We will not refuse to cover the treatment of a condition you had before you enrolled in this Plan solely because you had the condition before you enrolled.

Coverage under this plan qualifies as minimum essential coverage. 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.

Our health coverage meets the minimum value standard of 60% established by the ACA. This means that we provide benefits to cover at least 60% of the total allowed cost of essential health benefits. The 60% standard is an actuarial value; your specific out-of-pocket cost are determined as explained in this brochure.

See www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance for enrollment information as well as:

• Information on the FEHB Program and plans available to you
• 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 do not 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, disability leave, pensions, etc you must also contact your employing or retirement office.

Once enrolled in your FEHB Program Plan, you should contact your carrier directly for the following address updates and questions about your benefit coverage.

Self Only coverage is only for the enrollee. Self Plus One coverage is for the enrollee and one eligible family member. Self and Family coverage is for the enrollee and one or more eligible family members. Family members include 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.

If you have a Self Only enrollment, you may change to a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment if you marry, give birth, or add a child to your family. You may change your enrollment 31 days before to 60 days after that event. The Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment begins on the first day of the pay period in which the child is born or becomes an eligible family member. When you change to Self Plus One or Self and Family because you marry, the change is effective on the first day of the pay period that begins after your employing office receives your enrollment form. Benefits will not be available to your spouse until you are married. 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.

Contact your carrier to obtain a Certificate of Creditable Coverage (COCC) or to add a dependent when there is already family Coverage.

Contact your employing or retirement office if you are changing from Self to Self Plus One or Self and Family or to add a newborn if you currently have a Self Only plan.

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. If you need assistance, please contact your employing agency, Tribal Benefits Officer, personnel/payroll office, or retirement office.

Family members covered under your Self and Family enrollment are your spouse (including your spouse by a valid common-law marriage from a state that recognizes common-law marriages) and children as described below. A Self Plus One enrollment covers you and your spouse, or one other eligible family member as described below.

Natural children, adopted children, and stepchildren
Coverage: Natural children, adopted children, and stepchildren are covered until their 26th birthday.

Foster children
Coverage: 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
Coverage: 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
Coverage: Married children (but NOT their spouse or their own children) are covered until their 26th birthday.

Children with or eligible for employer-provided health insurance
Coverage: Children who are eligible for or have their 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.

You can find additional information at www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance.

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 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 to 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.

The benefits in this brochure are effective January 1. If you joined this Plan during Open 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 processed according to the 2022 benefits of your prior plan or option. If you have met (or pay cost-sharing that results in your meeting) the out-of-pocket maximum under the prior plan or option, you will not pay cost-sharing for services covered between January 1 and the effective date of coverage under your new plan or option. However, if your prior plan left the FEHB Program at the end of the year, you are covered under that plan’s 2020 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.

If your enrollment continues after you are no longer eligible for coverage (i.e. you have separated from Federal service) and premiums are not paid, you will be responsible for all benefits paid during the period in which premiums were not paid.  You may be billed for services received directly from your provider.  You may be prosecuted for fraud for knowingly using health insurance benefits for which you have not paid premiums.  It is your responsibility to know when you or a family member are no longer eligible to use your health insurance coverage.

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).

You will receive an additional 31 days of coverage, for no additional premium, when:

• Your enrollment ends, unless you cancel your enrollment, or
• You are 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 assistance with enrolling in a conversion policy (a non-FEHB individual policy). 

If you are divorced from a Federal employee,  Tribal 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. You can also visit OPM’s website at, www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information. 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.

If you leave Federal service, Tribal Employment or if you lose coverage because you no longer qualify as a family member, you may be eligible for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC).  The Patient Protection and 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. It explains what you have to do to enroll.

Alternatively, you can buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace where depending on your income, you could be eligible for a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premiums. Visit www.HealthCare.gov to compare plans and see what your premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket cost would be before you make a decision to enroll. Finally, if you qualify for a coverage under another group health plan (such as your spouse's plan), you may be able to enroll in that plan, as long as you apply within 30 days of losing FEHB Program coverage.

Finding Replacement Coverage

We will provide you with assistance in finding a non-group contract available inside or outside the Marketplace if:

• Your coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law ends (If you canceled your coverage or did not pay your premium, you cannot convert);
• You decide not to receive coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law; or
• You are not eligible for coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law.

You must contact us in writing within 31 days after you are no longer eligible for coverage. For assistance in finding coverage, please contact us at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States.

Benefits and rates under the replacement coverage will differ from benefits and rates under the FEHB Program. However, you will not have to answer questions about your health and we will not impose a waiting period or limit your coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

If you would like to purchase health insurance through the ACA's Health Insurance 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. 

We will send you an identification (ID) card when you enroll. You should carry your ID card with you at all times. You must show it whenever you receive services from a Plan provider, or fill a prescription at a Plan pharmacy. Until you receive your ID card, use your copy of the Health Benefits Election Form, SF-2809, your health benefits enrollment confirmation (for annuitants), or your electronic enrollment system (such as Employee Express) confirmation letter.

If you do not receive your ID card within 30 days after the effective date of your enrollment, or if you need replacement cards, call us at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States. You may also request replacement cards through our website: www.pcabp.com.pa.

You can get care from any "covered provider" or "covered facility". How much we pay - and you pay - depends on the type of covered provider or facility you use. If you use our preferred providers, you will pay less.

FEHB Carriers must have clauses in their in-network (participating) providers agreements.  These clauses provide that, for a service that is a covered benefit in the plan brochure or for services determined not medically necessary, the in-network provider agrees to hold the covered individual harmless (and may not bill) for the difference between the billed charge and the in network contracted amount.  If an in-network provider bills you for covered services over your normal cost share (deductible, copay, co-insurance) contact your Carrier to enforce the terms of its provider contract.

We consider the following to be covered providers when they perform services within the scope of their license or certification:

a licensed doctor of medicine (M.D.) or a licensed doctor of osteopathy (D.O.); a licensed specialist in his/her specialty; a licensed doctor of podiatry (D.P.M.); a licensed dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); a licensed chiropractor (D.C.); a licensed registered physical, occupational, or speech therapist (R.P.T., R.O.T., or R.S.T.); a qualified clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, optometrist, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner/clinical specialist, nursing school administered clinic and nutritionists/licensed dieticians.

When we use the term doctor, we mean the following providers when the services are performed within the scope of their license or certification.

Doctor - A licensed doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or osteopathy (D.O.); a licensed specialist in his/her specialty; or, for other certain specified services covered by this Plan, a licensed dentist.

Independent Consulting Doctor - An independent consulting doctor is a specialist who:

1. Is certified by the American Board of Medical Specialists in a field related to the proposed surgery;
2. Is independent of the doctor who first advised the surgery;
3. Does not perform the surgery for the insured person;
4. Makes a personal exam of the insured person; and
5. Sends the Plan a written report.

Primary Care Physician – a licensed medical doctor whose practice is devoted to internal medicine, family/general practice or pediatrics.

This plan recognizes that transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming members require health care delivered by healthcare providers experienced in transgender health. While gender reassignment surgeons (benefit details found in Section 5(b)) and hormone therapy providers (benefit details found in Section 5(f)) play important roles in preventive care, you should see a primary care provider familiar with your overall health care needs. Benefits described in this brochure are available to all members meeting medical necessity guidelines. 

Covered facilities include:

Clinic - A place, other than a hospital, licensed to provide treatment or diagnosis and staffed by one or more doctors.

Hospice - A public or private agency or organization which administers and provides hospice care; and is:

• licensed or certified as such by the state in which it is located;
• certified (or is qualified and could be certified) to participate as such under Medicare;
• accredited as such by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations; or
• meets the standards established by the National Hospice Organization.

Hospital - a facility that is:

1. An institution which is accredited as a hospital under the Hospital Accreditation Program of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; or
2. Any other institution which is operated pursuant to law under the supervision of a staff of doctors and with 24-hour-a-day nursing service, and which is primarily engaged in providing:

• General patient care and treatment of sick or injured persons through medical, diagnostic and major surgical facilities, all of which must be provided on its premises or under its control; or
• Specialized inpatient medical care and treatment of sick or injured persons through medical and diagnostic facilities (including X-ray and laboratory) on its premises, under its control or through a written agreement with a Hospital (as defined above) or with a specialized provider of those facilities; or
• In Panama, authorized by the Ministry of Health to operate as such.

In no event shall the term "Hospital" include a convalescent nursing home, or an institution or part thereof which:

• Is used principally as a convalescent facility, rest facility, or facility for the aged;
• Furnishes primarily domiciliary or custodial care, including training in the routine of daily living; or
• Is operated as a school.

Rehabilitation Facility - An institution that: (1) meets the "hospital" definition as stated; or (2) provides a program for the treatment of alcohol or drug abuse and meets one of the following requirements: (a) is affiliated with a hospital under a contractual agreement with an established patient referral system; (b) is licensed, certified or approved as an alcohol or drug abuse rehabilitation facility by the State; or (c) is accredited as such a facility by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Skilled Nursing Facility - An institution that (1) is operated pursuant to law and primarily engaged in providing the following services for patients recovering from an illness or injury: room, board and 24-hour-a-day nursing service by professional nurses; (2) is under the full-time supervision of a doctor or registered nurse (R.N.); (3) maintains adequate medical records; and (4) has the services of a doctor available under an established agreement for 24 hours a day, if not supervised by a doctor.

It depends on the kind of care you want to receive. You can go to any provider you want, but we must approve some care in advance.

If you have enrolled in the Point of Service option in Panama you must select a primary care physician. Your primary care physician will provide or coordinate most of your healthcare. If you want to change your primary care physician call us in Panama at 507-366-1400.

If you have enrolled in the Point of Service option in Panama, your primary care physician will refer you to a specialist for needed care. You must receive a referral form from your primary care physician and present it to the specialist for Point of Service benefits to be applicable. The specialist must request and receive authorization from AXA prior to additional consultations and/or treatment.

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 for 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.

We pay for covered services from the effective date of your enrollment. However, if you are in the hospital when your enrollment in our Plan begins, call our Customer Service Department immediately at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States. 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.

The pre-service claim approval processes for inpatient hospital admissions (called precertification) and for other services, are detailed in this Section. A pre-service claim is 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, prior approval or a referral and (2) will result in a reduction of benefits if you do not obtain precertification, prior approval or a referral.

You must get prior approval for certain services. Failure to do so will result in us limiting our payment for outpatient services to 50% of our plan allowance and applying a $500 penalty for inpatient charges.

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.

You do not need precertification in these cases:

• You are admitted to a hospital outside the United States or the Republic of Panama.
• You have another group health insurance policy that is the primary payor for the hospital stay.
• Medicare Part A is the primary payor for the hospital stay. Note: If you exhaust your Medicare hospital benefits and do not want to use your Medicare lifetime reserve days, then we will become the primary payor and you do need precertification.

Precertification is the process by which – prior to your inpatient hospital admission – we evaluate the medical necessity of your proposed stay and the number of days required to treat your condition. Unless we are misled by the information given to us, we won’t change our decision on medical necessity.

In most cases, your physician or hospital will take care of requesting precertification. Because you are still responsible for ensuring that your care is precertified, you should always ask your physician or hospital whether or not they have contacted us.

You must obtain prior authorization as follows.

• All inpatient and/or outpatient surgeries (including organ/tissue transplants) must be precertified.
• For all elective (non-emergency) surgical procedures, we may require a second surgical opinion. If you fail to comply with this requirement, we will limit our payment to 50% of our Plan allowance for these surgery charges.
• For all in hospital surgical procedures not related to the original diagnosis for which you obtained precertification, we may require you to get a second surgical opinion. If you fail to comply with this requirement, we will limit our payment to 50% of our Plan allowance for these surgery charges if medical necessity can be determined.
• Growth hormone therapy (GHT) must be preauthorized.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME).
• Orthopedic and prosthetic devices such as artificial limbs and eyes.
• If designated outpatient surgical procedures (see page 45 for a complete listing) are performed on an inpatient basis, we will limit our payment to 50% of our Plan allowance. However, if it is medically necessary that you be hospitalized for the surgical procedure, we will pay our regular benefits if you have precertified your admission.
• We require you to obtain precertification on both an inpatient and outpatient basis for specifically designated, non-routine diagnostic procedures that are high cost, involve high technology or that may be over-utilized. These tests include CAT scans, MRIs, Nuclear Medicine Studies (e.g. Thallium Cardiac Studies), certain Arteriographies, Genetic Studies and other similar procedures. If you fail to comply with this requirement, we will limit our payment for outpatient services to 50% of our Plan allowance and impose a $500 penalty for inpatient charges.
• All dental surgery, periodontics, endodontics require prior approval.

We require both FFS and POS Plan members to precertify all admissions to evaluate the medical necessity of your proposed admission and the number of hospital days you will need.

First, you, your representative, your physician, or your hospital must call us at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States before admission or services requiring prior authorization are rendered.

Next, provide the following information:

• enrollee's name and Plan identification number;
• patient's name, birth date, identification number 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.

For non-urgent care claims, we will tell the physician and/or hospital the number of 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 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 of the need for an extension of time before the end of the period. Our notice will include the circumstances underlying the request for the extension and the date when a decision is exginal 15-day perpected.

If we need an extension because we have not received necessary information, our notice will describe the specific information required and we will allow you or your provider up to 45 days from the receipt of the notice to provide the information.

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 from the receipt of this notice 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) theend of 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 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States. You may also call OPM's FEHB 2 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 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States. 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).

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.

• Healthcare FSA (HCFSA) – Reimburses you for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses (such as copayments, deductibles, physician prescribed over-the-counter drugs and medications, vision and dental expenses, and much more) for you and your tax dependents, including adult children (through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26).
• FSAFEDS offers paperless reimbursement for your HCFSA through a number of FEHB and FEDVIP plans. This means that when you or your provider files claims with your FEHB or FEDVIP plan, FSAFEDS will automatically reimburse your eligible out-of-pocket expenses based on the claim information it receives from your plan.

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 phone 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 phone 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.

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 their own right. If the newborn is eligible for coverage, regular medical or surgical benefits apply rather than maternity benefits.

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. 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 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.

If you have a pre-service claim and you do not agree with our decision regarding precertification of an inpatient admission or prior approval of other services, you may request a review in accord with the procedures detailed below.

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.

Within 6 months of our initial 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.

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 healthcare provider to give you the care or grant your request for prior approval for a service, drug, or supply; or
2. Ask you or your provider for more information. 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.
3. Write to you and maintain our denial.

In the case of an appeal of a pre-service urgent care claim, within 6 months of our initial 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 only the review process, which allows oral or written requests for appeals and the exchange of information by phone, electronic mail, facsimile, or other expeditious methods.

After we reconsider your pre-service claim, if you do not agree with our decision, you may ask OPM to review it by following Step 3 of the disputed claims process detailed in Section 8 of this brochure.

A copayment is a fixed amount of money you pay to the provider, facility, etc., when you receive certain services.

Example: When you see a participating physician, you pay a copayment of $5 per visit and when you go to a participating hospital, you pay $25 per admission if you belong to the POS plan. If you are a FFS member, or are a POS member and choose to go to a non-participating hospital, you pay $100 per admission.

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.

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.

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 prior 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.

Note: This Plan does not have any deductibles

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: FFS members pay a 50% coinsurance for all medical services.

If your provider routinely waives (does not require you to pay) your copayments, 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, in the US, if your physician ordinarily charges $100 for a service but routinely waives your 50% coinsurance, the actual charge is $50. We will pay $25 (50% of the actual charge of $50).

In some instances, a Panama Canal Area Benefit 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 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 1-800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States

Our “Plan allowance” is the amount we use to calculate our payment for 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.

• POS providers agree to limit what they will bill you. Because of that, when you use a POS provider, you are only responsible for your copayment. Here is an example about copayment: You see a POS physician who charges $50, but our allowance is $45. You are only responsible for your copayment amount. That is, you pay just -- $5 of our $45 allowance. Because of the agreement, your POS physician will not bill you for the $5 difference between our allowance and the bill.
• FFS providers, on the other hand, have no agreement to limit what they will bill you. When you use a FFS provider, you will pay your coinsurance -- plus any difference between our allowance and charges on the bill. Here is an example: You see a FFS physician who charges $50 and our allowance is again $45. You are responsible for your coinsurance, so you pay 50% of our $45 allowance ($22.50). Plus, because there is no agreement between the FFS physician and us, the physician can bill you for the $5 difference between our allowance and the bill.

The following table illustrates the examples of how much you have to pay out-of-pocket for services from a POS physician vs. a FFS physician. The table uses our example of a service for which the physician charges $50 and our allowance is $45. The table shows the amount you pay.

EXAMPLE

POS physician

Physician's charge: $50

Our allowance: We set it at :45

We pay: Allowance less copay: 40

You owe: Coinsurance:  copayment: 5

+Difference up to charge?: no: 0

TOTAL YOU PAY: $5

FFS physician

Physician's charge: $50

Our allowance: We set it at :45

We pay: 50% of our allowance: 22.50

You owe: Coinsurance: 50% of our allowance: 22.50

+Difference up to charge?: yes: 5

TOTAL YOU PAY: $27.50

You should also see section Important Notice About Surprise Billing – Know Your Rights below that describes your protections against surprise billing under the No Surprises Act.

The out-of-pocket limit, or catastrophic maximum, is the most you could pay during the year for your share of the cost of services that appear below.

Inpatient hospital room and board under FFS

After your FFS out-of-pocket expenses for the 50% coinsurance for inpatient hospital room and board and other inpatient hospital charges reach $2,500 in a calendar year, we will then pay the remaining hospital inpatient room and board and other inpatient hospital charges at 100% of Plan allowance.

Out-of-pocket expenses applicable to this benefit are limited to the 50% coinsurance you pay for hospital room and board and other inpatient hospital charges.

The following are not counted toward out-of-pocket expenses:

• Expenses in excess of our Plan allowances and maximum benefit limitations;
• Expenses for dental care or prescription drugs;
• Any amounts you pay because benefits have been reduced for non-compliance with this Plan’s cost containment requirements (see pages 18-22; and
• The $100 copayment per person per admission for hospital room and board.
• Professional charges of physicians or other healthcare professional

Prescription drugs

We apply the 20% coinsurance you pay for prescription drugs to a $5000 annual prescription out-of-pocket maximum per person.

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 prior 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 prior 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 prior 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 prior plan will pay these covered expenses according to this year’s benefits; benefit changes are effective January 1.

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. You are obligated to notify us if you receive an overpayment from us.

The No Surprises Act (NSA) is a federal law that provides you with protections against “surprise billing” and “balance billing” under certain circumstances. A surprise bill is an unexpected bill you receive from a nonparticipating healthcare provider, facility, or air ambulance service for healthcare. Surprise bills can happen when you receive emergency care – when you have little or no say in the facility or provider from whom you receive care. They can also happen when you receive non-emergency services at participating facilities, but you receive some care from nonparticipating providers.

Balance billing happens when you receive a bill from the nonparticipating provider, facility, or air ambulance service for the difference between the nonparticipating provider's charge and the amount payable by your health plan.

Your health plan must comply with the NSA protections that hold you harmless from unexpected bills for claims in the United States. Please refer to Balance Billing Protection, under Section 3, for information on how the Plan protects you from balance billing from an in-network (participating) provider, including for claims in Panama.

For specific information on surprise billing, the rights and protections you have, and your responsibilities go to www.pcabp.com.pa or contact the health plan at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States.

Under the flexible benefits option, we determine the most effective way to provide services.

• We may identify medically appropriate alternatives to regular contract benefits as a less costly alternative. If we identify a less costly, we will ask you to sign an alternative benefits agreement that will include all of the following terms in addition to other terms as necessary. Until you sign and return the agreement, regular contract benefits will continue.
• Alternative benefits will be made available for a limited time period and are subject to our ongoing review. You must cooperate with the review process.
• By approving an alternative benefit, we do not guarantee you will get it in the future.
• The decision to offer an alternative benefit is solely ours, and except as expressly provided in the agreement, we may withdraw it at any time and resume regular contract benefits.
• If you sign the agreement, we will provide the agreed-upon alternative benefits for the stated time period (unless circumstances change). You may request an extension of the time period, but regular contract benefits will resume if we do not approve your request.
• Our decision to offer or withdraw alternative benefits is not subject to OPM review under the disputed claims process. However, if at the time we make a decision regarding alternative benefits, we also decide that regular contract benefits are not payable, then you may dispute our regular contract benefits decision under the OPM disputed claim process (see Section 8).

To obtain claim forms, claims filing advice or answers about our benefits, contact us at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States or at our website at www.pcabp.com.pa.

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.

When you must file a claim – such as 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.

In addition:

• If another health plan is your primary payor, you must send a copy of the explanation of benefits (EOB) form you received from your primary payor (such as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)) with your claim.
• Bills for home nursing care must show that the nurse is a registered or licensed practical nurse.
• If your claim is for the rental or purchase of durable medical equipment; private duty nursing; and physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, you must provide a written statement from the provider specifying the medical necessity for the service or supply and the length of time needed.
• Claims for prescription drugs and supplies must include receipts that show the prescription number, name of drug or supply, prescribing provider’s name, date, and charge.
• We will provide translation and currency conversion services for claims for overseas (foreign) services.

We will notify you of our decision within 30 days after we receive your post-service 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.

Send us all the documents for your claim as soon as possible. You must submit the 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. 

If your POS contracted healthcare provider files the claim on your behalf, they must submit the claim within 90 days after the expenses for which the claim is made were incurred. We are not required to honor a claim submitted by your POS contracted healthcare provider after the 90 day period.

For covered services you receive by providers and hospitals outside the United States, Panama and Puerto Rico send a completed Claim Form and the itemized bills to the Panama Canal Area Benefit Plan at AXA Assistance, PO Box 31-0940, Miami, FL. 33231- 0940. You may also obtain Claim Forms from the same address. If you have questions about the processing of overseas claims, contact us at 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States.

You may designate an authorized representative to act on your behalf for filing a claim or to appeal claims decisions to us.  For urgent care claims, a healthcare professional with knowledge of your medical condition will be permitted to act as your authorized representative without your express consent.  For the purposes of this section, we are also referring to your authorized representative when we refer to you.

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 phone 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.

Any notice of an adverse benefit determination or correspondence from us confirming an adverse benefit determination will include information sufficient to identify the claim involved (including the date of service, the healthcare provider, and the claim amount, if applicable), and a statement describing the availability, upon request, of the diagnosis and procedure codes and its corresponding meaning, and the treatment code and its corresponding meaning).

Ask us in writing to reconsider our initial decision. You must:

(a) Write to us within 6 months from the date of our decision; and

(b) Send your request to us to the Panama Canal Area Benefit Plan at AXA Assistance, PO Box 31-0940, Miami, FL. 33231- 0940. If you reside in the Republic of Panama, please submit your disputed claim to the Panama Canal Area Benefit Plan at AXA Assistance, Torre BICSA Financial Center, 48th Floor, Avenida Balboa y Alquilino de la Guardias. Panama City, Republic of Panama. We also have customer service offices at Clínica Hospital San Fernando, Centro Médico Paitilla and Centro Médico Caribe (Colon).

(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) forms.

(e) Include your email address (optional for member), 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.

In the case of a post-service claim, we have 30 days from the date we receive your request to:

a) Pay the claim

b) Write to you and maintain our denial or

c) Ask you or your provider for more information

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.

You must write to OPM within:

• 90 days after the date of our letter upholding our initial 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, FEHB 2, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20415-3620.

Send OPM the following information:

• A statement about why you believe our decision was wrong, based on specific benefit provisions in this brochure;
• Copies of documents that support your claim, such as physicians' letters, operative reports, bills, medical records, and explanation of benefits (EOB) forms;
• Copies of all letters you sent to us about the claim;
• Copies of all letters we sent to you about the claim; and
• Your daytime phone number and the best time to call.
• Your email address, if you would like to receive OPM’s decision via email.  Please note that by providing your email address, you may receive OPM’s decision more quickly.

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 healthcare 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 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 file a lawsuit. If you decide to sue, 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.

OPM may disclose the information it collects during the review process to support their disputed claim decision. This information will become part of the court record.

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.

You must tell us if you or a covered family member has coverage under any other group health plan or has automobile insurance that pays healthcare expenses without regard to fault. This is called "double coverage".

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 more information on NAIC rules regarding the coordinating of benefits, visit our website at https://www.pcabp.com.pa/members/services-1/summary-of-benefits-and-coverage.aspx.

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.

Please see Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for more information about how we pay claims.

TRICARE is the healthcare program for eligible dependents of military persons, and 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.

Suspended FEHB coverage to enroll in TRICARE or CHAMPVA: If you are an annuitant or former spouse, you can suspend your FEHB coverage to enroll in one of these programs, eliminating your FEHB premium. (OPM does not contribute to any applicable plan premiums.) For information on suspending your FEHB enrollment, contact your retirement office. If you later want to re-enroll in the FEHB Program, generally you may do so only at the next Open Season unless you involuntarily lose coverage under TRICARE or CHAMPVA.

We do not cover services that:

• You (or a covered family member) need because of a workplace-related illness or injury that the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) or a similar federal or state agency determines they must provide; or
• OWCP or a similar agency pays for through a third-party injury settlement or other similar proceeding that is based on a claim you filed under OWCP or similar laws.

Once OWCP or similar agency pays its maximum benefits for your treatment, we will cover your care.

When you have this Plan and Medicaid, we pay first.

Suspended FEHB coverage to enroll in Medicaid or a similar state-sponsored program of medical assistance: If you are an annuitant or former spouse, you can suspend your FEHB coverage to enroll in one of these state programs, eliminating your FEHB premium. For information on suspending your FEHB enrollment, contact your retirement office. If you later want to re-enroll in the FEHB Program, generally you may do so only at the next Open Season unless you involuntarily lose coverage under the state program.

We do not cover services and supplies when a local, state, or federal government agency directly or indirectly pays for them.

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.

If you have received  benefits or benefits payments as a result of an injury or illness and you our your representatives, heirs, administrators, successors, or assignees receive payment from any party that may be liable, a third party´s insurance policies, your own insurance policies,  or a worker’s compensation program or policy, you must reimburse us out of that payment. Our right of reimbursement extends to any payment received by settlement, judgment, or otherwise.

We are entitled to reimbursement to the extent of the benefits we have paid or provide in connection with your injury or illness. However we will cover the cost of treatment that exceeds the amount of the payment you received.

Reimbursement to us out of the payment shall take first priority (before any of the rights of any other parties are honored) and is not impacted by how the judgment, settlement, or other recovery is characterized, designated, or apportioned. Our right of reimbursement is not subject to reduction based on attorney fees or costs under the “common fund” doctrine and is fully enforceable regardless of whether you are “made whole” or fully compensated for the full amount of damages claimed.

We may, at our option, choose to exercise our right of subrogation and pursue a recovery from any liable party as successor to your rights. 

If you do pursue a claim or case related to your injury or illness, you must promptly notify us and cooperate with our reimbursement or subrogation efforts.

Some FEHB plans already cover some dental and vision services. FEDVIP coverage pays secondary to that coverage. When you 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.

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.  These costs are covered by this plan.
• 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. This plan does not cover these costs.
• 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.

For more detailed information on “What is Medicare?” and “Should I Enroll in Medicare?” please contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), (TTY 1-877-486-2048) or at www.medicare.gov.

The Original Medicare Plan (Original Medicare) is available everywhere in the United States. It is the way everyone used to get Medicare benefits and is the way most people get their Medicare Part A and Part B benefits now. You may go to any doctor, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare. The Original Medicare Plan pays its share and you pay your share.

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 enroll 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.

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 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States or visit our website at www.pcabp.com.pa.

We waive some costs if the Original Medicare Plan is your primary payor – We will waive some out-of-pocket costs as follows:

• Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other healthcare professionals. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, we will waive your copayments and coinsurance amounts.
• Hospital room and board and other charges. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A, we waive your copayment and coinsurance amounts.  

Please review the following information it illustrates your cost share if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you purchase Medicare Part B, your provider is in our network and participates in Medicare, then we waive some costs because Medicare will be the primary payor.

Benefit Description: Deductible
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network: No deductible
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: No deductible
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: No deductible
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: No deductible

Benefit Description: Catastrophic Protection Out-of-Pocket Maximum
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network: NA
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: $2,500 for inpatient hospital room
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: NA
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: $2,500 for inpatient hospital room

Benefit Description: Part B Premium Reimbursement Offered
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network: NA
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: NA
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: NA
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: NA

Benefit Description: Primary Care Physician
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network*: $5
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: 50% of the FFS Plan allowance
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: $5
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: WAIVED

Benefit Description: Specialist
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network*: $5
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: 50% of the FFS Plan allowance
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: $5
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: WAIVED

Benefit Description: Inpatient Hospital
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network*: $25
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: $100 per admission and 50% of the covered charges
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: $25
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: $100 per admission and 50% of the covered charges**

Benefit Description: Outpatient Hospital
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network*: $25
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: 50% of the US FFS Plan allowance and any difference between our allowance and billed amount
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: $25
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: 50% of the US FFS Plan allowance and any difference between our allowance and billed amount**

Benefit Description: Incentives Offered
You Pay without Medicare: In-Network: NA
You Pay without Medicare: Out-of-Network: NA
You Pay with Medicare Part B: In Network*: NA
You Pay with Medicare Part B: Out-of-Network: NA

*Reflect only provider network in the Republic of Panama.
**Cost share may differ for Medicare Part A recipients.

You must tell us if you or a covered family member has Medicare coverage, and let us 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.

If you  are enrolled in Medicare Part B, a physician may ask you to sign a private contract 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.

If you are eligible for Medicare, you may choose to enroll in and get your Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage plan. These are private healthcare choices (like HMOs and regional PPOs) in some areas of the country. To learn more about Medicare Advantage plans, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), (TTY: 877-486-2048) or at www.medicare.gov.

If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, the following options are available to you:

This Plan and another plan’s Medicare Advantage plan: You may enroll in another plan’s Medicare Advantage plan and also remain enrolled in our FEHB plan. We will still provide benefits when your Medicare Advantage plan is primary, even out of the Medicare Advantage plan’s network and/or service area (if you use our Plan providers). However, we will not waive any of our copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, tell us. We will need to know whether you are in the Original Medicare Plan or in a Medicare Advantage plan so we can correctly coordinate benefits with Medicare.

Suspended FEHB coverage to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan: If you are an annuitant or former spouse, you can suspend your FEHB coverage to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, eliminating your FEHB premium. (OPM does not contribute to your Medicare Advantage plan premium.) For information on suspending your FEHB enrollment, contact your retirement office. If you later want to re-enroll in the FEHB Program, generally you may do so only at the next Open Season unless you involuntarily lose coverage or move out of the Medicare Advantage plan’s service area.

When we are the primary payor, we process the claim first. If you enroll in Medicare Part D and we are the secondary payor, we will review claims for your prescription drug costs that are not covered by Medicare Part D and consider them for payment under the FEHB plan.

We limit our payment to an amount that supplements the benefits that Medicare would pay under Medicare Part A (Hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical insurance), 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.

We use the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medicare-equivalent Remittance Advice (MRA) when the statement is submitted to determine our payment for covered services provided to you if Medicare is primary, when Medicare does not pay the VA facility.

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.

• If your physician accepts Medicare assignment, you pay nothing for covered charges.
• 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.

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 are generally covered by the clinical trials. This plan does not cover these costs.

See Section 4 page 23

See Section 4 page 23

See Section 4 page 23

Services we provide benefits for, as described in this brochure.

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:

1. Personal care such as help in: walking; getting in and out of bed; bathing; eating by spoon, tube or gastrostomy; exercising; dressing;

2. Homemaking, such as preparing meals or special diets;

3. Moving the patient;

4. Acting as a companion or sitter;

5. Supervising medication that can usually be self administered; or

6. 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 tubes.

See Section 4 page 23

See page 53 for definition of emergency.

A drug, device or biological product is experimental or investigational if the drug, device or biological product cannot be lawfully marketed without approval of the U.S. Food and Drug 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.

A medical treatment or procedure, or a drug, device, or biological product is experimental or investigational if 1) reliable evidence shows that it is subject to ongoing phase I, II, or III clinical trials or under study to determine its maximum tolerated dose, its toxicity, its safety, its efficacy, or its efficacy compared with the standard means of treatment or diagnosis; or 2) reliable evidence shows that the consensus of opinion among experts regarding the drug, device or biological product or medical treatment or procedure is that further studies or clinical trials are necessary to determine its maximum tolerated dose, its toxicity, its safety, its efficacy, or its efficacy as compared with the standard means of treatment or diagnosis.

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 protocol(s) 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. If you desire additional information concerning the experimental/investigational determination process, please contact the Plan.

Healthcare coverage that a member is eligible for because of employment, membership in, or connection with, a particular organization or group that provides payment for hospital, medical, or other healthcare services or supplies, or that pays a specific amount for each day or period of hospitalization if the specified amount exceeds $200 per day, including extension of any of these benefits through COBRA.

A physician or other healthcare professional licensed, accredited, or certified to perform specified health services consistent with state law.

Failure to achieve succesfull pregnancy after 12 months or more of appropiate timed unprotected intercourse  or therapeutic  donor insemination. Earlier evaluation may be justified  based on medical history and physical  finding and is warranted after 6 months for women over 35 years old.

Services, drugs, supplies or equipment provided by a hospital or covered provider that we determine:

1. Are appropriate to diagnose or treat your medical condition, illness or injury;

2. Are consistent with standards of good medical practice in the United States and/or Panama;

3. Are not primarily for your personal comfort or convenience

4. Are not part of or associated with your scholastic education or vocational training; and

5. In the case of inpatient care, cannot be provided on an outpatient basis.

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:

Panama Point-of-Service (In -network)

In the Republic of Panama, we determine our Fee schedule amount by applying the healthcare charges made by local providers for healthcare services or supplies in the absence of insurance. From this determination we have negotiated rates with all point-of-service providers. These negotiated rates are what we refer to in the benefit section as the Panama POS fee schedule.

Panama Fee-for-Service

If you reside in the Republic of Panama and select the Fee-for-Service option, or reside outside of Panama (including the US) but receive medical services within the Republic of Panama, we base all claims reimbursement payments on the Panama POS fee schedule (or POS) amounts described above. However, your cost-sharing responsibility is much greater. Please refer to the section 5 “Benefits” for additional detail regarding your responsibility.

US Fee-for-Service

We use FAIR Health data for claims incurred in the United States, updated twice a year, at the 75th percentile to determine our Plan allowance. Some inpatient doctor services are paid on a fee schedule.

You should also see Important Notice About Surprise Billing – Know Your Rights in Section 4 that describes your protections against surprise billing under the No Surprises Act.

Any claims that are not pre-service claims.  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.

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 us at 507-366-1400 in Panama, and 800-424-8196 or 312-935-3671 in the United States.  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.

Us and we refer to Panama Canal Area Benefit Plan

POS: $5 copayment

FFS Panama: 50% of the Panama POS Fee schedule amount and any difference between the POS Fee schedule and the billed amount

FFS US: 50% of the US FFS Plan allowance and any difference between our allowance and the billed amount

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POS: Nothing after the $25 per admission copayment

FFS Panama: $100 per admission, then 50% of the Panama POS fee schedule amount and any difference between the POS Fee schedule and the billed amount

FFS US: $100 per admission and 50% of the covered charges

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POS: $25 copayment  to facility for surgeries and nothing for other services

FFS Panama: 50% of the Panama POS Fee schedule amount and any difference between the POS Fee schedule and the billed amount

FFS US: 50% of the US FFS Plan allowance and any difference between our allowance and the billed amount

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POS: $5 copayment

FFS Panama: 50% of the Panama POS Fee schedule amount and any difference between the POS Fee schedule and the billed amount

FFS US: 50% of the US FFS Plan allowance and any difference between our allowance and the billed amount

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Regular cost-sharing

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20% of eligible charges

Note: Coinsurance for prescription drugs goes towards a $5000 annual prescription out-of-pocket limit. 

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All charges in excess of the fee schedule

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All charges that exceed our allowance 

After the 50% coinsurance for hospital inpatient room and board and other eligible expense reaches $2,500 per member per year, we will pay the remaining hospital room and board and other charges at 100%. 

Note:  The maximum applies only to FFS benefits.  Some costs do not count toward this out-of-pocket maximum.  Please refer to Section 4. Your costs for covered services.

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