90 days after you receive notice of the change. Contact us, or if we drop out of
the Program, contact your new plan.
If you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and you lose access to your
specialist based on the above circumstances, you can continue to see your specialist and
your PPO benefits continue until the end of your postpartum care, even if it is beyond the
90 days.
• If you are hospitalized We pay for covered services from the effective date of your enrollment. However, if you
when your enrollment are in the hospital when your enrollment in our High Option begins, call our Customer
begins Service Department immediately at 800-222-2798. For the Consumer Driven Option,
please call UnitedHealthcare at 800-718-1299. If you are new to the FEHB Program, we
will reimburse you for your covered services while you are in the hospital beginning on
the effective date of your coverage.
If you changed from another FEHB plan to us, your former plan will pay for the hospital
stay until:
• you are discharged, not merely moved to an alternative care center;
• the day your benefits from your former plan run out; or
• the 92nd day after you become a member of this Plan, whichever happens first.
These provisions apply only to the benefits of the hospitalized person. If your plan
terminates participation in the FEHB in whole or in part, or if OPM orders an enrollment
change, this continuation of coverage provision does not apply. In such cases, the
hospitalized family member’s benefits under the new plan begin on the effective date of
enrollment.
You need prior Plan The pre-service claim approval processes for inpatient hospital admissions (called
approval for certain precertification) and for other services, are detailed in this Section. A pre-service claim is
services any claim, in whole or in part, that requires approval from us in advance of obtaining
medical care or services. In other words, a pre-service claim for benefits (1) requires
precertification or prior approval and (2) will result in a reduction of benefits if you do not
obtain precertification or prior approval.
You must get prior approval for certain services. Failure to do so will result in a minimum
$500 penalty for inpatient hospital or $100 for certain outpatient radiology/imaging
procedures.
Warning We will reduce our benefits for the inpatient hospital stay by $500 if no one contacts us
for precertification. If the stay is not medically necessary, we will only pay for any
covered medical services and supplies that are otherwise payable on an outpatient basis.
High Option: Call Cigna/CareAllies at 800-582-1314 if you need any of the services
listed above.
• High Option: First you, your representative, your physician, or your hospital must
call Cigna/CareAllies at 800-582-1314 at least 2 business days before admission or
services requiring prior authorization are rendered. For mental health and substance
use disorder inpatient treatment, your physician or your hospital must call Beacon
Health Options at 888-700-7965 at least 2 business days before admission or services
requiring prior authorization. These numbers are available 24 hours every day.
• Consumer Driven Option: First you, your representative, your physician, or your
hospital must call UnitedHealthcare at 800-718-1299 at least 2 business days before
admission or services requiring prior authorization are rendered. For mental health and
substance use disorder inpatient treatment, your doctor or your hospital must call
UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health Solutions at 800-718-1299 at least 2 business
days before admission or services requiring prior authorization. These numbers
are available 24 hours every day.
• If you have an emergency admission due to a condition that you reasonably believe
puts your life in danger or could cause serious damage to bodily function, you, your
representative, the physician, or the hospital must telephone the above number at least
2 business days for the High Option and the Consumer Driven Option following the
day of the emergency admission, even if you have been discharged from the hospital.
• Next, provide the following information:
- enrollee’s name and Plan identification number
- patient’s name, birth date, and phone number
- reason for hospitalization, proposed treatment, or surgery
- name and phone number of admitting physician
- name of hospital or facility; and
- number of days requested for hospital stay
What happens when you • If no one contacts us, we will decide whether the hospital stay was medically
do not follow the necessary.
precertification rules • If we determine that the stay was medically necessary, we will pay the inpatient
charges, less the $500 penalty.
If we determine that it was not medically necessary for you to be an inpatient, we will not
pay inpatient hospital benefits. We will only pay for any covered medical supplies and
services that are otherwise payable on an outpatient basis.
If we denied the precertification request, we will not pay inpatient hospital benefits. We
will only pay for any covered medical supplies and services that are otherwise payable on
an outpatient basis.
When we precertified the admission but you remained in the hospital beyond the number
of days we approved and did not get the additional days precertified, then:
• For the part of the admission that was medically necessary, we will pay inpatient
benefits, but
• For the part of the admission that was not medically necessary, we will pay only
medical services and supplies otherwise payable on an outpatient basis and will not
pay inpatient benefits.
• Radiology/imaging High Option: Radiology precertification is required prior to scheduling specific imaging
procedures procedures. We evaluate the medical necessity of your proposed procedure to ensure that
precertification the appropriate procedure is being requested for your condition. In most cases your
physician will take care of the precertification. Because you are responsible for ensuring
that precertification is done, you should ask your doctor to contact us.
• How to precertify a For these outpatient studies, you, your representative or doctor must call Cigna/CareAllies
radiology/imaging before scheduling the procedure. The toll free number is 800-582-1314.
procedure • Provide the following information:
- patient’s name, Plan identification number, and birth date
- requested procedure and clinical support for request
- name and phone number of ordering provider
- name of requested imaging facility
Warning We will reduce our benefits for these procedures by $100 if no one contacts us for
precertification. If the procedure is not medically necessary, we will not pay any benefits.
• Non-urgent care For non-urgent care claims, we will tell the physician and/or hospital the number of
claims approved inpatient days, or the care that we approve for other services that must have
prior authorization. We will make our decision within 15 days of receipt of the pre-service
claim.
If we need an extension because we have not received necessary information from you,
our notice will describe the specific information required and we will allow you up to 60
days from the receipt of the notice to provide the information.
• Urgent care claims If you have an urgent care claim (i.e., when waiting for the regular time limit for your
medical care or treatment could seriously jeopardize your life, health, or ability to regain
maximum function, or in the opinion of a physician with knowledge of your medical
condition, would subject you to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without
this care or treatment), we will expedite our review and notify you of our decision within
72 hours. If you request that we review your claim as an urgent care claim, we will
review the documentation you provide and decide whether or not it is an urgent care claim
by applying the judgment of a prudent layperson that possesses an average knowledge of
health and medicine.
If you fail to provide sufficient information, we will contact you within 24 hours after we
receive the claim to let you know what information we need to complete our review of the
claim. You will then have up to 48 hours to provide the required information. We will
make our decision on the claim within 48 hours of (1) the time we received the additional
information or (2) the end of the time frame, whichever is earlier.
We may provide our decision orally within these time frames, but we will follow up with
written or electronic notification within three days of oral notification.
You may request that your urgent care claim on appeal be reviewed simultaneously by us
and OPM. Please let us know that you would like a simultaneous review of your urgent
care claim by OPM either in writing at the time you appeal our initial decision, or by
calling us at 800-222-2798. You may also call FEHB at 202-606-3818 between 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m. Eastern Time to ask for the simultaneous review. We will cooperate with OPM
so they can quickly review your claim on appeal. In addition, if you did not indicate that
your claim was a claim for urgent care, call us at 800-222-2798. If it is determined that
your claim is an urgent care claim, we will expedite our review (if we have not yet
responded to your claim).
Concurrent care claims A concurrent care claim involves care provided over a period of time or over a number of
treatments. We will treat any reduction or termination of our pre-approved course of
treatment before the end of the approved period of time or number of treatments as an
appealable decision. This does not include reduction or termination due to benefit changes
or if your enrollment ends. If we believe a reduction or termination is warranted, we will
allow you sufficient time to appeal and obtain a decision from us before the reduction or
termination takes effect.
If you request an extension of an ongoing course of treatment at least 24 hours prior to the
expiration of the approved time period and this is also an urgent care claim, we will make
a decision within 24 hours after we receive the claim.
• Emergency inpatient If you have an emergency admission due to a condition that you reasonably believe puts
admission your life in danger or could cause serious damage to bodily function, you, your
representative, the physician, or the hospital must telephone us within two business days
following the day of the emergency admission, even if you have been discharged from the
hospital. If you do not telephone the Plan within two business days, penalties may apply -
see Warning under Inpatient hospital admissions earlier in this Section and If your hospital
stay needs to be extended below.
• Maternity care You do not need precertification of a maternity admission for a routine delivery. However,
if your medical condition requires you to stay more than 48 hours after a vaginal delivery
or 96 hours after a cesarean section, then your physician or the hospital must contact us
for precertification of additional days. Further, if your baby stays after you are discharged,
your physician or the hospital must contact us for precertification of additional days for
your baby.
Note: When a newborn requires definitive treatment during or after the mother's
confinement, the newborn is considered a patient in his or her own right. If the newborn
is eligible for coverage, regular medical or surgical benefits apply rather than maternity
benefits.
• If your hospital stay High Option: If your hospital stay – including for maternity care – needs to be extended,
needs to be extended you, your representative, your physician or the hospital must ask us to approve the
additional days by calling the precertification vendor Cigna/CareAllies at 800-582-1314.
If you remain in the hospital beyond the number of days we approved and did not get the
additional days precertified, then
• For the part of the admission that was medically necessary, we will pay inpatient
benefits, but
• For the part of the admission that was not medically necessary, we will pay only
medical services and supplies otherwise payable on an outpatient basis and will not
pay inpatient benefits.
Consumer Driven Option: If your hospital stay – including for maternity care – needs to
be extended, you, your representative, your doctor or the hospital must ask us to approve
the additional days by calling UnitedHealthcare at 800-718-1299. If you remain in the
hospital beyond the number of days we approved and did not get the additional days
precertified, then
• For the part of the admission that was medically necessary, we will pay inpatient
benefits, but
• For the part of the admission that was not medically necessary, we will pay only
medical services and supplies otherwise payable on an outpatient basis and will not
pay inpatient benefits.
• If your treatment If you request an extension of an ongoing course of treatment at least 24 hours prior to the
needs to be extended expiration of the approved time period and this is also an urgent care claim, we will make
a decision within 24 hours after we receive the claim.
If you have already received the service, supply, or treatment, then you have a post-
service claim and must follow the entire disputed claims process detailed in Section 8.
• To reconsider a non- Within 6 months of our initial decision, you may ask us in writing to reconsider our initial
urgent care claim decision. Follow Step 1 of the disputed claims process detailed in Section 8 of this
brochure.
In the case of a pre-service claim and subject to a request for additional information, we
have 30 days from the date we receive your written request for reconsideration to:
1. Precertify your hospital stay or, if applicable, arrange for the health care provider to
give you the care or grant your request for prior approval for a service, drug, or supply; or
You or your provider must send the information so that we receive it within 60 days of our
request. We will then decide within 30 more days.
If we do not receive the information within 60 days, we will decide within 30 days of the
date the information was due. We will base our decision on the information we already
have. We will write to you with our decision.
• To reconsider an In the case of an appeal of a pre-service urgent care claim, within 6 months of our initial
urgent care claim decision, you may ask us in writing to reconsider our initial decision. Follow Step 1 of the
disputed claims process detailed in Section 8 of this brochure.
Unless we request additional information, we will notify you of our decision within 72
hours after receipt of your reconsideration request. We will expedite the review process,
which allows oral or written requests for appeals and the exchange of information by
telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, or other expeditious methods.
• To file an appeal with After we reconsider your pre-service claim, if you do not agree with our decision, you
OPM may ask OPM to review it by following Step 3 of the disputed claims process detailed in
Section 8 of this brochure.
Example: Under the High Option, when you see your PPO physician you pay a
copayment of $25 per office visit.
Consumer Driven Option: There are no copayments under the Consumer Driven
Option.
Note: If the billed amount or the Plan allowance that providers we contract with have
agreed to accept as payment in full, is less than your copayment, you pay the lower
amount.
Deductible A deductible is a fixed amount of covered expenses you must incur for certain covered
services and supplies before we start paying benefits for them. Copayments and
coinsurance amounts do not count toward any deductible. When a covered service or
supply is subject to a deductible, only the Plan allowance for the service or supply counts
toward the deductible.
High Option
• If you use PPO providers, the calendar year deductible is $450 person. Under a Self
Only enrollment, the deductible is considered satisfied and benefits are payable for
you when your covered expenses applied to the calendar year deductible for your
enrollment reach $450. Under a Self Plus One enrollment, the deductible is considered
satisfied and benefits are payable for you and one other eligible family member when
the combined covered expenses applied to the calendar year deductible for your
enrollment reach $800. Under a Self and Family enrollment, the deductible is
considered satisfied and benefits are payable for all family members when the
combined covered expenses applied to the calendar year deductible for family
members reach $800. If you use non-PPO providers, your calendar year deductible
increases to a maximum of $1,000 per person ($2,000 per Self Plus One and Self and
Family). Whether or not you use PPO providers, your calendar year deductible will
not exceed $1,000 per person ($2,000 per Self Plus One and Self and Family).
If the billed amount (or the Plan allowance that providers we contract with have agreed to
accept as payment in full) is less than the remaining portion of your deductible, you pay
the lower amount.
Example: If the billed amount is $100, the provider has an agreement with us to accept
$80, and you have not paid any amount toward meeting your calendar year deductible,
you must pay $80. We will apply $80 to your deductible. We will begin paying benefits
once the remaining portion of your calendar year deductible ($450) has been satisfied.
Note: If you change plans during Open Season, and the effective date of your new plan is
after January 1 of the next year, you do not have to start a new deductible under your old
plan between January 1 and the effective date of your new plan. If you change plans at
another time during the year, you must begin a new deductible under your new plan.
Consumer Driven Option: Your Deductible is your bridge between your Personal Care
Account (PCA) and your Traditional Health Coverage. After you have exhausted your
PCA, you must pay your Deductible before your Traditional Health Coverage begins.
Your Deductible for in-network providers is generally $1,000 for a Self Only enrollment
or $2,000 for a Self Plus One or a Self and Family enrollment. For Self Plus One or Self
and Family coverage, once one individual meets the Self Only Deductible of $1,000,
Traditional Health Coverage begins for that individual. Once the other covered members
meet the additional $1,000 Deductible, Traditional Health Coverage begins for them. If
you use out-of-network providers, your calendar year deductible increases to $1,500 Self
Only and $3,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family. Your Deductible in subsequent
years may be reduced by rolling over any unused portion of your Personal Care Account
remaining at the end of the calendar year(s). Also, there is no separate Deductible for
mental health and substance use disorder benefits under the Consumer Driven Option.
Coinsurance High Option: Coinsurance is the percentage of our allowance that you must pay for your
care. Coinsurance does not begin until you have met your calendar year deductible.
Example: You pay 40% of our allowance for office visits to a non-PPO physician.
Consumer Driven Option: Coinsurance is the percentage of our allowance that you
must pay for your care after you have used up your Personal Care Account (PCA) and
paid your Deductible.
If your provider routinely If your provider routinely waives (does not require you to pay) your copayments,
waives your cost deductibles, or coinsurance, the provider is misstating the fee and may be violating the
law. In this case, when we calculate our share, we will reduce the provider’s fee by the
amount waived.
For example, if your physician ordinarily charges $100 for a service but routinely waives
your 40% coinsurance, the actual charge is $60. We will pay $36 (60% of the actual
charge of $60).
Waivers In some instances, an APWU Health Plan provider may ask you to sign a “waiver” prior to
receiving care. This waiver may state that you accept responsibility for the total charge for
any care that is not covered by your health plan. If you sign such a waiver, whether or not
you are responsible for the total charge depends on the contracts that the Plan has with its
providers. If you are asked to sign this type of waiver, please be aware that, if benefits are
denied for the services, you could be legally liable for the related expenses. If you would
like more information about waivers, please contact us at 800-222-2798.
Differences between our High Option: Our “Plan allowance” is the amount we use to calculate our payment for
allowance and the bill covered services. Fee-for-service plans arrive at their allowances in different ways, so
their allowances vary. For more information about how we determine our Plan allowance,
see the definition of Plan allowance in Section 10.
Often, the provider’s bill is more than a fee-for-service plan’s allowance. Whether or not
you have to pay the difference between our allowance and the bill will depend on the
provider you use.
The following table illustrates the examples of how much you have to pay out-of-pocket
for services from a PPO physician vs. a non-PPO physician. The table uses our example of
a service for which the physician charges $150 and our allowance is $100. The table
shows the amount you pay if you have met your calendar year deductible.
In-network providers agree to accept our Plan allowance so if you use an in-network
provider, you never have to worry about paying the difference between the Plan allowance
and the billed amount for covered services. If your covered expenses are being paid out of
your Personal Care Account or if you are receiving in-network covered preventive
services, the Plan will pay 100%. If you have exhausted your Personal Care Account, you
will be responsible for paying your Deductible and also coinsurance under the Traditional
Health Coverage.
Out-of-network Providers - If you use an out-of-network provider, you will have to pay
the difference between the Plan allowance and the billed amount only if you use up
your Personal Care Account for the year. Note that it usually makes sense to use in-
network providers because it will make your Personal Care Account go much further since
money left in your Personal Care Account can be rolled over to be used in the next year.
PPO benefit: Your out-of-pocket maximum is $6,500 for combined medical and
prescription drugs for Self Only enrollment or $13,000 for a Self Plus One or a Self and
Family enrollment if you are using PPO providers and in-network pharmacies. Only
eligible expenses for PPO providers and in-network pharmacies count toward this limit.
Non-PPO benefit: Your out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for combined medical and
prescription drugs for Self Only enrollment, or $24,000 for a Self Plus One or a Self and
Family enrollment if you are using non-PPO providers or out-of-network pharmacies.
Eligible expenses for network providers or in-network pharmacies also count toward this
limit. Your eligible out-of-pocket expenses will not exceed this amount whether or not you
use network providers.
Note: For Self Plus One or Self and Family coverage, the maximum out-of-pocket for
any individual in the family will not exceed the maximum out-of-pocket for Self Only
coverage. When an individual meets the Self Only out-of-pocket maximum, they pay no
coinsurance for covered services for the remainder of the calendar year. Once the other
covered members in the family meet the remaining out-of-pocket family maximum, then
they pay no coinsurance for covered services for the remainder of the calendar year.
If you have exceeded your Personal Care Account and met your Deductible the following
would apply:
In-network benefit: Your out-of-pocket maximum is $6,500 for combined medical and
prescription drugs for a Self Only enrollment or $13,000 for a Self Plus One or Self and
Family enrollment if you are using in-network providers and pharmacies. Only eligible
expenses for network providers and pharmacies count toward this limit.
Note: For Self Plus One or Self and Family coverage, the maximum out-of-pocket for
any individual in the family will not exceed the maximum out-of-pocket for Self Only
coverage. When an individual meets the Self Only out-of-pocket maximum, they pay no
coinsurance for covered services for the remainder of the calendar year. Once the other
covered members in the family meet the remaining out-of-pocket family maximum, then
they pay no coinsurance for covered services for the remainder of the calendar year.
Carryover If you changed to this Plan during Open Season from a plan with a catastrophic protection
benefit and the effective date of the change was after January 1, any expenses that would
have applied to that plan’s catastrophic protection benefit during the prior year will be
covered by your old plan if they are for care you received in January before your effective
date of coverage in this Plan. If you have already met your old plan’s catastrophic
protection benefit level in full, it will continue to apply until the effective date of your
coverage in this Plan. If you have not met this expense level in full, your old plan will first
apply your covered out-of-pocket expenses until the prior year’s catastrophic level is
reached and then apply the catastrophic protection benefit to covered out-of-pocket
expenses incurred from that point until the effective date of your coverage in this Plan.
Your old plan will pay these covered expenses according to this year’s benefits; benefit
changes are effective January 1.
Note: If you change options in this Plan during the year, we will credit the amount of
covered expenses already accumulated toward the catastrophic out-of-pocket limit of your
old option to the catastrophic protection limit of your new option.
If we overpay you We will make diligent efforts to recover benefit payments we made in error but in good
faith. We may reduce subsequent benefit payments to offset overpayments. We will
generally first seek recovery from the provider if we paid the provider directly, or from the
person (covered family member, guardian, custodial parent, etc.) to whom we sent our
payment.
When Government Facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the
facilities bill us Indian Health Service are entitled to seek reimbursement from us for certain services and
supplies they provide to you or a family member. They may not seek more than their
governing laws allow. You may be responsible to pay for certain services and charges.
Contact the government facility directly for more information.
Section 5 (a). Medical Services and Supplies Provided by Physicians and Other
Healthcare Professionals
Important things you should keep in mind about these benefits:
• Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in
this brochure and are payable only when we determine they are medically necessary.
• The calendar year deductible is: PPO - $450 per person ($800 per Self Plus One enrollment, or
$800 per Self and Family enrollment); non-PPO - $1,000 per person ($2,000 per Self Plus One
enrollment, or $2,000 per Self and Family enrollment). The calendar year deductible applies to
almost all benefits in this Section. We added “(No deductible)” to show when the calendar year
deductible does not apply.
• The non-PPO benefits are the standard benefits of this Plan. PPO benefits apply only when you
use a PPO provider. When no PPO provider is available, non-PPO benefits apply.
• When you use a PPO hospital, keep in mind that the professionals who provide services to you
in the hospital, may not all be preferred providers. If they are not, they will be paid by this Plan as
non-PPO providers. However, if surgical services are rendered at a PPO hospital or a PPO
freestanding ambulatory facility by a PPO primary surgeon, we will pay the services of
anesthesiologists and surgical assistants who are not preferred providers at the PPO rate, based on
Plan allowance. If the covered services are performed at a PPO hospital or a PPO freestanding
ambulatory facility, we will pay the services of radiologists and pathologists who are not preferred
providers at the PPO rate, based on the Plan allowance. You may be billed any difference between
our allowance and the billed amount.
• Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for valuable information about how cost-
sharing works. Also, read Section 9 for information about how we pay if you have other
coverage, or if you are age 65 or over.
• YOU MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN OUTPATIENT
IMAGING PROCEDURES. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A MINIMUM OF A $100
PENALTY. Please refer to precertification information in Section 3 to be sure which procedures
require precertification.
Benefit Description You Pay
After the calendar year deductible...
Note: The calendar year deductible applies to almost all benefits in this Section. We say "(No deductible)" when it
does not apply.
Diagnostic and treatment services
Professional services of physicians PPO: $25 copayment (No deductible)
• In physician’s office Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
Professional services of physicians PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
• During a hospital stay Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• In a skilled nursing facility difference between our allowance and the
• Second surgical opinion billed amount
• At home
Note: Telehealth services are available in most states, but some states do
not allow telehealth or prescriptions per state regulations.
If LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics performs your covered lab services, Nothing (No deductible)
you will have no out-of-pocket expense and you will not have to file a
claim. To find a location near you, in all states, call Cigna at
800-582-1314; or visit our website at www.apwuhp.com.
• Chlamydia/Gonorrhea screening
• Gonorrhea prophylactic medication to protect newborns
• Osteoporosis screening
• Breast cancer screening
• Annual counseling for sexually transmitted infections
• Annual counseling and screening human immune-deficiency virus
• Contraceptives, such as surgically implanted contraceptives,
injectable contraceptive drugs, intrauterine devices, and diaphragms
(See Family planning, Section 5(a))
• Contraceptive methods and counseling
• Sterilization procedures (See Surgical procedures, Section 5(b))
• Patient education and counseling for women with reproductive
capacity
• Screening and counseling for women for interpersonal and domestic
violence
• Perinatal depression: counseling and interventions
Adult immunizations endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
Prevention (CDC): based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization difference between our allowance and the
Practices (ACIP) schedule. billed amount
• Zostavax shingles vaccine, starting at age 60
• Shingrix shingles vaccine, starting at age 50, two vaccine limit per
lifetime
Note: In-network facility and lab services directly related to covered, in-
network preventive care will also be covered at 100%.
HHS: www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-benefits
CDC: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html
www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-women/
www.healthfinder.gov/myhealthfinder/default.aspx
• Postnatal care
• Initial examination of a newborn child covered under a Self Plus One Note: For inpatient hospital care related to
or Self and Family enrollment maternity, we pay for covered services in full
• Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling for each birth when you use preferred providers.
Note: Maternity care expenses incurred by a Plan member serving as a Note: In-network facility and lab services
surrogate mother are covered by the Plan subject to reimbursement from directly related to covered, in-network
the other party to the surrogacy contract or agreement. The involved maternity care will also be covered at 100%.
Plan member must execute our Reimbursement Agreement against any
payment she may receive under the surrogacy contract or agreement.
Expenses of the newborn child are not covered under this or any other
benefit in a surrogate mother situation.
Note: Here are some things to keep in mind:
• You do not need to precertify your vaginal or cesarean delivery; see
page 23 for other circumstances, such as extended stays for you or
your baby.
• You may remain in the hospital up to 48 hours after a vaginal delivery
and 96 hours after a cesarean delivery.
• We cover routine nursery care of the newborn child during the
covered portion of the mother's maternity stay.
• We pay hospitalization and surgeon services for non-maternity care,
as well as covering an extended stay, if medically necessary, the same
as for illness and injury.
• Hospital services are covered under Section 5(c) and Surgical benefits
Section 5(b).
Infertility services
• Diagnosis and treatment of infertility, except as shown in Not PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance and any
covered amount over $2,500
Treatment therapies
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
Note: High dose chemotherapy in association with autologous bone Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
marrow transplants is limited to those transplants listed on pages 51-54. difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
• Dialysis – hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
• Intravenous (IV)/Infusion Therapy – Home IV and antibiotic therapy
• Growth hormone therapy (GHT)
Note: Growth hormone and any drugs used for the administration of
Home Intravenous (IV) Infusion are covered under the prescription drug
benefit. If the drugs are obtained through Accredo Health Group,
Express Scripts' specialty pharmacy, they will be paid at the in-network
prescription drug benefit. If they are not obtained through Accredo
Health Group, Express Scripts' specialty pharmacy, they will be paid at
the out-of-network prescription drug benefit. (See Prescription drug
benefits, Section 5(f)).
• Respiratory and inhalation therapies
• Cardiac rehabilitation following qualifying event/condition
We have the right to deny services for treatment when outcomes do not
meet the defined treatment plan objectives and milestones.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy where medically necessary and provided by a licensed PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
therapist
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
Note: Preauthorization of speech therapy is required. See Other services, difference between our allowance and the
Section 3. billed amount
Note: Speech therapy is combined with 60 visits per calendar year for
the services of physical therapy and/or occupational therapy (see above).
Note: We also have the right to deny any type of therapy, service or
supply for the treatment of a condition which ceases to be therapeutic
treatment and is instead administered to maintain a level of functioning
or to prevent a medical problem from occurring or recurring.
Hearing services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
• For treatment related to illness or injury, including evaluation and PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
diagnostic hearing tests performed by an M.D., D.O., or audiologist
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• One examination and testing for hearing aids every 2 years difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
Note: For routine hearing screening performed during a child's
preventive care visit, see Section 5(a), Preventive care, children.
• External hearing aids Note: For benefits for the devices, see Section
• Implanted hearing-related devices, such as bone anchored hearing 5(a), Orthopedic and prosthetic devices.
aids (BAHA) and cochlear implants
Note: See Section 5(a), Preventive care, children for eye exams for
children.
Foot care
Routine foot care when you are under active treatment for a metabolic or PPO: $25 copayment for the office visit (No
peripheral vascular disease, such as diabetes deductible) plus 15% of the Plan allowance for
other services performed during the visit
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Cutting, trimming or removal of corns, calluses, or the free edge of
toenails, and similar routine treatment of conditions of the foot, except
as stated above
• Treatment of weak, strained or flat feet or bunions or spurs; and of
any instability, imbalance or subluxation of the foot (unless the
treatment is by open cutting surgery)
Note: We limit the Plan allowance for DME rental benefit to an amount
no greater than what we would have considered if the equipment had
been purchased.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment limited to 24 visits and/or manipulations per year PPO: $25 copayment (No deductible)
Note: X-rays covered under Lab, X-ray and other diagnostic tests. Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
billed amount.
Not covered: All charges
• Massage therapy
• Maintenance therapy
Requirements:
1. Prior approval is required
2. Must be at least 18 years of age at time prior approval is requested
and treatment plan is submitted
3. Must have diagnosis of gender dysphoria by a qualified healthcare
professional
4. New gender identity has been present for at least 24 continuous
months
5. Member has a strong desire to be rid of primary and/or secondary sex
characteristics because of a marked in-congruence with the member’s
identified gender
6. Member’s gender dysphoria is not a symptom of another mental
disorder or chromosomal abnormality
7. Gender dysphoria causes clinical distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
8. 12 months of continuous hormone therapy appropriate to the
member's gender identity
9. Two referral letters from qualified mental health professionals, one of
them being a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist (PhD). One must be
from the psychotherapist who has treated the member for at least 12
continuous months. Letters must document: diagnosis of persistent
and chronic gender dysphoria; any existing co-morbid conditions are
stable; member is prepared to undergo surgery and understands all
practical aspects of the planned surgery
10.If medical or mental health concerns are present, they are being
optimally managed and are reasonably well-controlled
• Voluntary sterilization for women (e.g. Tubal ligation) PPO: Nothing (No deductible)
• Surgical implanted contraceptives Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs) difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
Reconstructive surgery
• Surgery to correct a functional defect PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Surgery to correct a condition caused by injury or illness if: Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
- The condition produced a major effect on the member’s appearance difference between our allowance and the
and billed amount
- The condition can reasonably be expected to be corrected by such
surgery
• Surgery to correct a condition that existed at or from birth and is a
significant deviation from the common form or norm. Examples of
congenital anomalies are: protruding ear deformities; cleft lip; cleft
palate; birth marks (including port wine stains); and webbed fingers
and toes.
• All stages of breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy,
such as:
- Surgery to produce a symmetrical appearance of breasts
- Treatment of any physical complications, such as lymphedema
- Breast prostheses; and surgical bras and replacements (see Section
5(a), Prosthetic devices for coverage)
Organ/tissue transplants
These solid organ transplants are subject to medical necessity and PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
experimental/investigational review by the Plan. Refer to Other services
in Section 3 for prior authorization procedures. Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
Solid organ transplants are limited to: billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
• Autologous pancreas islet cell transplant (as an adjunct to total or near kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
total pancreatectomy) only for patients with chronic pancreatitis transplants
• Cornea
• Heart
• Heart/lung
• Intestinal transplants
- Isolated small intestine
- Small intestine with the liver
- Small intestine with multiple organs, such as the liver, stomach, and
pancreas
• Kidney
• Kidney-pancreas
• Liver
• Lung single/bilateral/lobar
• Pancreas
These tandem blood or marrow stem cell transplants for covered PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
transplants are subject to medical necessity review by the Plan. Refer
to Other services in Section 3 for prior authorization procedures. Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
• Autologous tandem transplants for billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
- AL Amyloidosis kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
- Multiple myeloma (de novo and treated) transplants
The Plan extends coverage for the diagnoses as indicated below: Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• Allogeneic transplants for difference between our allowance and the
billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
- Acute lymphocytic or non-lymphocytic (i.e., myelogenous) kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
leukemia transplants
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma with recurrence (relapsed)
- Advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with recurrence (relapsed)
- Advanced Myeloproliferative Disorders (MPDs)
- Advanced neuroblastoma
- Amyloidosis
- Beta Thalassemia Major
- Chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma
(CLL/SLL)
- Early stage (indolent or non-advanced) small cell lymphocytic
lymphoma
- Hemoglobinopathy
- Infantile malignant osteopetrosis
- Kostmann's syndrome
- Leukocyte adhesion deficiencies
- Marrow failure and related disorders (i.e., Fanconi's Paroxysmal
Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, Pure Red Cell Aplasia)
- Mucolipidosis (e.g., Gaucher's disease, metachromatic
leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy)
- Mucopolysaccharidosis (e.g., Hunter's syndrome, Hurler's
syndrome, Sanfillippo's syndrome, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome
variants)
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplasia/Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
- Phagocytic/Hemophagocytic deficiency diseases (e.g., Wiskott-
Aldrich syndrome)
- Severe combined immunodeficiency
- Severe or very severe aplastic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia (pediatric only)
- X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome
• Autologous transplants for
- Acute lymphocytic or nonlymphocytic (i.e., myelogenous)
leukemia
- Advanced childhood kidney cancers
Mini-transplants (non-myeloablative, reduced intensity conditioning or PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
RIC) are subject to medical necessity review by the Plan.
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
transplants
These blood or marrow stem cell transplants are covered only in a PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
National Cancer Institute or National Institutes of Health approved
clinical trial or a Plan-designated center of excellence and if approved Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
by the Plan's medical director in accordance with the Plan's protocols. difference between our allowance and the
billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
If you are a participant in a clinical trial, the Plan will provide benefits kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
for related routine care that is medically necessary (such as doctor visits, transplants
lab tests, X-rays and scans, and hospitalization related to treating the
patient's condition) if it is not provided by the clinical trial. Section 9
has additional information on costs related to clinical trials. We
encourage you to contact the Plan to discuss specific services if you
participate in a clinical trial.
Transplant Network PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
The Plan uses specific Plan-designated organ/tissue transplant facilities. Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
Before your initial evaluation as a potential candidate for a transplant difference between our allowance and the
procedure, you or your doctor must contact the precertification vendor billed amount and any amount over $50,000 for
(see Other services, Section 3); Cigna at 1-800-668-9682; and ask to kidney transplants or $100,000 for other listed
speak to a Transplant Case Manager. You will be provided with transplants
information about transplant preferred providers. If you choose a Plan-
designated transplant facility, you may receive prior approval for travel
and lodging costs.
Anesthesia
Professional services for administration of anesthesia PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
Note: If surgical services are rendered at a PPO hospital or a PPO Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
freestanding ambulatory facility by a PPO primary surgeon, we will pay difference between our allowance and the
the services of non-PPO anesthesiologists at the PPO rate, based on Plan billed amount
allowance.
Note: When the non-PPO hospital bills a flat rate, we prorate the charges
to determine how to pay them, as follows: 30% room and board and
70% other charges.
Other hospital services and supplies, such as: PPO: 15% of the covered charges
• Operating, recovery, maternity, and other treatment rooms Non-PPO: $300 per admission and 40% of the
• Prescribed drugs and medications covered charges and any difference between
• Diagnostic laboratory tests and X-rays our allowance and the billed amount.
• Blood or blood plasma, if not donated or replaced Note: For inpatient hospital care related to
• Dressings, splints, casts, and sterile tray services maternity, we pay for covered services in full
when you use preferred providers, (See Section
• Medical supplies and equipment, including oxygen 5(a), Maternity care).
• Anesthetics, including nurse anesthetist services
• Diagnostic laboratory tests, X-rays, and pathology services Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• Administration of blood, blood plasma, and other biologicals difference between our allowance and the
billed amount (calendar year deductible
• Blood and blood plasma, if not donated or replaced applies)
• Pre-surgical testing
• Dressings, casts, and sterile tray services
• Medical supplies, including oxygen
• Anesthetics and anesthesia service
Semiprivate room, board, services and supplies provided in a skilled Non-PPO: $300 per admission and 40% of the
nursing care facility (SNF) for up to 30 days per person per calendar covered charges and any difference between
year when you are admitted directly from a covered inpatient hospital our allowance and the billed amount
stay.
Note: If enrolled in Medicare A, we waive the
Note: Prior approval for these services is required. Call CareAllies at deductible and coinsurance.
800-582-1314. See, Other services, Section 3.
Note: If Medicare pays the first 20 days in full, Plan benefits will begin
on the 21st day (when Medicare Part A coinsurance begins) and will end
on the 30th day.
Extended care benefits/Skilled nursing care facility benefits - continued on next page
Hospice care
Hospice is a coordinated program of home and inpatient supportive care Any amount over the annual maximums shown
for the terminally ill patient and the patient’s family provided by a
medically supervised specialized team under the direction of a duly
licensed or certified Hospice Care Program.
• We pay up to $15,000 lifetime maximum for combined outpatient and
inpatient services, which includes advance care planning
• We pay a $200 annual bereavement benefit per family unit
Ambulance
• Local professional ambulance service when medically appropriate PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
immediately before or after an inpatient admission
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
difference between our allowance and the
billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Ambulance service used for routine transport
Note: See Section 5(c) for hospital benefits if you are admitted.
Services received after 72 hours are considered the same as any other
illness and regular Plan benefits will apply.
Medical emergency
Outpatient facility charges including medical or surgical services and PPO: $30 copayment (No deductible)
supplies in an Urgent Care Center
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance
Note: High technology radiology/imaging services including CAT/CT,
MRI, MRA, Nuclear Cardiology and PET are subject to coinsurance and Note: For Non-PPO benefits, members may be
deductible (outpatient requires precertification except for Nuclear billed the difference between the Plan
Cardiology), see Section 5(a). allowance and the billed amount.
Outpatient medical or surgical services and supplies, other than an PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
Urgent Care Center
Non-PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
Inpatient professional services for the diagnosis and treatment of PPO: 15% of the Plan allowance
psychiatric conditions, mental illness or mental disorders:
Non-PPO: 40% of the Plan allowance and any
• Psychological and neuropsychological testing necessary to difference between our allowance and the billed
determine the appropriate psychiatric treatment charges
(preauthorization required by Beacon Health Options)
• Diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism and substance use
disorder treatment, including detoxification, treatment and
counseling (inpatient)
• Electroconvulsive therapy (preauthorization required by Beacon
Health Options)
TeleHealth Services
Virtual visits through MDLIVE for non-emergency visits MDLIVE: $15 copayment (No deductible)
Covered services include consultation, diagnosis and prescriptions PPO: $25 copayment (No deductible)
(when appropriate) through the web or your mobile device.
Non-PPO: N/A
Note: Telehealth services are available in most states, but some
states do not allow telehealth or prescriptions per state regulations.
• Member cost-share for prescription drugs is determined by the tier to which a drug has been assigned. To determine the
tier assignments for formulary drugs, our Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) work with their Pharmacy and Therapeutic
Committee, a group of physicians and pharmacists who are not employees or agents of, nor have financial interest in the
Plan. The Committee’s recommendations, together with our PBM's evaluation of the relative cost of the drugs, determine
the placement of formulary drugs on a specific tier. Using lower cost preferred drugs will provide you with a high quality,
cost-effective prescription drug benefit. You can view a list on our website at www.apwuhp.com/
high_option_pharmacy_program.php.
• Our payment levels are generally categorized as:
- Tier 1 Includes generic drugs
- Tier 2 Includes preferred brand name drugs
- Tier 3 Includes non-preferred brand name drugs
- Tier 4 Includes generic specialty drugs
- Tier 5 Includes preferred brand name specialty drugs
- Tier 6 Includes non-preferred brand name specialty
Brand/Generic Drugs
• Why use generic drugs? A generic drug is a chemical equivalent of a corresponding name brand drug. The US Food and
Drug Administration sets quality standards for generic drugs to ensure that these drugs meet the same standards of quality
and strength as brand name drugs. Generic drugs are generally less expensive than brand drugs, therefore, you may reduce
your out-of-pocket-expenses by choosing to use a generic drug.
• A generic equivalent will be dispensed if it is available, unless your prescriber specifically requires a brand name drug. If
you receive a brand name drug when a Federally-approved generic drug is available, and your prescriber has not received
a preauthorization, you have to pay the difference in cost between the name brand drug and the generic, in addition to your
coinsurance. However, if your doctor obtains preauthorization because it is medically necessary that a brand name drug be
dispensed, you will not be required to pay this cost difference. Your doctor may seek preauthorization by calling
800-753-2851.
• The Plan may have certain coverage limitations to ensure clinical appropriateness. For example, prescription drugs used
for cosmetic purposes may not be covered, a medication might be limited to a certain amount (such as the number of pills
or total dosage) within a specific time period, or require authorization to confirm clinical use based on FDA labeling. In
these cases, you or your prescriber can begin the coverage review process by calling Express Scripts Customer Service at
800-841-2734.
• Mail order – through this program, you may receive up to a 90-day supply of maintenance medications for drugs which
require a prescription, diabetic supplies and Insulin, syringes and needles for covered injectable medications, and oral
contraceptives. Some medications may not be available in a 90-day supply from Express Scripts by Mail even though the
prescription is for 90 days.
• Refills for maintenance medications are not considered new prescriptions except when the doctor changes the strength or
180 days has elapsed since the previous purchase. Refill orders submitted too early after the last one was filled are held
until the right amount of time has passed. As part of the administration of the prescription drug program, we reserve the
right to maximize your quality of care as it relates to the utilization of pharmacies.
• You may fill your prescription at any pharmacy participating in the Express Scripts system. For the names of participating
pharmacies, call 800-841-2734, or go to www.express-scripts.com.
Certain controlled substances and several other prescribed medications may be subject to other dispensing limitations, such
as quantities dispensed, and to the judgment of the pharmacist.
Benefit Description You Pay
Note: The calendar year deductible does not apply to this section.
Covered medications and supplies
Each new enrollee will receive a description of our prescription drug • Network Retail: $10 Tier 1. 25% Tier 2 up to
program, a combined prescription drug/Plan identification card, a mail a maximum of $200 coinsurance per
order form/patient profile and a pre-addressed reply envelope. prescription for a 30-day supply. 45% Tier 3
up to a maximum of $300 coinsurance per
You may purchase the following medications and supplies prescribed prescription for a 30-day supply
from either a pharmacy or by mail:
• Non-network Retail: 50% of cost for a 30-
• Drugs and medications, for use at home that are obtainable only upon day supply
a doctor’s prescription and listed in official formularies
• Network Mail Order: $20 Tier 1. 25% Tier 2
• Drugs and medications (including those administered during a non- up to a maximum of $300 coinsurance per
covered admission or in a non-covered facility) that by Federal law of prescription for a 90-day supply. 45% Tier 3
the United States require a prescription for their purchase, except up to a maximum of $500 coinsurance per
those listed as not covered prescription for a 90-day supply
• Insulin, Insulin Pump supplies and test strips for known diabetics
• Disposable needles and syringes for the administration of covered
medications
• Approved drugs for organic impotence such as Viagra and Levitra are
subject to prior authorization, see Other services, Section 3 and
Section 5(f), page 68
• Drugs that could be used for cosmetic purposes such as: Retin A or
Botox (requires prior authorization), see Other services, Section 3 and
Section 5(f), page 68
• FDA approved drugs for weight management (prior authorization is
required, see page 68)
Note: If you choose a brand name drug when a generic is available and
the physician has not received prior authorization, you are responsible
for the difference in cost between the brand name drug and the generic,
in addition to your coinsurance.
• In our ongoing effort to provide a robust yet cost-effective prescription drug benefit, APWU Health Plan participates in
programs to encourage the prescribing and use of generics and lower-cost alternative brands when appropriate. In most
cases, you save money when the preferred generic or formulary brand is dispensed. Step therapy helps to ensure that your
prescriber considers cost-effective alternatives before prescribing more expensive medications. If you have received one or
more of the less costly alternatives in the past, you will be able to get your medicine at the pharmacy without any delay.
Currently the Plan offers step therapy programs on Specialty Cholesterol, Hypnotic, Osteoporosis, Migraine, Glaucoma,
Hypoglycemic, NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID's), COX 2 Inhibitors, Nasal Steroids, Proton Pump Inhibitors
(PPI's), Oral Tetracyclines, Topical Acne, Topical Corticosteroids, Topical Immunomodulator medications, allergies,
respiratory conditions, stimulants, bone conditions, genitourinary conditions, diabetes, endocrine disorders, blood
disorders, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions, depression, metabolic disorders, migraines, pain and
gastrointestinal disorders. In situations where your prescribed drug is targeted and there is no history of a first line agent, a
new prescription for a first line agent will need to be obtained or a coverage review will be necessary for coverage of your
medication. If the coverage review is approved, the member is responsible for the normal coinsurance found on page 66.
If the coverage review is denied, the member is responsible for the full cost of the drug. If the member does not first
obtain the coverage review (prior authorization) approval, they will pay the full cost of the drug. Coverage reviews can be
initiated by the member, pharmacist, or doctor by calling Express Scripts at 800-841-2734.
• The APWU Health Plan prescription benefit plan will no longer cover prescriptions for certain compound medications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a compound medication as one that requires a licensed pharmacist
to combine, mix or alter the ingredients of a medication when filling a prescription. The FDA does not verify the quality,
safety and/or effectiveness of compound medications, therefore the Plan will no longer cover certain compounded
prescriptions unless FDA approved. To avoid paying the full cost of these medications, you should ask your doctor for a
new prescription for a manufactured FDA-approved drug before your next fill.
• The Plan will participate in other approved managed care programs to ensure patient safety and appropriate therapy in
accordance with the Plan rules based on FDA guidelines referenced above.
• Preventive Migraine Medications: Specific high cost preventive migraine medications are required to be obtained at
Network Mail Order. Contact Express Scripts to see if your medication will be required to be obtained at Network Mail
Order. If you choose to continue filling the medications at retail pharmacy, you will have to pay the full cost.
• To find out more about your prescription drug plan, please visit Express Scripts online at www.express-scripts.com or call
Express Scripts Member Services at 800-841-2734.
• “Specialty Drugs” are injectable, infused, oral or inhaled drugs defined as having one or more of several key
characteristics: (1) requires frequent dosing adjustments and intensive clinical monitoring to decrease potential for drug
toxicity and increase probability for beneficial treatment outcomes; (2) need for intensive patient training and compliance
assistance to facilitate therapeutic goals; (3) limited or exclusive product availability and distribution; (4) specialized
product handling and/or administration requirements.
Some examples of the disease categories currently in Express Scripts specialty pharmacy programs include cancer,
cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, growth hormone deficiency, hemophilia, hypercholesterolemia, immune deficiency,
hepatitis C, infertility, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and RSV prophylaxis.
In addition, a follow-on-biologic or generic product will be considered a Specialty Drug if the innovator drug is a
Specialty Drug.
Many of the Specialty Drugs covered by the Plan fall under the Prescription Drug Utilization Management program
mentioned. Specialty medications for long-term therapy must be obtained through Accredo. You can send your
prescription through your normal mail service process or have your physician fax your prescription to Accredo.
You are encouraged to ask your physician if a specialty medication that you are receiving from the physician's office
or outpatient setting can be obtained at Accredo and administered at home using Accredo nursing services. Contact
Express Scripts at 800-922-8279 to speak to an Accredo representative to inquire how your medication can be
obtained through Accredo services.
• For Medicare Part B insurance coverage. If Medicare Part B is primary, ask about your options for submitting claims
for Medicare-covered medications and supplies, whether you use a Medicare-approved supplier or Express Scripts by
Mail. Prescriptions typically covered by Medicare Part B include diabetes supplies (test strips and meters), specific
medications used to aid tissue acceptance (such as with organ transplants), certain oral medications used to treat cancer,
and ostomy supplies.
• When you do have to file a claim. Use a Prescription Drug Claim Form to claim benefits for prescription drugs
and supplies purchased from a non-network pharmacy. You may obtain forms by calling 800-222-2798 or from our
website at www.apwuhp.com. Your claim must include receipts that show the prescription number, the National Drug
Code (NDC) number, name of the drug, prescriber's name, date of purchase and charge for the drug. Mail the claim form
and receipt(s) to:
Note: We cover hospitalization and anesthesia for dental procedures only when a non-dental physical
impairment exists which makes hospitalization necessary to safeguard the health of the patient. We do
not cover the dental procedure. See Section 5(c), Inpatient hospital benefits.
Accidental injury benefit You Pay
Accidental injury benefit
We cover restorative services and supplies necessary to repair (but not Within 72 hours of accident:
replace) sound natural teeth. The need for these services must result
from an accidental injury (a blow or fall) and must be performed within PPO: Nothing (No deductible)
two years of the accident. See also Section 5(d), Accidental injury. Non-PPO: Only the difference between our
allowance and the billed amount (No
deductible)
Simple extractions
24-hour nurse line We offer a 24-hour nurse advisory service for your use. This program is strictly voluntary
and confidential. You may call toll-free at 800-582-1314 and reach registered nurses to
discuss an existing medical concern or to receive information about numerous health care
issues.
Services for deaf and We offer a toll-free TDD line for customer service. The number is 800-622-2511. TDD
hearing impaired equipment is required.
Disease Management A voluntary program that provides a variety of services to help you manage a chronic
Program condition with outpatient treatment and avoid unnecessary emergency care or inpatient
admissions. Some examples of conditions that can be managed through this program are:
diabetes and cardiac conditions. We use medical and/or pharmacy claims data as well as
interactions with you and your physician(s). If you have a chronic condition and would
like additional information, call Cigna/CareAllies at 800-582-1314.
Diabetes Management If you are an APWU Health Plan primary member enrolled in the Cigna/CareAllies
Program Diabetes Disease Management Program and participate as required by the program, you
may be eligible for the following incentives for in-network services only:
• $0 copay for Formulary Generic (Tier 1) drugs from Express Scripts by Mail for the
specific purpose of lowering your blood sugar
• $0 copay for Formulary blood glucose test strips and lancets, covered on the Express
Scripts National Preferred Formulary from Express Scripts by Mail
Note: Enrollment in this program must be initiated by member after effective date of
Health Plan enrollment. To enroll contact Cigna/CareAllies at 800-582-1314.
Note: If you have other primary pharmacy insurance, you must use your primary
insurance first and then send the payment information from the primary insurance to
APWU Health Plan for coordination of benefits.
Note: You must remain in compliance with the program requirements in order to be
eligible for the $0 copay incentives. In order to remain compliant with the program,
enrollees must complete a call with their health coach at least every 90 days. During these
calls, you will discuss such topics as understanding of your disease process, knowledge of
your recent lab results, doctor visits and self-care goals.
If you are an APWU Health Plan member who has other primary insurance (i.e. Medicare
primary), you do not have to enroll in the Diabetes Disease Management Program, you
may be eligible for the following incentives:
• $0 copay for Formulary Generic (Tier 1) drugs from Express Scripts by Mail for the
specific purpose of lowering your blood sugar
• $0 copay for Formulary blood glucose test strips and lancets, covered on the Express
Scripts National Preferred Formulary, from Express Scripts by Mail
Review and Reward If you send us a corrected hospital billing, we will credit 20% of any hospital charge over
Program $20 for covered services and supplies that were not actually provided to a covered person.
The maximum amount payable under this program is $100 per person per calendar year.
Weight Management If you are an APWU Health Plan primary member enrolled in the Cigna/CareAllies
Program Weight Management Program and participate as required by the program, you may be
eligible for the following incentives for in-network services only:
• $0 copay for in-network office visit to a registered Dietician/Nutritionist (see Special
Programs)
Healthy Pregnancies, Enroll in this program and you take the first step toward giving your baby a healthy start
Healthy Babies Program in life. Enroll by calling CareAllies at 1-800-582-1314, prompt 8.
Special Programs • Lifestyle Programs - Wellness Coaches help you develop a personalized plan for
tobacco cessation and weight management. For information, call Cigna/CareAllies at
800-582-1314, select Weight Management/Tobacco Cessation option.
• Healthy Rewards - MyCigna provides non-FEHB savings on gym memberships,
tobacco cessation, weight reduction programs, and more. Visit www.apwuhp.com or
call 800-558-9443.
- Tobacco cessation - find discounts on smoking cessation products
- Weight and nutrition - get help to lose weight with discounts on weight reduction
programs from Jenny Craig
- Fitness - get fit and save on gym memberships
- Vision and hearing care - receive vision and hearing exams and discounts on
hearing aids, discounts on glasses and frames, and discounts on Lasik vision
corrections
- Wellness products - enjoy 40% savings on herbal supplements and vitamins, and
5% at checkout from www.drugstore.com
- Alternative medicine - find discounts for acupuncture, chiropractor, and massage
- Dental care - save on dental care with discounts on anti-cavity products and
toothbrushes
Health Risk Assessment A Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is available at www.apwuhp.com, click Take a Health
(HRA) Risk Assessment, click High Option, click Register Now. The HRA is an online program
that analyzes your health related responses and gives you a personalized plan to achieve
specific health goals. Your HRA profile provides information to put you on a path to good
physical and mental health.
When you complete the HRA, we will enroll you in the CignaPlus Savings discount
dental program. For Self Only coverage, we will pay the Self Only CignaPlus Savings
discount dental premium; and for Self Plus One and Self and Family, when at least two
family members complete the HRA, we will pay the family CignaPlus Savings discount
dental premium. We will pay these discount dental premiums for the remainder of the
calendar year in which the HRAs were completed provided you remain enrolled in our
Plan.
Consumer choice Access by Internet (www.apwuhp.com) is provided to support your important health and
information wellness decisions, including:
• Online Preferrred Organization (PPO) Directory - nationwide PPO network to find
doctors, hospitals and other outpatient providers anywhere in the country
• Hospital Quality Ratings Guide - Compare hospitals for quality in your area or
anywhere in the country
• Treatment Cost Estimator - receive cost estimates for the most common medical
conditions, tests and procedures
• Prescription drug information, pricing, and network retail pharmacies
Note: In-network facility and lab services directly related to covered, in-
network preventive care will also be covered at 100%.
Well woman care based on current recommendations such as: In-network: Nothing
• One annual routine gynecological visit Out-of-network: Uses PCA while funds
• Cervical cancer screening (Pap smear) available
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing
• Chlamydia/Gonorrhea screening
• Gonorrhea prophylactic medication to protect newborns
• Osteoporosis screening
• Breast cancer screening
• Annual counseling for sexually transmitted infections
• Annual counseling and screening human immune-deficiency virus
• Contraceptives, such as surgically implanted contraceptives,
injectable contraceptive drugs, intrauterine devices, and diaphragms
(See Section 5(a))
• Contraceptive methods and counseling
• Sterilization procedures (See Section 5(b))
• Patient education and counseling for women with reproductive
capacity
• Screening and counseling for women for interpersonal and domestic
violence
• Perinatal depression: counseling and interventions
Adult immunizations endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Out-of-network: Uses PCA while funds
Prevention (CDC): based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization available
Practices (ACIP) schedule.
• Zostavax shingles vaccine, starting age age 60
• Shingrix shingles vaccine, starting at age 50, two vaccine limit per
lifetime
HHS: www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-benefits
CDC: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html
www.healthcare.gov/preventive-care-women/
www.healthfinder.gov/myhealthfinder/default.aspx
Note: For directly related associated facilities services and lab work for
preventive care, we pay for covered services in full when you use
preferred providers.
Not covered: All charges
• Adult immunizations not endorsed by the CDC
• Routine diagnostic tests associated with preventive care other than
those specified as covered
• Physical exams required for obtaining or continuing employment or
insurance, attending schools or camp, athletic exams, or travel
• Immunizations, boosters, and medications for travel or work-related
exposure
2020 APWU Health Plan 82 CDHP Section 5 Personal Care Account (PCA)
CDHP
• $2,400 per year for a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment
Note: Both Basic and Extra PCA Expenses are covered at 100% as long
as you have not used up your Personal Care Account.
2020 APWU Health Plan 83 CDHP Section 5 Personal Care Account (PCA)
CDHP
PCA Rollover
As long as you remain in this Plan, any unused remaining balance in your PCA at the end of the calendar year may be
rolled over to subsequent years. The maximum amount allowed in your PCA in any given year may not exceed $5,000
per Self Only enrollment, $10,000 per Self Plus One enrollment and $10,000 per Self and Family enrollment.
2020 APWU Health Plan 84 CDHP Section 5 Personal Care Account (PCA)
CDHP
Note: You must use any available PCA benefits, including any amounts
rolled over from previous years, before Traditional Health Coverage
begins.
In year one, therefore, the Deductible is $1,000 for Self Only, $2,000 for
Self Plus One and $2,000 for Self and Family enrollment.
Traditional
Health In-network In-network In-network
Coverage starts $2,200 $4,400 $4,400
after
Out-of-network Out-of-network Out-of-network
Any PCA dollars that you rollover at the end of the year will reduce your
Deductible next year.
Traditional
Health In-network
Coverage starts In-network In-network
$2,200
when eligible $4,400 $4,400
expenses total Out-of-network
Out-of-network Out-of-network
$2,700
$5,400 $5,400
If you decide to use your PCA for Extra PCA Expenses for other than
covered dental and/or vision services, you may increase your
Deductible.
For example, if you have out-of-network preventive care for $150 and
later have an accident that leads to a hospital stay, you will have to pay
your Deductible plus “make up” the $150 dollars you spent on Extra
PCA Expenses.
Section 5 (a). Medical Services and Supplies Provided by Physicians and Other
Healthcare Professionals
Important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
• Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions in this
brochure and are payable only when we determine they are medically necessary.
• In-network Preventive Care is covered at 100% under CDHP Section 5 and does not count against
your Personal Care Account.
• Your Personal Care Account must be used first for eligible health care expenses.
• If your Personal Care Account has been exhausted, you must pay your Deductible before your
Traditional Health Coverage may begin. Your Deductible applies to all benefits in this section.
• The Consumer Driven Option provides coverage for both in-network and out-of-network providers.
The out-of-network benefits are the standard benefits under the Traditional Health Coverage. In-
network benefits apply only when you use a provider from the large, national network. When a
network provider is not available, out-of-network benefits apply.
• If you join at any time during the year other than Open Season, your Deductible for your first year
will be prorated at a rate of: In-network $83.33 per month for Self Only, $166.67 per month for Self
Plus One or Self and Family; or out-of-network $125.00 per month for Self Only or $250.00 per
month for Self Plus One or Self and Family, for each full month of coverage remaining in that
calendar year.
• When you use an in-network hospital, keep in mind that the professionals who provide services to
you in the hospital, may not all be preferred providers. If they are not, they will be paid by this Plan
as out-of-network providers. However, if surgical services are rendered at an in-network hospital or
an in-network freestanding ambulatory facility by an in-network primary surgeon, we will pay the
services of anesthesiologists and surgical assistants who are not preferred providers at the in-
network rate, based on Plan allowance. If the covered services are performed at an in-network
hospital or an in-network freestanding ambulatory facility, we will pay the services of radiologists
and pathologists who are not preferred providers at the in-network rate, based on the Plan
allowance. You may be billed any difference between our allowance and the billed amount.
• YOU MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION FOR HOSPITAL STAYS; FAILURE TO DO SO
WILL RESULT IN A MINIMUM $500 PENALTY. Please refer to the precertification
information shown in Section 3 to confirm which services require precertification.
Benefit Description You Pay
Diagnostic and treatment services
Professional services of physicians In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• In physician's office Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• At home and any difference between our allowance and
• In an urgent care center the billed amount
Please see www.apwuhp.com for information on virtual visits, or log Out-of-network: N/A
into www.myuhc.com
Maternity care
Complete maternity (obstetrical) care, such as: In-network: Nothing
• Screening for gestational diabetes for pregnant women Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Prenatal care and any difference between our allowance and
• Delivery the billed amount
• Postnatal care
• Initial examination of a newborn child covered under a Self Plus One, Note: For inpatient hospital care related to
or Self and Family enrollment maternity, we pay for covered services in full
• Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling for each birth when you use preferred providers.
Note: Here are some things to keep in mind: Note: In-network facility and lab services
directly related to covered, in-network
• You do not need to precertify your vaginal or cesarean delivery; see maternity care will also be covered at 100%.
page 23 for other circumstances, such as extended stays for you or
your baby.
• You may remain in the hospital up to 48 hours after a vaginal delivery
and 96 hours after a cesarean delivery.
• We cover routine nursery care of the newborn child during the
covered portion of the mother’s maternity stay.
Note: Maternity care expenses incurred by a Plan member serving as a Note: In-network facility and lab services
surrogate mother are covered by the Plan subject to reimbursement from directly related to covered, in-network
the other party to the surrogacy contract or agreement. The involved maternity care will also be covered at 100%.
Plan member must execute our Reimbursement Agreement against any
payment she may receive under the surrogacy contract or agreement.
Expenses of the newborn child are not covered under this or any other
benefit in a surrogate mother situation.
• We will cover other care of an infant who requires non-routine In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
treatment if we cover the infant under a Self Plus One or Self and
Family enrollment. Surgical benefits, not maternity benefits, apply to Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
circumcision of a covered newborn. and any difference between our allowance and
the billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Amniocentesis if for diagnosing multiple births
• Genetic screening (see Definitions, Section 10)
Family Planning
A range of voluntary family services limited to: In-network: Nothing
• Contraceptive counseling for women Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Voluntary sterilization for women (See Surgical procedures, Section 5 and any difference between our allowance and
(b)) the billed amount
• Surgically implanted contraceptives
• Injectable contraceptive drugs (such as Depo provera)
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Diaphragms
Allergy care
• Testing and treatment, including materials (such as allergy serum) In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Allergy injections Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
and any difference between our allowance and
the billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Provocative food testing
• Sublingual allergy desensitization
Treatment therapies
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
Note: High dose chemotherapy in association with autologous bone Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
marrow transplants is limited to those transplants listed on pages and any difference between our allowance and
102-105. the billed amount
Note: We have the right to deny services for treatment when outcomes
do not meet the defined treatment plan objectives and milestones.
Note: See Preventive care, children, for eye exams for children.
Not covered: All charges
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses and examinations for them except under
PCA
• Eye exercises and visual training
• Radial keratotomy and other refractive surgery
• Refraction
Foot care
Routine foot care when you are under active treatment for a metabolic or In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
peripheral vascular disease, such as diabetes
Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
Note: See Orthopedic and prosthetic devices for information on and any difference between our allowance and
podiatric shoe inserts. the billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Cutting, trimming or removal of corns, calluses, or the free edge of
toenails, and similar routine treatment of conditions of the foot, except
as stated above
Note: We will pay only for the cost of the standard item. Coverage for
specialty items, such as bionics, is limited to the cost of the standard
item.
External hearing aids In-network: All charges in excess of $1,500
• Covered every 3 years limited to $1,500 Out-of-network: All charges in excess of
$1,500
Note: Excluding batteries, benefits for hearing aid dispensing fees,
accessories, supplies, and repair service are included in the benefit limit
described above.
Not covered: All charges
• Orthopedic and corrective shoes, arch supports, foot orthotics, heel
pads and heel cups
• Lumbosacral supports
• Corsets, trusses, elastic stockings, support hose, and other supportive
devices
1) Are prescribed by your attending physician (i.e., the physician who is Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
treating your illness or injury) and any difference between our allowance and
the billed amount
2) Are medically necessary
Note: We will pay only for the cost of the standard item. Coverage for
specialty equipment, such as all-terrain wheelchairs, is limited to the
cost of the standard equipment.
Note: We limit the Plan allowance for DME rental benefit to an amount
no greater than what we would have considered if the equipment had
been purchased.
Not covered: All charges
• Whirlpool equipment
• Sun and heat lamps
• Light boxes
• Heating pads
• Exercise devices
• Stair glides
• Elevators
• Air purifiers
• Computer "story boards," "light talkers," or other communication aids
for communication-impaired individuals
Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment limited to 24 visits and/or manipulations per year In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
Note: X-rays covered under Lab, X-ray and other diagnostic tests. Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
and any difference between our allowance and
the billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Massage therapy
• Maintenance therapy
Alternative treatments
Acupuncture - by a doctor of medicine or osteopathy or licensed In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
acupuncturist
Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• anesthesia and any difference between our allowance and
• pain relief the billed amount
Section 5 (b). Surgical and Anesthesia Services Provided by Physicians and Other
Healthcare Professionals
Important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
• Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions in this
brochure and are payable only when we determine they are medically necessary.
• In-network Preventive Care is covered at 100% under CDHP Section 5 and does not count against
your Personal Care Account.
• Your Personal Care Account must be used first for eligible health care expenses.
• If your Personal Care Account has been exhausted, you must pay your Deductible before your
Traditional Health Coverage may begin. Your Deductible applies to all benefits in this section.
• The Consumer Driven Option provides coverage for both in-network and out-of-network providers.
The out-of-network benefits are the standard benefits under the Traditional Health Coverage. In-
network benefits apply only when you use a provider from the large, national network. When a
network provider is not available, out-of-network benefits apply.
• If you join at any time during the year other than Open Season, your Deductible for your first year
will be prorated at a rate of: In-network $83.33 per month for Self Only, $166.67 per month for Self
Plus One or Self and Family; or out-of-network $125.00 per month for Self Only or $250.00 per
month for Self Plus One or Self and Family, for each full month of coverage remaining in that
calendar year.
• When you use an in-network hospital, keep in mind that the professionals who provide services to
you in the hospital, may not all be preferred providers. If they are not, they will be paid by this Plan
as out-of-network providers. However, if surgical services are rendered at an in-network hospital or
an in-network freestanding ambulatory facility by an in-network primary surgeon, we will pay the
services of anesthesiologists and surgical assistants who are not preferred providers at the in-
network rate, based on Plan allowance. If the covered services are performed at an in-network
hospital or an in-network freestanding ambulatory facility, we will pay the services of radiologists
and pathologists who are not preferred providers at the in-network rate, based on the Plan
allowance. You may be billed any difference between our allowance and the billed amount.
• Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for valuable information about how cost-
sharing works. Also, read Section 9 for information about how we pay if you have other coverage,
or if you are age 65 or over.
• YOU MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION FOR HOSPITAL STAYS; FAILURE TO DO SO
WILL RESULT IN A MINIMUM $500 PENALTY. Please refer to the precertification
information shown in Section 3 to confirm which services require precertification.
Benefit Description You Pay
Surgical procedures
A comprehensive range of services, such as: In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Operative procedures Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Treatment of fractures, including casting and any difference between our allowance and
• Normal pre- and post-operative care by the surgeon the billed amount
Requirements:
1. Prior approval is required
2. Must be at least 18 years of age at time prior approval is requested
and treatment plan is submitted
3. Must have diagnosis of gender dysphoria by a qualified healthcare
professional
4. New gender identity has been present for at least 24 continuous
months
5. Member has a strong desire to be rid of primary and/or secondary sex
characteristics because of a marked in-congruence with the member’s
identified gender
6. Member’s gender dysphoria is not a symptom of another mental
disorder or chromosomal abnormality
7. Gender dysphoria causes clinical distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
8. 12 months of continuous hormone therapy appropriate to the
member's gender identity.
9. Two referral letters from qualified mental health professionals, one of
them being a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist (PhD). One must be
from the psychotherapist who has treated the member for at least 12
continuous months. Letters must document: diagnosis of persistent
and chronic gender dysphoria; any existing co-morbid conditions are
stable; member is prepared to undergo surgery and understands all
practical aspects of the planned surgery
10.If medical or mental health concerns are present, they are being
optimally managed and are reasonably well-controlled
Reconstructive surgery
• Surgery to correct a functional defect In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Surgery to correct a condition caused by injury or illness if: Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
- The condition produced a major effect on the member’s appearance and any difference between our allowance and
and the billed amount
- The condition can reasonably be expected to be corrected by such
surgery
• Surgery to correct a condition that existed at or from birth and is a
significant deviation from the common form or norm. Examples of
congenital anomalies are: protruding ear deformities; cleft lip; cleft
palate; birth marks (including port wine stains); and webbed fingers
and toes.
• All stages of breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy,
such as:
- Surgery to produce a symmetrical appearance of breast
- Treatment of any physical complications, such as lymphedema
- Breast prostheses; and surgical bras and replacements (see Section
5(a), Prosthetic devices for coverage)
Note: If you need a mastectomy, you may choose to have the procedure
performed on an inpatient basis and remain in the hospital up to 48
hours after the procedure.
Not covered: All charges
• Cosmetic surgery– any surgical procedure (or any portion of a
procedure) performed primarily to improve physical appearance
through change in bodily form, except repair of accidental injury if
repair is initiated within two years of the accident
Organ/tissue transplants
These solid organ transplants are subject to medical necessity and In-network Transplant Center of Excellence
experimental/investigational review by the Plan. Refer to Other services (COE): 10% of the Plan allowance
in Section 3 for prior authorization procedures.
In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
Solid organ transplants are limited to:
Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Autologous pancreas islet cell transplant (as an adjunct to total or near and any difference between our allowance and
total pancreatectomy) only for patients with chronic pancreatitis the billed amount and any amount over
• Cornea $100,000
• Heart
• Heart/lung
• Intestinal transplants
- Isolated small intestine
- Small intestine with the liver
- Small intestine with multiple organs, such as the liver, stomach, and
pancreas
• Kidney
• Kidney-pancreas
• Liver
• Lung single/bilateral/lobar
• Pancreas
These tandem blood or marrow stem cell transplants for covered In-network Transplant Center of Excellence
transplants are subject to medical necessity review by the Plan. Refer to (COE): 10% of the Plan allowance
Other services in Section 3 for prior authorization procedures.
In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Autologous tandem transplants for
- AL Amyloidosis Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
and any difference between our allowance and
- Multiple myeloma (de novo and treated) the billed amount and any amount over
- Recurrent germ cell tumors (including testicular cancer) $100,000
- Acute lymphocytic or non-lymphocytic (i.e., myelogenous) Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
leukemia and any difference between our allowance and
- Acute myeloid leukemia the billed amount and any amount over
$100,000
- Advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma with recurrence (relapsed)
- Advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with recurrence (relapsed)
- Advanced Myeloproliferative Disorders (MPDs)
- Advanced neuroblastoma
- Amyloidosis
- Beta Thalassemia Major
- Chronic inflammatory demyelination polyneuropathy (CIDP)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma
(CLL/SLL)
- Early stage (indolent or non-advanced) small cell lymphocytic
lymphoma
- Hemoglobinopathy
- Infantile malignant osteopetrosis
- Kostmann's syndrome
- Leukocyte adhesion deficiencies
- Marrow failure and related disorders (i.e., Fanconi's Paroxysmal
Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, Pure Red Cell Aplasia)
- Mucolipidosis (e.g., Gaucher's disease, metachromatic
leukodystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy)
- Mucopolysaccharidosis (e.g., Hunter's syndrome, Hurler's
syndrome, Sanfillippo's syndrome, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome
variants)
- Multiple Myeloma
- Myelodysplasia/Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
- Phagocytic/Hemophagocytic deficiency diseases (e.g., Wiskott-
Aldrich syndrome)
- Severe combined immunodeficiency
- Severe or very severe aplastic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia (pediatric only)
- X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome
• Autologous transplants for
- Acute lymphocytic or nonlymphocytic (i.e., myelogenous)
leukemia
- Advanced childhood kidney cancers
If you are a participant in a clinical trial, the Plan will provide benefits Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
for related routine care that is medically necessary (such as doctor visits, and any difference between our allowance and
lab tests, X-rays and scans, and hospitalization related to treating the the billed amount and any amount over
patient's condition) if it is not provided by the clinical trial. Section 9 has $100,000
additional information on costs related to clinical trials. We encourage
you to contact the Plan to discuss specific services if you participate in a
clinical trial.
Transplant Network
Anesthesia
Professional services for administration of anesthesia In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
Note: If surgical services are rendered at an in-network hospital or an Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
in-network freestanding ambulatory facility by an in-network primary and any difference between our allowance and
surgeon, we will pay the services of out-of-network anesthesiologists at the billed amount
the in-network rate, based on Plan allowance.
Note: When the out-of-network hospital bills a flat rate, we prorate the
charges to determine how to pay them, as follows: 30% room and board
and 70% other charges.
Other hospital services and supplies, such as: In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
• Operating, recovery, maternity and other treatment rooms Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Prescribed drugs and medications and any difference between our allowance and
• Diagnostic laboratory tests and X-rays the billed amount
• Blood or blood plasma, if not donated or replaced Note: For inpatient hospital care related to
• Dressings, splints, casts, and sterile tray services maternity, we pay for covered services in full
when you use preferred providers (See Section
• Medical supplies and equipment, including oxygen 5(a), Maternity care).
• Anesthetics, including nurse anesthetist services
• Blood and blood plasma, if not donated or replaced Note: For inpatient hospital care related to
• Pre-surgical testing maternity, we pay for covered services in full
when you use preferred providers (See Section
• Dressings, casts, and sterile tray services 5(a), Maternity care).
• Medical supplies, including oxygen
• Anesthetics and anesthesia service
Semiprivate room, board, services and supplies provided in a skilled Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
nursing care facility (SNF) for up to 30 days per person per calendar and any difference between our allowance and
year when you are admitted directly from a covered inpatient hospital the billed amount
stay.
Extended care benefits/Skilled nursing care facility benefits - continued on next page
2020 APWU Health Plan 108 CDHP Section 5(c)
CDHP
Semiprivate room, board, services and supplies provided in a skilled Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
nursing care facility (SNF) for up to 30 days per person per calendar and any difference between our allowance and
year when you are admitted directly from a covered inpatient hospital the billed amount
stay.
Note: If Medicare pays the first 20 days in full, Plan benefits will begin
on the 21st day (when Medicare Part A copayments begin) and will end
on the 30th day.
Not covered: All charges
• Custodial care (See Section 10, Definitions)
• All charges after 30 days per person per calendar year
Hospice care
Hospice is a coordinated program of home and inpatient supportive care Any amount over the annual maximums shown
for the terminally ill patient and the patient’s family provided by a
medically supervised specialized team under the direction of a duly
licensed or certified Hospice Care Program.
• We pay up to $15,000 lifetime maximum for combined outpatient and
inpatient services, which includes advance care planning
• We pay a $200 annual bereavement benefit per family unit
Ambulance
Local professional ambulance service when medically appropriate In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
immediately before or after an inpatient admission
Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
and any difference between our allowance and
the billed amount
Not covered: All charges
• Ambulance service used for routine transport
If you receive care for your accidental injury after 24 hours, we cover:
• Physician services and supplies
Diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric conditions, mental illness, or In-network: 15% of the Plan allowance
mental disorders. Services include:
Out-of-network: 50% of the Plan allowance
• Diagnostic evaluation and any difference between our allowance and
• Crisis intervention and stabilization for acute episodes the billed amount
• Medication evaluation and management (pharmacotherapy)
• Psychological and neuropsychological testing necessary to determine
the appropriate psychiatric treatment (preauthorization required by
UHC Behavioral Health Solutions)
• Treatment and counseling (including individual or group therapy
visits)
TeleHealth Services
Virtual visits through UHC Behavioral Health Solutions for non- In-network: 15%
emergency visits
Out-of-network: N/A
Covered services include consultation, diagnosis and prescriptions
(when appropriate) through the web or your mobile device.
Brand/Generic Drugs
• Why use generic drugs? A generic drug is a chemical equivalent of a corresponding name brand drug. The US Food and
Drug Administration sets quality standards for generic drugs to ensure that these drugs meet the same standards of quality
and strength as brand name drugs. Generic drugs are generally less expensive than brand drugs, therefore, you may reduce
your out-of-pocket-expenses by choosing to use a generic drug.
• A generic equivalent will be dispensed if it is available, unless your physician specifically requires a brand name drug.
Benefit Description You Pay
Covered medications and supplies
Each new enrollee will receive a combined prescription drug/Plan • Network Retail:
identification card. - Tier 1 and Tier 2 - 25% of charge with a
You may purchase the following medications and supplies prescribed by minimum of $15 and a maximum per
a doctor from either a network pharmacy or by mail: prescription of $200 for a 30-day supply,
$400 for a 60-day supply, $600 for a 90-
• Drugs and medications, including those for tobacco cessation/e- day supply;
cigarettes, for use at home that are obtainable only upon a doctor’s
prescription - Tier 3 - 40% of charge with a minimum
$15 and a maximum per prescription of
• Drugs and medications (including those administered during a non- $300 for a 30-day supply, $600 for a 60-
covered admission or in a non-covered facility) that by Federal law of day supply, $900 for a 90-day supply
the United States require a physician’s prescription for their purchase,
except those listed as not covered • Network Home Delivery:
• Insulin and test strips for known diabetics - Tier 1 and Tier 2 - 25% of charge with a
minimum of $10 and a maximum per
• FDA approved drugs for weight management. Prior approval is prescription of $200 for a 30-day supply,
required, see page 118 $400 for a 60-day supply, $600 for a 90-
• Disposable needles and syringes for the administration of covered day supply;
medications - Tier 3 - 40% of charge with a minimum
• Prior authorization/medical necessity review is required for certain $10 and a maximum per prescription of
drugs and must be renewed periodically. Prior authorization/medical $300 for a 30-day supply, $600 for a 60-
necessity review uses Plan rules based on FDA-approved prescribing day supply, $900 for a 90-day supply
and safety information, clinical guidelines and uses that are
considered reasonable, safe and effective. For example, approved
drugs for organic impotence are subject to prior Plan approval and
limitations on dosage and quantity. See Section 3, Other services and
page 118 for more information about this program.
• Naloxone 0.4 mg/ml vial and Naloxone 2 mg/ml syringe; and Narcan Network Retail: Nothing
nasal spray for the prevention of opioid overdose related deaths
Network Home Delivery: Nothing
Not covered: All charges
• Drugs and supplies for cosmetic purposes
Coverage Authorization
• The information below describes a feature of your prescription drug plan known as coverage authorization. Coverage
authorization determines how your prescription drug plan will cover certain medications.
• Some medications are not covered unless you receive approval through a coverage review (prior authorization/medical
necessity review). Examples of drug categories that require a coverage review include but are not limited to, Specialty
Cholesterol, Growth Hormones, Botox, Interferons, Rheumatoid Arthritis agents, Retin A, drugs for organic impotence and
FDA approved drugs for weight management, gender dysphoria and gender transition (in-network only). This review uses
plan rules based on FDA-approved prescribing and safety information, clinical guidelines and uses that are considered
reasonable, safe and effective. There are other medications that may be covered with limits (for example, only for a certain
amount or for certain uses) unless you receive approval through a review. During this review, Optum Rx asks your
prescriber for more information than what is on the prescription before the medication may be covered under your plan. If
coverage is approved, you simply pay your normal copayment/coinsurance for the medication. If coverage is not approved,
you will be responsible for the full cost of the medication.
• To determine if a prescription drug product requires prior authorization/medical necessity review visit www.myuhc.com or
call 800-718-1299.
• In our ongoing effort to provide a robust yet cost-effective prescription drug benefit, APWU Health Plan participates in
programs to encourage the prescribing and use of generics and lower-cost alternative brands when appropriate. In most
cases, you save money when the preferred generic or formulary brand is dispensed. One method that has proved effective
in saving members money is “Step Therapy.” Step Therapy ensures that a first-line generic or brand alternative within a
therapeutic category is used first, before the use of a similar but more expensive drug. Specific therapeutic categories are
identified as appropriate for Step Therapy. Currently, the Plan offers Step Therapy programs on Adrenal Agents, Specialty
Cholesterol drugs, Amino Acid Disorder, Asthma, Anticonvulsants, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Erectile Dysfunction,
Depression, Diabetes, Fungal Infections, Heartburn/Reflux/Ulcer, Hemophilia, Hepatitis C, High Cholesterol, Infertility,
Methotrexate, Skin Conditions, Sleep Aids, Opioids and Lyrica. In situations where a targeted drug is prescribed, the
pharmacist will be notified to discuss Step 1 alternatives with the prescribing physician. If a first line therapy is not
appropriate, your physician may contact OptumRx’s coverage review unit. If the coverage is approved, the normal
coinsurance and a letter of explanation will be sent to both you and your physician. If the coverage is not approved, you
will be responsible for the full cost of the prescription. If you do not first obtain the Plan’s approval, you will pay the full
cost of the prescription. The prescriber can request a notification/prior authorization with OptumRx by logging into www.
optumrx.com, Healthcare Professionals, Prior Authorization to submit an online notification/prior authorization request or
by calling 800-711-4555. You may determine whether a particular prescription is subject to Step Therapy by visiting www.
myuhc.com or by calling the number on the back of your ID card.
• Some Prescription Drugs are subject to supply limits that may restrict the amount dispensed per prescription order or refill
and/or the amount dispensed per month’s supply. To determine if a Prescription Drug has been assigned a maximum
quantity level for dispensing, either visit www.myuhc.com or call the toll-free number on your ID card. Supply limits are
subject to periodic review and modification. Supply limits are based upon the dosing recommendations included in the
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling, manufacturer’s package size, and information in the medical
literature or guidelines. If your current prescription is more than the supply limit, you have the following options: Accept
the supply limit; either pay the full cost or an extra copayment for the additional supply; talk to your doctor about
medication alternatives. To determine if your prescription drug product has been assigned a supply limit for dispensing,
visit www.myuhc.com or call 800-718-1299.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a compound medication as one that requires a licensed pharmacist
to combine, mix or alter the ingredients of a medication when filling a prescription. The FDA does not verify the quality,
safety and/or effectiveness of compound medications, therefore the Plan will no longer cover certain compound
prescriptions unless FDA approved. To avoid paying the full cost of these medications, you should ask your prescriber for
a new prescription for an FDA-approved drug before your next fill. Your compound medication may require notification/
prior authorization. The prescriber can request a notification/prior authorization with OptumRx by logging into www.
optumrx.com, Healthcare Professionals, Prior Authorization to submit an online notification/prior authorization request or
by calling 800-711-4555. If coverage of the medication is approved, you may continue to fill your prescription at the
Plan’s normal coinsurance. If the coverage of the medication is not approved, you will be responsible for the full cost of
the prescription.
• The Plan will participate in other approved managed care programs to ensure patient safety and appropriate therapy in
accordance with the Plan rules based on FDA-guidelines referenced above.
• To find out more about your prescription drug plan, please visit www.myuhc.com or call Member Services at
800-718-1299.
• “Specialty Drugs” are injectable, infused, oral or inhaled drugs defined as having one or more of several key
characteristics: (1) requires frequent dosing adjustments and intensive clinical monitoring to decrease potential for drug
toxicity or increased probability for beneficial treatment outcomes; (2) need for patient training and compliance assistance
to facilitate therapeutic goals; (3) limited or exclusive product availability and distribution; (4) specialized product
handling and/or administration requirements.
Some examples of the disease categories currently in the Optum Rx specialty pharmacy programs include cancer, cystic
fibrosis, growth hormone deficiency, hemophilia, hypercholesterolemia, immune deficiency, hepatitis C, infertility, multiple
sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, a follow-on-biologic or generic product will be considered a Specialty Drug if
the innovator drug is a Specialty Drug.
Many of the Specialty Drugs covered by the Plan fall under the Coverage Authorization.
To determine if your prescription drug product is a Specialty Drug, visit www.myuhc.com or call 800-718-1299.
Specialty medications must be obtained through the Optum Rx specialty pharmacy. You can send your prescription through
your normal mail service process or have your physician fax your prescription to Optum Rx.
Note: If you do not use your identification card at a network pharmacy, or if you use a non-network pharmacy, the Plan
provides no benefit and you must pay the full cost of your purchases. Non-network retail drugs will be covered under the in-
network benefit only if necessary and prescribed for sudden illness while traveling outside of the United States (including
Puerto Rico).
Care support A 24-hour nurse advisory service for your use. This program is strictly voluntary and
confidential. You may call toll-free at 800-718-1299 to discuss an existing medical
concern or to receive information about numerous health care and self-care issues. This
also includes health coaching with a registered nurse when you want to discuss significant
medical decisions. TTY/TDD callers, please call the National Relay Center at
800-855-2880 and ask for 800-718-1299.
Identification and notification of potential patient safety issues (e.g., drug interactions).
Individual support with a health care professional for numerous medical conditions
including maternity, asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, healthy back and more.
Special Programs Online programs and services provide extra support and savings, at www.welcometouhc.
com/apwu
• Healthy Pregnancy Program - Mothers-to-be receive support through every stage of
pregnancy and delivery.
• Orthopedic Health Support - Orthopedic health support provides support for back,
hip, knee, shoulder and neck conditions.
• Cancer Support Program - Enroll in the program, and receive enhanced benefits at
Cancer Centers of Excellence.
• Source4Women - Resource designed for women to learn how to keep the entire
family healthy.
• Diabetes Management Program - Receive support from a health coach for managing
diabetes.
Health Risk Assessment A Health Risk Assessment (HRA) is available at www.myuhc.com, or call 800-718-1299.
(HRA) The HRA is an online program that analyzes your health related responses and gives you a
personalized plan to achieve specific health goals. Your HRA profile provides
information to put you on a path to good physical and mental health.
When you complete the HRA online, if you have Self Only coverage, we will add $25 to
your Personal Care Account (PCA). If you have Self Plus One or Self and Family
coverage we will add $25 to the Personal Care Account (PCA) for the member, spouse,
and each covered dependent age 18 or older who completes the HRA. We will add these
amounts in the calendar year in which the HRAs were completed.
2020 APWU Health Plan 124 Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members Section 5
Section 6. General Exclusions - Services, Drugs and Supplies We Do Not Cover
The exclusions in this section apply to all benefits. There may be other exclusions and limitations listed in Section 5 of this
brochure. Although we may list a specific service as a benefit, we will not cover it unless we determine it is medically
necessary to prevent, diagnose, or treat your illness, disease, injury, or condition. For information on obtaining prior
approval for specific services, such as transplants, (see Section 3, You need prior Plan approval for certain services).
We do not cover the following:
• Services, drugs, or supplies you receive while you are not enrolled in this Plan.
• Services, drugs, or supplies that are not medically necessary.
• Services, drugs, or supplies not required according to accepted standards of medical, dental, or psychiatric practice.
• Experimental or investigational procedures, treatments, drugs or devices (see specifics regarding transplants).
• Services, drugs, or supplies related to abortions, except when the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus was
carried to term, or when the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.
• Services, drugs, or supplies related to sexual dysfunction or sexual inadequacy except for organic impotence as shown on
pages 19, 66, 116, 118.
• Unless otherwise specified in Section 5, services and supplies for weight reduction/control or treatment of obesity.
• Services, drugs, or supplies you receive from a provider or facility barred from the FEHB Program.
• Services, drugs and supplies for which no charge would be made if the covered individual had no health insurance
coverage.
• Computer “story boards,” “light talkers,” or other communication aids for communication-impaired individuals.
• Services, drugs, or supplies you receive without charge while in active military service.
• Services, drugs and supplies furnished by yourself, immediate relatives or household members, such as spouse, parent,
child, brother, or sister by blood, marriage, or adoption.
• Services and supplies furnished or billed by a non-covered facility, except medically necessary prescription drugs and
physical, speech and occupational therapy rendered by a qualified professional therapist on an outpatient basis are covered
subject to Plan limits.
• General anesthetics for dental services unless due to an underlying medical condition.
• Services, drugs and supplies billed by schools or other education institutions.
• Prolotherapy
• Naturopathic and homeopathic services such as naturopathic medications.
• Services, supplies and drugs not specifically listed as covered.
• Services, supplies and drugs furnished or billed by someone other than a covered provider as defined on page 17.
• Any portion of a provider’s fee or charge ordinarily due from the enrollee that has been waived. If a provider routinely
waives (does not require the enrollee to pay) a deductible, copay or coinsurance, we will calculate the actual provider fee
or charge by reducing the fee or charge by the amount waived.
• Charges which you or we have no legal obligation to pay, such as excess charges for an annuitant age 65 or older who is
not covered by Medicare Parts A and/or B (see pages 138-140), doctor charges exceeding the amount specified by the
Department of Health and Human Services when benefits are payable under Medicare limiting charge (see page 143), or
State premium taxes however applied.
• Biofeedback; non-medical self care or self help training, such as recreational, educational, or milieu therapy unless
specifically listed.
• Charges that we determine to be in excess of the Plan allowance.
Mail to:
• Cigna Healthcare, P.O. Box 188004, Chattanooga, TN 37422, or Payor ID 62308
Mail to:
• UnitedHealthcare, P.O. Box 740800, Atlanta, GA 30374-0810
High Option
• Beacon Health Options, P.O. Box 1854, Hickville, NY 11802-1854, or Payor ID FHC
&Affiliates
In most cases, providers and facilities file claims for you. Your provider must file on the
form CMS-1500, Health Insurance Claim Form. Your facility will file on the UB-04 form.
For claims questions and assistance, call us at 800-222-2798.
When you must file a claim - such as when you use non-PPO providers, for services you
received overseas or when another group health plan is primary - submit it on the
CMS-1500 or a claim form that includes the information shown below. Bills and receipts
should be itemized and show:
• Patient’s name, date of birth, address, phone number and relationship to enrollee
• Patient’s plan identification number
• Name and address of person or company providing the service or supply
• Dates that services or supplies were furnished
• Diagnosis
• Type of each service or supply
• Charge for each service or supply
Note: Canceled checks, cash register receipts, or balance due statements are not
acceptable substitutes for itemized bills.
Post-service claims We will notify you of our decision within 30 days after we receive your post-service
procedures claim. If matters beyond our control require an extension of time, we may take up to an
additional 15 days for review and we will notify you before the expiration of the original
30-day period. Our notice will include the circumstances underlying the request for the
extension and the date when a decision is expected.
If we need an extension because we have not received necessary information from you,
our notice will describe the specific information required and we will allow you up to 60
days from the receipt of the notice to provide the information.
If you do not agree with our initial decision, you may ask us to review it by following the
disputed claims process detailed in Section 8 of this brochure.
Records Keep a separate record of the medical expenses of each covered family member as
deductibles and maximum allowances apply separately to each person. Save copies of all
medical bills, including those you accumulate to satisfy a deductible. In most instances
they will serve as evidence of your claim. We will not provide duplicate or year-end
statements.
Deadline for filing your Send us all the documents for your claim as soon as possible. You must submit the claim
claim by December 31 of the year after the year you received the service. If you could not file
on time because of Government administrative operations or legal incapacity, you must
submit your claim as soon as reasonably possible. Once we pay benefits, there is a three-
year limitation on the re-issuance of uncashed checks.
Overseas claims For covered services you receive by providers and hospitals outside the United States and
Puerto Rico, send a completed Claim Form and the itemized bills to the following address.
Also, send any written inquiries concerning the processing of overseas claims to:
• High Option: APWU Health Plan, P.O. Box 1358, Glen Burnie, MD 21060-1358.
• Consumer Driven Option: UnitedHealthcare at the claims address shown on the back
of your UnitedHealthcare ID card.
When we need more Please reply promptly when we ask for additional information. We may delay processing
information or deny benefits for your claim if you do not respond. Our deadline for responding to
your claim is stayed while we await all of the additional information needed to process
your claim.
Notice Requirements The Secretary of Health and Human Services has identified counties where at least 10
percent of the population is literate only in certain non-English languages. The non-
English languages meeting this threshold in certain counties are Spanish, Chinese, Navajo
and Tagalog. If you live in one of these counties, we will provide language assistance in
the applicable non-English language. You can request a copy of your Explanation of
Benefits (EOB) statement, related correspondence, oral language services (such as
telephone customer assistance), and help with filing claims and appeals (including
external reviews) in the applicable non-English language. The English versions of your
EOBs and related correspondence will include information in the non-English language
about how to access language services in that non-English language.
(b) Send your High Option request to us at: APWU Health Plan, P.O. Box 1358, Glen Burnie, MD
21060-1358 or send your Consumer Driven Option request to: UnitedHealthcare Appeals, P.O. Box 740816,
Atlanta, GA 30374-0816; and
(c) Include a statement about why you believe our initial decision was wrong, based on specific benefit
provisions in this brochure; and
(d) Include copies of documents that support your claim, such as physicians’ letters, operative reports, bills,
medical records, and explanation of benefits (EOB) statements.
(e) Include your email address (optional), if you would like to receive our decision via email. Please note
that by giving us your email, we may be able to provide our decision more quickly.
We will provide you, free of charge and in a timely manner, with any new or additional evidence considered,
relied upon, or generated by us or at our direction in connection with your claim and any new rationale for
our claim decision. We will provide you with this information sufficiently in advance of the date that we are
required to provide you with our reconsideration decision to allow you a reasonable opportunity to respond
to us before that date. However, our failure to provide you with new evidence or rationale in sufficient time
to allow you to timely respond shall not invalidate our decision on reconsideration. You may respond to that
new evidence or rationale at the OPM review stage described in step 4.
You or your provider must send the information so that we receive it within 60 days of our request. We will
then decide within 30 more days.
If we do not receive the information within 60 days we will decide within 30 days of the date the information
was due. We will base our decision on the information we already have. We will write to you with our
decision.
If you do not agree with our decision, you may ask OPM to review it.
3
You must write to OPM within:
• 90 days after the date of our letter upholding our intial decision; or
• 120 days after you first wrote to us -- if we did not answer that request in some way within 30 days; or
• 120 days after we asked for additional information.
Write to OPM at: United States Office of Personnel Management, Healthcare and Insurance, Federal
Employee Insurance Operations, FEHB2, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20415-3620.
Note: If you want OPM to review more than one claim, you must clearly identify which documents apply to
which claim.
Note: You are the only person who has a right to file a disputed claim with OPM. Parties acting as your
representative, such as medical providers, must include a copy of your specific written consent with the
review request. However, for urgent care claims, a health care professional with knowledge of your medical
condition may act as your authorized representative without your express consent.
Note: The above deadlines may be extended if you show that you were unable to meet the deadline because
of reasons beyond your control.
OPM will review your disputed claim request and will use the information it collects from you and us to
4 decide whether our decision is correct. OPM will send you a final decision within 60 days. There are no other
administrative appeals.
If you do not agree with OPM’s decision, your only recourse is to sue. If you decide to file a lawsuit, you
must file the suit against OPM in Federal court by December 31 of the third year after the year in which you
received the disputed services, drugs, or supplies or from the year in which you were denied precertification
or prior approval. This is the only deadline that may not be extended.
You may not file a lawsuit until you have completed the disputed claims process. Further, Federal law
governs your lawsuit, benefits, and payment of benefits. The Federal court will base its review on the record
that was before OPM when OPM decided to uphold or overturn our decision. You may recover only the
amount of benefits in dispute.
Note: If you have a serious or life threatening condition (one that may cause permanent loss of bodily
functions or death if not treated as soon as possible), and you did not indicate that your claim was a claim for
urgent care, then, call us at 800-222-2798. We will expedite our review (if we have not yet responded to your
claim): or we will inform OPM so they can quickly review your claim on appeal. You may call FEHB2 at
202-606-3818 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Please remember that we do not make decisions about plan eligibility issues. For example, we do not
determine whether you or a dependent is covered under this Plan. You must raise eligibility issues with your
Agency personnel/payroll office if you are an employee, your retirement system if you are an annuitant or
the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs if you are receiving Workers' Compensation benefits.
When you have double coverage, one plan normally pays its benefits in full as the primary
payor and the other plan pays a reduced benefit as the secondary payor. We, like other
insurers, determine which coverage is primary according to the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) guidelines. For example:
• If you are covered under our Plan as a dependent, any group health insurance you have
from your employer will pay primary and we will pay secondary,
• If you are an annuitant under our Plan and also are actively employed, any group
health insurance you have from your employer will pay primary and we will pay
secondary.
For more information on NAIC rules regarding the coordinating of benefits, visit our
website at www.apwuhp.com.
When we are the primary payor, we will pay the benefits described in this brochure.
When we are the secondary payor, we will determine our allowance. After the primary
plan pays, we will pay what is left of our allowance, up to our regular benefit. We will not
pay more than our allowance. When we are the secondary payor, we will not waive
specified visit limits.
Please see Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for more information about how we
pay claims.
• TRICARE and TRICARE is the health care program for eligible dependents of military persons, and
CHAMPVA retirees of the military. TRICARE includes the CHAMPUS program. CHAMPVA
provides health coverage to disabled Veterans and their eligible dependents. If TRICARE
or CHAMPVA and this Plan cover you, we pay first. See your TRICARE or CHAMPVA
Health Benefits Advisor if you have questions about these programs.
Once OWCP or similar agency pays its maximum benefits for your treatment, we will
cover your care.
• Medicaid When you have this Plan and Medicaid, we pay first.
When other Government We do not cover services and supplies when a local, State, or Federal government agency
agencies are responsible directly or indirectly pays for them.
for your care
When others are The terms “Reimbursement” and “Subrogation” are defined by the U.S. Office of
responsible for injuries Personnel Management in Part 890 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 89 C.F.R.
§ 890.101(a), and those definitions are hereby incorporated into this brochure. Our
subrogation and reimbursement rights arise when the individual who suffers an injury or
illness has a right to be compensated from another source for that injury or illness as
described below.
Subrogation means a carrier’s pursuit of a recovery from any party that may be liable, any
applicable insurance policy, or a Workers' compensation program or insurance policy, as
successor to the rights of a covered individual who suffered an illness or injury and has
obtained benefits from that carrier’s health benefits plan.
The terms reimbursement and subrogation have the same meaning in this brochure as they
do in the OPM Rules. Our right to pursue and receive subrogation and reimbursement
recoveries is a condition of and a limitation on the nature of benefits or benefit payments
and on the provision of benefits under our coverage. This section explains your basic
obligations and procedures related to this reimbursement requirement. The funds the Plan
recovers through reimbursement and subrogation help lower the subscription charges for
all enrollees.
If we pay benefits for an injury or illness suffered by a covered individual, and monetary
compensation related to that injury or illness is received from someone else (referred to as
a “third party”), the Plan must be reimbursed out of the compensation received for the
total amount of benefits it paid or reasonably expects to pay. The amount the Plan is
entitled to recover is sometimes referred to as the Plan’s “lien,” and the Plan may ask a
court to issue an order confirming the Plan’s lien. Reimbursement to the Plan is a
requirement and condition on a covered individual obtaining benefits from the Plan under
this brochure. The Plan’s recoveries through reimbursement and subrogation help lower
subscription charges for all enrollees in the Plan.
The Plan is entitled to be reimbursed fully even if the amount received does not
compensate the injured individual fully or if there are other liens or expenses. We are
entitled to be reimbursed for our benefit payments even if the injured individual is not
legally “made whole” for all damages arising out of the injury or illness. Our right of
recovery is also not subject to reductions for attorney’s fees or costs in recovering the
money under the “common fund” or other legal doctrines.
If you wish to discuss the amount of reimbursement to pay to the Plan, please contact
Customer Service (High Option, 800-222-2798; Consumer Driven Option, 800-718-1299)
or our subrogation representatives at the contact information at the end of this section.
When you have Federal Some FEHB plans already cover some dental and vision services. When you are covered
Employees Dental and by more than one vision/dental plan, coverage provided under your FEHB plan remains as
Vision Insurance Plan your primary coverage. FEDVIP coverage pays secondary to that coverage. When you
(FEDVIP) enroll in a dental and/or vision plan on BENEFEDS.com or by phone at 877-888-3337,
(TTY 877-889-5680), you will be asked to provide information on your FEHB plan so
that your plans can coordinate benefits. Providing your FEHB information may reduce
your out-of-pocket cost.
Clinical trials An approved clinical trial includes a phase I, phase II, phase III, or phase IV clinical trial
that is conducted in relation to the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other
life-threatening disease or condition, and is either Federally-funded; conducted under an
investigational new drug application reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA); or is a drug trial that is exempt from the requirement of an investigational new
drug application.
If you are a participant in a clinical trial, this health plan will provide related care as
follows, if it is not provided by the clinical trial:
• Routine care costs - costs for routine services such as doctor visits, lab tests, X-rays
and scans, and hospitalizations related to treating the patient's condition, whether the
patient is in a clinical trial or is receiving standard therapy
• Extra care costs - costs related to taking part in a clinical trial such as additional tests
that a patient may need as part of the trial, but not as part of the patient's routine care
• Research costs - costs related to conducting the clinical trial such as research physician
and nurse time, analysis of results, and clinical tests performed only for research
purposes. These costs are generally covered by the clinical trials. This Plan does not
cover these costs
• Should I enroll in The decision to enroll in Medicare is yours. We encourage you to apply for Medicare
Medicare? benefits 3 months before you turn age 65. It’s easy. Just call the Social Security
Administration toll-free number 800-772-1213, TTY: 800-325-0778 to set up an
appointment to apply. If you do not apply for one or more Parts of Medicare, you can still
be covered under the FEHB Program.
If you can get premium-free Part A coverage, we advise you to enroll in it. Most Federal
employees and annuitants are entitled to Medicare Part A at age 65 without cost.
When you don’t have to pay premiums for Medicare Part A, it makes good sense to obtain
the coverage. It can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses as well as costs to the FEHB,
which can help keep FEHB premiums down.
Everyone is charged a premium for Medicare Part B coverage. The Social Security
Administration can provide you with premium and benefit information. Review the
information and decide if it makes sense for you to buy the Medicare Part B coverage. If
you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you may be charged a
Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty of a 10 % increase in premium for every 12
months you are not enrolled. If you did not take Part B at age 65 because you were
covered under FEHB as an active employee (or you were covered under your spouse's
group health insurance plan and he/she was an active employee), you may sign up for Part
B (generally without an increased premium) within 8 months from the time you or your
spouse stop working or are no longer covered by the group plan. You also can sign up at
any time while you are covered by the group plan. If your physician accepts Medicare
Assignment, you pay nothing for covered charges.
If you are eligible for Medicare, you may have choices in how you get your health care.
Medicare Advantage is the term used to describe the various private health plan choices
available to Medicare beneficiaries. The information in the next few pages shows how we
coordinate benefits with Medicare, depending on whether you are in the Original
Medicare Plan or a private Medicare Advantage plan.
(Please refer to page 142 for information about how we provide benefits when you
are age 65 or older and do not have Medicare.)
All physicians and other providers are required by law to file claims directly to Medicare
for members with Medicare Part B, when Medicare is primary. This is true whether or not
they accept Medicare.
When you are enrolled in Original Medicare along with this Plan, you still need to follow
the rules in this brochure for us to cover your care.
Claims process when you have the Original Medicare Plan – You will probably not
need to file a claim form when you have both our Plan and the Original Medicare Plan.
When we are the primary payor, we process the claim first. In this case, we do not waive
any out-of-pocket costs.
When Original Medicare is the primary payor, Medicare processes your claim first. In
most cases, your claim will be coordinated automatically and we will then provide
secondary benefits for covered charges. To find out if you need to do something to file
your claim, call us at 800-222-2798 or see our website at www.apwuhp.com.
We waive some costs if the Original Medicare Plan is your primary payor.
Under the High Option, we will waive some out-of-pocket costs as follows:
• Inpatient hospital service. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A, we will waive the
deductible and coinsurance.
• Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other health care
professionals. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, we will waive the deductible,
coinsurance and copayment.
Under the Consumer Driven Option, when Original Medicare (either Medicare Part A
or Medicare Part B) is the primary payer, we will not waive any out-of-pocket costs.
Note: We do not waive our deductible, copayments or coinsurance for prescription drugs
or for services and supplies that Medicare does not cover. Also, we do not waive benefit
limitations, such as the 24-visit limit for chiropractic services or the 60-visit limit
for physical, occupational or speech therapy.
You can find more information about how our Plan coordinates benefits with Medicare in
APWU Health Plan's Blueprint to Medicare at www.apwuhp.com. We do not waive any
costs if the Original Medicare Plan is your primary carrier.
Please review the following table. It illustrates your cost share if you are enrolled
in Medicare Part B. Medicare will be primary for all Medicare eligible services.
Members must use providers who accept Medicare's assignment.
Part B NA NA
Premium NA N/A
Reimbursement
Offered
Primary Care 40% $0
Physician $25 $0
Specialist 40% $0 $0
$25
Inpatient $0 $0
Hospital 15% $300 per
admission
40%
Outpatient 15% $0 $0
Hospital 40%
• Tell us about your You must tell us if you or a covered family member has Medicare coverage, and let us
Medicare coverage obtain information about services denied or paid under Medicare if we ask. You must also
tell us about other coverage you or your covered family members may have, as this
coverage may affect the primary/secondary status of this Plan and Medicare.
• Private contract with If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, a physician may ask you to sign a private contract
your physician agreeing that you can be billed directly for services ordinarily covered by Original
Medicare. Should you sign an agreement, Medicare will not pay any portion of the
charges, and we will not increase our payment. We will still limit our payment to the
amount we would have paid after Original Medicare’s payment. You may be responsible
for paying the difference between the billed amount and the amount we paid.
• Medicare Advantage If you are eligible for Medicare, you may choose to enroll and get your Medicare benefits
(Part C) from a Medicare Advantage plan. These are private health care choices (like HMOs and
regional PPOs) in some areas of the country. To learn more about Medicare Advantage
plans, contact Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), (TTY: 877-486-2048) or at
www.medicare.gov.
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, the following options are available to you:
• Medicare prescription When we are the primary payor, we process the claim first. If you enroll in Medicare Part
drug coverage (Part D and we are the secondary payor, we will review claims for your prescription drug costs
D) that are not covered by Medicare Part D and consider them for payment under the FEHB
plan.
Under the FEHB law, we must limit our payments for inpatient hospital care and physician care to those payments you would
be entitled to if you had Medicare. Your physician and hospital must follow Medicare rules and cannot bill you for more
than they could bill you if you had Medicare. You and the FEHB benefit from these payment limits. Outpatient hospital care
and non-physician based care are not covered by this law; regular Plan benefits apply. The following chart has more
information about the limits.
If you:
• are age 65 or over; and
• do not have Medicare Part A, Part B, or both; and
• have this Plan as an annuitant or as a former spouse, or as a family member of an annuitant or former spouse; and
• are not employed in a position that gives FEHB coverage. (Your employing office can tell you if this applies.)
Then, for your inpatient hospital care:
• The law requires us to base our payment on an amount - the "equivalent Medicare amount" - set by Medicare's rules for
what Medicare would pay, not on the actual charge.
• You are responsible for your applicable deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments under this Plan.
• You are not responsible for any charges greater than the equivalent Medicare amount; we will show that amount on the
explanation of benefits (EOB) form that we send you.
• The law prohibits a hospital from collecting more than the "equivalent Medicare amount."
And, for your physician care, the law requires us to base our payment and your coinsurance or copayment on:
• an amount set by Medicare and called the "Medicare approved amount," or
• the actual charge if it is lower than the Medicare approved amount.
Participates with Medicare or accepts Medicare assignment your deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
for the claim and is a member of our PPO network,
Participates with Medicare and is not in our PPO network, your deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and any balance
up to the Medicare approved amount.
Does not participate with Medicare, your deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and any balance
up to 115% of the Medicare approved amount.
Does not participate with Medicare and is not a member of your out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance, and any
our PPO network, balance up to 115% of the Medicare approved amount.
Opts-out of Medicare via private contract, your deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and any balance
your physician charges.
When you have the We limit our payment to an amount that supplements the benefits that Medicare would
Original Medicare Plan pay under Medicare Part A (Hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical insurance),
(Part A, Part B, or both) regardless of whether Medicare pays. Note: We pay our regular benefits for
emergency services to an institutional provider, such as a hospital, that does not participate
with Medicare and is not reimbursed by Medicare.
If you are covered by Medicare Part B and it is primary, your out-of-pocket costs for
services that both Medicare Part B and we cover depend on whether your physician
accepts Medicare assignment for the claim.
High Option: If your physician accepts Medicare assignment, then you pay nothing for
covered charges up to our allowance.
Consumer Driven Option: If your physician accepts Medicare assignment, then you
pay nothing if you have unused benefits available under your Personal Care Account
(PCA) to pay the difference between the Medicare approved amount and Medicare's
payment. If your PCA is exhausted, you must pay either this full difference under your
Deductible or the lesser of your coinsurance or the full difference if your Deductible has
been met.
If your physician does not accept Medicare assignment, you pay the difference between
the “limiting charge” or the physician’s charge (whichever is less) and our payment
combined with Medicare’s payment.
It is important to know that a physician who does not accept Medicare assignment may
not bill you for more than 115% of the amount Medicare bases its payment on, called the
“limiting charge.” The Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) that Medicare will send you
will have more information about the limiting charge. If your physician tries to collect
more than allowed by law, ask the physician to reduce the charges. If the physician does
not, report the physician to the Medicare carrier that sent you the MSN form. Call us if
you need further assistance.
Please see Section 9, Coordinating benefits with Medicare and other coverage, for more
information about how we coordinate benefits with Medicare.
Admission The period from entry (admission) into a hospital or other covered facility until discharge. In
counting days of inpatient care, the date of entry and the date of discharge are counted as the
same day.
Assignment Your authorization for us to pay benefits directly to the provider. We reserve the right to pay you
directly for all covered services.
Calendar year January 1 through December 31 of the same year. For new enrollees, the calendar year begins on
the effective date of their enrollment and ends on December 31 of the same year.
Clinical trials An approved clinical trial includes a phase I, phase II, phase III, or phase IV clinical trial that is
conducted in relation to the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other life-threatening
disease or condition, and is either Federally-funded; conducted under an investigational new
drug application reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); or is a drug trial that is
exempt from the requirement of an investigational new drug application. If you are a participant
in a clinical trial, this health plan will provide related care as follows, if it is not provided by the
clinical trial:
• Routine care costs - costs for routine services such as doctors visits, lab tests, X-rays and
scans, and hospitalizations related to treating the patient's condition, whether the patient is in
a clinical trial or is receiving standard therapy
• Extra care costs - costs related to taking part in a clinical trial such as additional tests that a
patient may need as part of the trial, but not as part of the patient's routine care
• Research costs - costs related to conducting the clinical trial such as research physician and
nurse time, analysis or results, and clinical tests performed only for research purposes.
These costs are generally covered by the clinical trials. This Plan does not cover these costs.
Coinsurance Coinsurance is the percentage of our allowance that you must pay for your care. You may also
be responsible for additional amounts. See page 26.
Copayment A copayment is a fixed amount of money you pay when you receive covered services. See page
25.
Cost-sharing Cost-sharing is the general term used to refer to your out-of-pocket costs (e.g., deductible,
coinsurance and copayments) for the covered care you receive.
Custodial care Treatment or services, regardless of who recommends them or where they are provided, that
could be rendered safely and reasonably by a person not medically skilled, or that are designed
mainly to help the patient with daily living activities. These activities include, but are not limited
to:
• Personal care such as help in: walking; getting in and out of bed; bathing; eating by spoon,
tube or gastrostomy; exercising; dressing
• Homemaking, such as preparing meals or special diets
• Moving the patient
• Acting as a companion or sitter
• Supervising medication that can usually be self administered; or
• Treatment or services that any person may be able to perform with minimal instruction,
including but not limited to recording temperature, pulse, and respirations, or administration
and monitoring of feeding systems
Deductible A deductible is a fixed amount of covered expenses you must incur for certain covered services
and supplies before we start paying benefits for those services. See page 25.
Experimental or A drug, device, or biological product is experimental or investigational if the drug, device, or
investigational biological product cannot be lawfully marketed without approval of the U.S. Food and Drug
service Administration (FDA) and approval for marketing has not been given at the time it is furnished.
Approval means all forms of acceptance by the FDA.
Reliable evidence shall mean only published reports and articles in the authoritative medical and
scientific literature; the written protocol or protocols used by the treating facility or the protocols
of another facility studying substantially the same drug, device, or medical treatment or
procedure; or the written informed consent used by the treating facility or by another facility
studying substantially the same drug, device, or medical treatment or procedure.
Genetic screening The diagnosis, prognosis, management, and prevention of genetic disease for those patients who
have no current evidence or manifestation of a genetic disease and those who have not been
determined to have an inheritable risk of genetic disease.
Genetic testing The diagnosis and management of genetic disease for those patients with current signs and
symptoms and for those who we have determined have an inheritable risk of genetic disease.
Group health Health care coverage that a member is eligible for because of employment by, membership in, or
coverage connection with, a particular organization or group that provides payment for hospital, medical,
or other health care services or supplies, or that pays a specific amount for each day or period of
hospitalization if that specified amount exceeds $200 per day, including extension of any of
these benefits through COBRA.
Habilitative Health care services that help a person keep, learn or improve skills and functioning for daily
services 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.
Health care A physician or other health care professional licensed, accredited, or certified to perform
professional specified health services consistent with state law.
Hospice care A coordinated program of home and inpatient palliative and supportive care for the terminally ill
program patient and the patient's family provided by a medically supervised specialized team under the
direction of a duly licensed or certified Hospice Care Program.
Infertility Infertility is the condition of an individual who is unable to conceive or produce conception
during a period of 1 year if the female is age 35 or younger or during a period of 6 months if the
female is over the age of 35.
Maintenance Includes but is not limited to physical, occupational, or speech therapy where continued therapy
therapy is not expected to result in significant restoration of a bodily function but is utilized to maintain
the current status.
Medically Services, drugs, supplies or equipment provided by a hospital or covered provider of health care
necessary services that we determine:
• Are appropriate to diagnose or treat the patient's condition, illness or injury
• Are consistent with standards of good medical practice in the United States
• Are not primarily for the personal comfort or convenience of the patient, the family, or the
provider
• Are not a part of or associated with the scholastic education or vocational training of the
patient; and
• In the case of inpatient care, cannot be provided safely on an outpatient basis
The fact that a covered provider has prescribed, recommended, or approved a service, supply,
drug or equipment does not, in itself, make it medically necessary.
Plan allowance Our Plan allowance is the amount we use to determine our payment and your coinsurance for
covered services. Fee-for-service plans determine their allowances in different ways. We
determine our allowance as follows:
For PPO providers, our allowance is based on negotiated rates. PPO providers always accept the
Plan’s allowance as their charges for covered services.
For non-PPO providers, we base the Plan allowance on the lesser of the provider’s actual
charges or the allowed amount for the service you received. We determine the allowed
amount by using health care charges guides which compare charges of other providers for
similar services in the same geographical area. For surgery, doctor’s services, X-ray, lab and
therapies (physical, speech and occupational), we use guides prepared by Context4Healthcare
and Fair Health and apply these guides under the High Option at the 70th percentile and under
the Consumer Driven Option at the 80th percentile. We update these charges guides at least once
each year. If this information is not available, we will use other credible sources including our
own data.
For more information, see Differences between our allowance and the bill in Section 4.
Post-service claims Any claims that are not pre-service. In other words, post-service claims are those claims where
treatment has been performed and the claims have been sent to us in order to apply for benefits.
Pre-service claims Those claims (1) that require precertification, prior approval or a referral and (2) where failure to
obtain precertification, prior approval, or a referral results in a reduction of benefits.
Rehabilitative care Treatment that reasonably can be expected to restore and/or substantially restore a bodily
function that was impaired as a result of trauma or disease.
Residential Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) are accredited by a nationally recognized organization
Treatment Center and licensed by the state, district, or territory to provide short-term transitional residential
treatment for medical conditions, mental health conditions, and/or substance use. Accredited
healthcare facilities (excluding hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, halfway
houses, and similar types of facilities) provide 24-hour residential evaluation, treatment and
comprehensive specialized services relating to the individual's medical, physical, mental health,
and/or substance use therapy needs.
Subrogation A carrier's pursuit of a recovery from any party that may be liable, any applicable insurance
policy, or a workers' compensation program or insurance policy, as successor to the rights of a
covered individual who suffered an illness or injury and has obtained benefits from that carrier's
health benefits plan.
You You refers to the enrollee and each covered family member.
Urgent care claims A claim for medical care or treatment is an urgent care claim if waiting for the regular time limit
for non-urgent care claims could have one of the following impacts:
• Waiting could seriously jeopardize your life or health;
• Waiting could seriously jeopardize your ability to regain maximum function; or
• In the opinion of a physician with knowledge of your medical condition, waiting would
subject you to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the care or treatment
that is the subject of the claim.
Urgent care claims usually involve pre-service claims and not post-service claims. We will
determine whether or not a claim is an urgent care claim by applying the judgment of a prudent
layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine.
If you believe your claim qualifies as an urgent care claim, please contact our Customer Service
Department at 800-222-2798. You may also prove that your claim is an urgent care claim by
providing evidence that a physician with knowledge of your medical condition has determined
that your claim involves urgent care.
Virtual visits A virtual visit lets you see and talk to a doctor from your phone, tablet or computer. A doctor
can see and speak to you about minor medical concerns, provide a diagnosis and, if appropriate,
a prescription can be sent to your local pharmacy.
Deductible Under the Consumer Driven Option, your Deductible is the amount you must pay, if you
have exhausted your Personal Care Account, before your Traditional Health Coverage
begins. See page 25.
Personal Care Account Under the Consumer Driven Option, your Personal Care Account (PCA) is an established
benefit amount which is available for you to use first to pay for covered hospital, medical,
dental and vision care expenses. You determine how your PCA will be spent and any
unused amount at the end of the year may be rolled over to increase your available PCA in
the subsequent year(s).
Rollover As long as you remain in this Plan, any unused remaining balance in your PCA at the end
of the calendar year may be rolled over to subsequent years. The maximum amount
allowed in your PCA in any given year may not exceed $5,000 per Self Only enrollment
and $10,000 per Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment.
• Diagnostic and treatment services provided in the PPO: $25 copay per visit (No deductible); 34
office* 15% of Plan allowance
Emergency benefits:
Mental health and substance use disorder treatment: PPO: $25 copay per visit (No deductible); 61
15% of Plan allowance
Prescription drugs:
Protection against catastrophic costs (out-of-pocket PPO: Nothing after $6,500 for Self Only or 28
maximum): $13,000 for a Self Plus One or Self and
Family enrollment per year
Up to $1,200 for Self Only or $2,400 for Self Plus One or Nothing up to $1,200 for Self Only or $2,400 82
Self and Family for medical, surgical, hospital, mental for Self Plus One or Self and Family
health and substance use disorder treatment services and
prescription drugs plus certain dental and vision care
Traditional Health Coverage after Personal See Section 5 Traditional Health Overview 85
Care Account is exhausted (Deductible before Traditional Health
Coverage Begins)
• Diagnostic and treatment services provided in the In-network: 15% of Plan allowance 88
office* Out-of-network: 50% of our allowance plus
amount over our allowance
Emergency benefits:
Mental health and substance use disorder treatment*: In-network: 15% of Plan allowance 112
Out-of-network: 50% of our allowance plus
amount over our allowance
• Network Retail* 25% minimum $15 Tier 1 & Tier 2/40% 116
minimum $15 Tier 3
• Network Home Delivery* 25% minimum $10 Tier 1 & Tier 2/40% 116
minimum $10 Tier 3
Dental Care/Vision Care (covered only under Personal Any amount over $400 per Self Only or $800 120
Care Account): per Self Plus One or Self and Family (see
Section 5 Extra PCA Expenses).
Health education resources and account management See Section 5(i) 122
tools:
Protection against catastrophic costs (out-of-pocket In-network: Nothing after $6,500 Self Only or 28
maximum): $13,000 for a Self Plus One or Self and
Family enrollment per year
If you are a Postal Service employee and have questions or require assistance, please contact:
USPS Human Resources Shared Service Center: 877-477-3273, option 5, Federal Relay Service 800-877-8339
Premiums for Tribal employees are shown under the monthly non-Postal column. The amount shown under “Your Share” is the
maximum you will pay. Your Tribal employer may choose to contribute a higher portion of your premium. Please contact your
Tribal Benefits Officer for exact rates.
High Option Self Only 471 $235.77 $99.41 $510.84 $215.38 $96.13 $86.31 $96.13
High Option Self Plus One 473 $504.12 $199.74 $1,092.26 $432.77 $192.74 $171.73 $192.74
High Option Self and Family 472 $546.47 $257.95 $1,184.02 $558.89 $250.36 $227.60 $250.36
CDHP Option Self Only 474 $206.89 $68.96 $448.26 $149.42 $66.20 $57.24 $17.16
CDHP Option Self Plus One 476 $449.66 $149.88 $974.25 $324.75 $143.89 $124.40 $46.41
CDHP Option Self and Family 475 $490.53 $163.51 $1,062.82 $354.27 $156.97 $135.71 $54.45