Minimum essential coverage (MEC)

Coverage under this plan qualifies as minimum essential coverage (MEC). 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.

Where you can get information about enrolling in the FEHB Program

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 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 available for you and your family

Self Only coverage is for you alone. Self Plus One coverage is for you and one eligible family member. Self and Family coverage is for you and one 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.

If you have a Self Only enrollment, you may change to 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 eligbility of any or all family members listed as covered under the enrollee's FEHB enrollment.

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 coverage

Family members covered under your Self and Family enrollment are your spouse (including your spouse by valid common-law marriage if you reside in a state that recognizes common-law marriages) 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.

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.

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 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 premiums start

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 2021 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 1and 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

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 ends

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 31^st 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 60^th 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 assistance with enrolling in 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 to 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 http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/. A carrier may request that an enrollee verify the eligbility of any or all family members listed as covered under the enrollee's FEHB enrollment.

Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC)

If you leave Federal service or 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 or Tribal job, if you are a covered dependent child and you turn 26.

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. 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 costs would be before you make a decision to enroll.  Finally, if you qualify for 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.

Converting to individual coverage

You may convert to a non-FEHB individual policy 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 decided 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. 

If you leave Federal or Tribal service, your employing office will notify you of your right 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 800-223-1282 or visit our website at www.geisinger.org/health-plan/plans/geisinger-marketplace.

Health Insurance Marketplace

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.

Identification cards

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 844-863-6850 or write to us at Geisinger Health Plan, Customer Services, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822-3229. You may also request replacement cards through our website at www.thehealthplan.com.

Where you get covered care

Plan providers are physicians and other health care professionals in our service area that we contract with to provide covered services to our members. We credential Plan providers according to national standards.

Primary care

Your primary care physician can be a general practitioner, family practitioner, internist or pediatrician. Your primary care physician will provide most of your health care.

If you want to change primary care physicians or if your primary care physician leaves the Plan, call  Customer Services at 844-863-6850 and we will help you select a new one.

Specialty care

You can get needed care from a specialty physician without a referral from your primary care physician. You must go to a participating specialty physician to receive covered services.

If you want to know if a specialty care physician is participating call Customer Service at 844-863-6850 and we will help you find one or log onto www.thehealthplan.com.

• The specialty physician may have to get an authorization or approval from us beforehand. If your current specialist does not participate with us, you must receive treatment from a specialist who does. Generally, we will not pay for you to see a specialist who does not participate with our Plan.
• If you are seeing a specialist and your specialist leaves the Plan, call Customer Services at 844-863-6850 and we will help you select a new one and we will arrange for you to see another specialist. You may receive services from your current specialist until we can make arrangements for you to see someone else.
• If you have a chronic and disabling condition and lose access to your specialist because we:
  • terminate our contract with your specialist for other than cause; or
  • drop out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and you enroll in another FEHB program plan; or
  • reduce our Service Area and you enroll in another FEHB plan; you may be able to continue seeing your specialist 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 until the end of your postpartum care, even if it is beyond the 90 days.

Your Plan primary care physician or specialist will make necessary hospital arrangements and supervise your care. This includes admission to a skilled nursing or other type of facility.

• If you are hospitalized when your enrollment begins

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 844-863-6850. If you are new to the FEHB Program, we will arrange for you to receive care and provide benefits 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; or
• the day your benefits from your former plan run out; or
• the 92^nd 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 Program in whole or in part, or if OPM orders an enrollment change, this continuation of coverage provision does not apply. In such case, the hospitalized family member’s benefits under the new plan begin on the effective date of enrollment.

You need prior Plan approval for certain services

Your primary care physician and specialty care physician can arrange inpatient hospitalizations, the pre-service claim approval process only applies to care shown under Other services.

You must get prior approval for certain services. If you do not get prior approval you will be responsible for costs.

Other services

For certain services, however, your physician must obtain prior approval from us.  Before giving approval, we consider if the service is covered, medically necessary, and follows generally accepted medical practice.  Plan providers must obtain prior authorization for services including but not limited to the following:  

• Inpatient hospital admissions
• Skilled Nursing Facility admissions
• Certain outpatient surgeries
• Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity
• Durable medical equipment
• Out-of-network referral requests
• Transplant services
• Non-emergency outpatient radiology testing such as MRI, MRA, CT, PET, nuclear cardiology, echocardiology
• Inpatient mental health and substance misuse disorder treatment
• Certain injectable drugs
• Services associated with non-covered procedures
• Inpatient
• Injection therapy for back pain
• Gender reassignment

Contact customer services at 844-863-6850 for a complete listing of services that require prior authorization.

How to request prior authorization for an admission or for Other services

First, your physician, your hospital, you, or your representative, must call us at 844-863-6850 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.

Non-urgent care claims

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 original 15-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.

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 844-863-6850 .  You may also call OPM’s FEHB 3 at 202-606-0737 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 844-863-6850 . 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.

The Federal Flexible Spending Account Program - FSAFEDS

• Health Care 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.

Maternity Care    

Female members have direct access to obstetrical and gynecological services. They may select a participating health care provider to obtain maternity and gynecological covered services including medically necessary and appropriate follow-up care for diagnostic testing relating to the maternity and gynecological care. Covered services must be within the scope of practice of the selected participating health care provider.   

If your treatment needs to be extended

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.

• Your hospital stay

• How to precertify an admission

• What happens when you do not follow the precertification rules when using non-network facilities

• Circumstances beyond our control

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.

To reconsider a non-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. 

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

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. 

A copayment (or copay) is a fixed amount of money you pay to the provider, facility, pharmacy, etc., when you receive services.

Example of the Standard Option plan: When you see your primary care physician you pay a $20 copayment per office visit, or if you see a specialist you pay a $35 copayment per office visit. If you visit an emergency room you will pay a $150 copayment. This copyament is waived if you are admitted to the hospital. You will need to satisfy a deductible for certain services such as inpatient hospital stays before we pay for these services.

Deductible

A deductible is a fixed expense you must incur for certain covered services and supplies before we start paying benefits for them. Copayments do not count toward any deductible.

• The calendar year deductible is $750 per person under self only enrollment in our Standard Option. 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 $750 under Standard Option. 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 $1,500 under Standard Option. 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 $1,500.
• The calendar year deductible is $1,500 per person under self only enrollment in our Basic Option. 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 $1,500 under Basic Option. 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 $3,000 under Basic Option. 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 $3,000.

Note: If you change plans during Open Season, 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.

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.

Your catastrophic protection out-of-pocket maximum

For the Standard Option, after your out-of-pocket expenses, including any applicable deductibles, copayments and coinsurance total $5,000 for Self Only, or $10,000 for a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment in any calendar year, you do not have to pay any more for covered services.

For the Basic Option, after your out-of-pocket expenses, including any applicable deductibles, copayments and coinsurance total $8,550 for Self Only, or $17,100 for a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment in any calendar year, you do not have to pay any more for covered services.

The out-of-pocket limit for this Plan may differ from the IRS limit, but cannot exceede that amount.

The maximum annual limitation on cost sharing listed under Self Only of $5,000 (Standard Option) and $8,550 (Basic Option) applies to each individual, regardless of whether the individual is enrolled in Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family.

Example Scenario:  Your plan has a $5,000 Self Only maximum out-of-pocket limit and a $10,000 Self Plus One or Self and Family maximum out-of-pocket limit.   If you or one of your eligible family members has out-of-pocket qualified medical expenses of $5,000 or more for the calendar year, any remaining qualified medical expenses for that individual will be covered fully by your health plan.  With a Self and Family enrollment out-of-pocket maximum of $10,000, a second family member, or an aggregate of other eligible family members, will continue to accrue out-of-pocket qualified medical expenses up to a maximum of $10,000 for the calendar year before their qualified medical expenses will begin to be covered in full. 

However, copayments and coinsurance, if applicable for the following services do not count toward your catastrophic protection out-of-pocket maximum, and you must continue to pay copayments and coinsurance for these services:

• Expenses for services and supplies that exceed the stated maximum dollar or day limit

• Expenses from utilizing out-of-network providers unless prior approval

• Expenses from obesity surgery

• Expenses from wisdom teeth extraction

Be sure to keep accurate records and receipts of your copayments and coinsurance to ensure the plan’s calculation of your out-of-pocket maximum is reflected accurately.

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 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.

For any of your health concerns, you can call Tel-A-Nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the number set forth on your Member Identification Card. You will talk with a registered nurse who will discuss treatment options and answer your health questions. Tel-A-Nurse is not an authorized agent for the determination of benefits or appointment scheduling.

Tel-A-Nurse also provides Members access to an audio library of over 200 medical topics of interest. You can access this service using the same toll free number.

Health Coaching

Work with a Geisinger health coach to set individualized health and wellness goals that fit your lifestyle. The benefits of health coaching are provided at no additional cost. You have access to unlimited health coaching sessions to monitor your progress and to stay accountable and motivated. Enroll today and gain the support and encouragement you need to reach your goals.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Geisinger Health and Wellness at 866-415-7138.

Medical and hospital benefits

In most cases, providers and facilities file claims for you. Providers 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, contact us at 844-863-6850 or at our website at www.thehealthplan.com.

When you must file a claim – such as for services you receive outside the Plan’s service area – submit it on the CMS-1500 or a claim form that includes the information shown below. Bills and receipts should be itemized and show:

• Covered member’s name, date of birth, address, phone number and ID number
• Name and address of the provider or facility that provided the service or supply
• Dates you received the services or supplies
• Diagnosis
• Type of each service or supply
• The charge for each service or supply
• A copy of the explanation of benefits, payments, or denial from any primary payor– such as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)
• Receipts, if you paid for your services

Note: Canceled checks, cash register receipts, or balance due statements are not acceptable substitutes for itemized bills.

Submit your claims to:    

Geisinger Health Plan

Claims Department

P.O. Box 853910

Richardson, TX 75085-3910

Prescription drugs

Submit your claims to:   

Geisinger Health Plan

Claims Department

P.O. Box 853910

Richardson, TX 75085-3910

Other supplies or services

Submit your claims to:   

Geisinger Health Plan

Claims Department

P.O. Box 853910

Richardson, TX 75085-3910

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.

If you live in a county where at least 10 percent of the population is literate only in a non-English language (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services), we will provide language assistance in that 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.

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 at: Geisinger Health Plan, Appeals Department, 100 North Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822-3220; 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) 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.

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

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

a) Pay the claim or  

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.

3

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 3, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20415-3630. 

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 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.

4

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 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.

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.

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 844-863-6850 .  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 OPM’s FEHB 3 at 202-606-0737 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 other health coverage

You must tell us if you or a covered family member have coverage under any other health plan or have automobile insurance that pays health care 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 www.TheHealthPlan.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 FEHB plans pay secondary Coordination of Benefits (COB) claims, including those with Medicare, they pay the lesser of their allowance less paid by the primary plan or primary plan allowance less paid by the primary plan. FEHB will not pay more than the FEHB allowance. You may continue to charge the member copayments or coinsurance on secondary COB claims. If your benefit design includes coinsurance, it must be based on the remaining charge, not on your allowance.

TRICARE is the health care 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.

Workers' Compensation

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.

Medicaid

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

When other Government agencies are responsible for your care

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 benefit payments as a result of an injury or illness and you or 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 workers’ 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 provided 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.

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; 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.  This plan covers these costs.
• 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.         

When you have Medicare

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 (Part A or Part B)

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 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.

When Original Medicare is the primary payor, Medicare processes your claim first.  Your provider will then need to submit an explanation of Medicare payment to the plan and we will provide secondary benefits for covered charges. To find out if you need to do something to file your claim, call us at 844-863-6850  or see our website at www.thehealthplan.com.

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

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.

When Medicare Part A is primary, we will waive our:

• Inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance

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.

When Medicare Part B is primary, we will waive our:

• Calendar year deductible;
• Coinsurance for services and supplies provided by physicians and other covered health care professionals (inpatient and outpatient);
• Copayments for office visits

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 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.

When Original Medicare is the primary payor, Medicare processes your claim first.  Your provider will then need to submit an explanation of Medicare payment to the plan and we will provide secondary benefits for covered charges. To find out if you need to do something to file your claim, call us at 844-863-6850 or see our website at www.thehealthplan.com.

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

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. When Medicare Part A is primary, we will waive our:

• Inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance

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.

When Medicare Part B is primary, we will waive our:

• Calendar year deductible;
• Coinsurance for services and supplies provided by physicians and other covered health care professionals (inpatient and outpatient);

• Copayments for office visits

Note: We do not waive benefit limitations, such as the 60 visit limit for Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy. In addition, we do not waive any coinsurance or copayments for prescription drugs.

Benefit Description: Deductible
High Option You pay without Medicare: $750
High Option You with Medicare Part B: $0

Benefit Description: Out-of-Pocket Maximum
High Option You pay without Medicare: $5,000 Self Only/$10,000 Family
High Option You with Medicare Part B: $5,000 Self Only/$10,000 Family

Benefit Description: Part B Premium Reimbursement Offered
High Option You pay without Medicare: N/A
High Option You with Medicare Part B: Up to $120

Benefit Description: Primary Care Physician
High Option You pay without Medicare: $20
High Option You with Medicare Part B: Up to $0

Benefit Description: Specialist
High Option You pay without Medicare: $35
High Option You with Medicare Part B: Up to $0

Benefit Description: Inpatient Hospital
High Option You pay without Medicare: 20% after deductible
High Option You with Medicare Part B: Up to $0

Benefit Description: Outpatient Hospital
High Option You pay without Medicare: 20% after deductible
High Option You with Medicare Part B: Up to $0

Benefit Description: Incentives Offered
High Option You pay without Medicare: N/A
High Option You with Medicare Part B: N/A

• Tell us about your Medicare coverage

• Medicare Advantage (Part C)

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 health care 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: 1-877-486-2048) or at www.medicare.gov.

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

This Plan and our Medicare Advantage plan: You may enroll in one of our Medicare Advantage plans and also remain enrolled in our FEHB plan.  You must maintain your Medicare Part A and B insurance to remain in our Medicare Advantage plan.  We will not waive any of our copayments, coinsurance or deductibles.

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.

• Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D)

Clinical Trials Cost Categories

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; 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.

Coinsurance

See section 4 page 22

Copayment

See Section 4, page 22.

Deductible

See Section 4, page 22

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 evaluate 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 844-863-6850. 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.

Medical services provided by physicians: Diagnostic and treatment services provided in the office

Office visit copay: $20 PCP, $35 SCP

27

Services provided by a hospital: Inpatient

20% after deductible

50

Services provided by a hospital: Outpatient

20% after deductible

51

Emergency benefits: In-area

$150 per visit; waived if admitted   

53

Emergency benefits: Out-of-area

$150 per visit; waived if admitted   

54

Mental health and substance use disorder treatment:

Regular cost-sharing

55

Prescription drugs: Retail pharmacy (At a participating retail pharmacy for up to a 34- day supply per prescription or refill)

30%/40%/50%/50%

$5/$40/$60/$85 minimum; $15/$120/$180/$250 maximum

59

Prescription drugs: Mail order (From a participating mail order pharmacy for a 90-day supply per prescription or refill) 

30%/40%/50%/50%

$10/$80/$120/$170 minimum; $30/$240/$360/$500 maximum

59

Dental care

20% after deductible

62

Vision care: Refractions

$0

34

Wellness and Other Special features

24-hour nurse hotline, telemedicine, services for deaf and hearing impaired, centers of excellence, travel benefit/services overseas, health coaching

63

Protection against catastrophic costs (maximum out-of-pocket):

$5,000 Self Only/$10,000 Self Plus One or Self and Family

22-23

Medical services provided by physicians: Diagnostic and treatment services provided in the office

30% after deductible

27

Services provided by a hospital: Inpatient

30% after deductible

50

Services provided by a hospital: Outpatient

30% after deductible

51

Emergency benefits: In-area

$250 per visit; waived if admitted

53

Emergency benefits: Out-of-area

$250 per visit; waived if admitted

54

Mental health and substance use disorder treatment:

Regular cost-sharing

55

Prescription drugs: Retail pharmacy (At a participating retail pharmacy for up to a 34-day supply per prescription or refill)

30%/40%/50%/50%

$5/$40/$60/$85 minimum;

$15/$120/$180/$250 maximum

59

Prescription drugs: Mail order (From a participating mail order pharmacy for a 90-day supply per prescription or refill) 

30%/40%/50%/50%

$10/$80/$120/$170 minimum;

$30/$240/$360/$500 maximum

59

Dental care

30% after deductible

62

Vision care: Refractions

$0

34

Wellness and Other Special features

24-hour nurse hotline, telemedicine, services for deaf and hearing impaired, centers of excellence, travel benefit/services overseas, health coaching

63

Protection against catastrophic costs (maximum out-of-pocket):

$8,550 Self Only/ $17,100 Self Plus One of Self and Family

22- 23