Tools Available to Aetna Members

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1 Benefits News Issue 4 Human Resources Your resource for news and information on your Dow benefit solutions. Tools to Help You Keep Health Care Costs in Check Most of our medical plans provide useful consumer tools to help you understand cost and quality information in advance of seeking treatment. In this issue of Benefits News, you ll get information about online tools and resources from some of our plans that can help you better manage your benefits. If you re a member of a smaller medical plan and would like to learn about the tools available to you, please call Secova, Dow s HMO manager, at DOWDOW ( ). Inside: Medical plan consumer tools that help you know before you go Aetna tools and secure member website BCBS, Cigna, HealthPartners and Humana tools Delta Dental s online toolkit How it can help Online financial planning seminars Income simulator 5

2 Tools Available to Aetna Members Aetna Navigator: It s your health care home base. As an Aetna member, you hold the key to a world of online tools and resources. And it all starts with Aetna Navigator. Aetna Navigator is your secure, self-service member website. Once you complete a simple registration, you ll have a personalized home page. From here, you can take care of personal benefits business. Get cost information. Check out the quality of a facility before a procedure. Find better, faster, smarter ways to manage your health and medical benefits. It s easy to register: Have your member ID (from your Aetna ID card) ready. Go to aetna.com. Click Register and follow the prompts. Need help registering or logging in? Just click the Ask Ann link in the upper right corner. She ll give you step-by-step answers to questions or problems such as I forgot my user name or How do I reset my password? And once you are logged in, she s there to answer questions about claims, disease management and much more. All you have to do is ask! Once you are logged in to Aetna Navigator, you ll find tools and services you can put to use right away. Read on to learn about some of the features you ll find in your personalized website. Future Benefits News issues will include information on other tools and programs. Did you know that costs for many services can vary widely between providers? Know the cost before you go with Aetna Cost of Care tools. Cost may not be the first thing you think about when you need health care. But for many common non-emergency services, it can help to know and compare costs ahead of time. Aetna Cost of Care tools make it possible. Getting started is easy. Once you are logged in to Aetna Navigator, click the Get More Cost Information link in the Cost of Care box. From the Cost of Care page you can access: Member Payment Estimator Hospital Comparison Tool Average estimated costs for your area Price-A-Drug SM Tool These tools will help you get the care you need, with the lowest out-of-pocket expense possible. But it s important to remember that low cost doesn t mean low quality. In fact there is very little, if any, correlation between cost and quality in health care. As you search for a doctor or facility, you ll have access to information about the quality and experience of the provider, as well as cost. So you can be confident you have the information you need to make the right decision for you. 2

3 Member Payment Estimator* For personalized cost estimates, use the Member Payment Estimator. This tool lets you search for and compare actual costs for common procedures, treatments and physician services. How the tool works Click Use Member Payment Estimator. Select a family member covered by your Aetna plan and then pick a service. Next, you can ask for a list of providers near you who perform the service. Or you can enter the name of a specific provider you want to use. You ll then see the cost estimate. If you choose to see a list of providers, you ll be able to compare the price of your service between them. You can also sort your results by the distance you are willing to travel up to 50 miles. Click on Cost Details and you ll get a breakdown that includes: The actual cost of the service, based on current in-network rates negotiated with the provider. Your member rate. This is the amount an Aetna network provider will charge. Compare cost of service to member rate and you ll see the savings. The amount your plan will pay in benefits. The amount you will pay out of pocket. Even though your health plan picks up part of the cost, you also pay a share. Therefore, your out-of-pocket cost will be more if you choose to utilize a facility or provider that charges more for the services. Good to know! The tool works in real time and estimates are run through Aetna s claim system, so it knows where you are with your plan. This means your out-of-pocket cost estimate will reflect how much of your deductible you ve met, and any co-pays, coinsurance and plan limits that apply. Just note that it will not reflect your Health Savings Account (HSA) balance. You decide how, when and whether or not to use your HSA to pay for qualified expenses. What to keep in mind It s important to know that the Member Payment Estimator has limits. The tool does not show costs for every medical test or procedure. Use the tool s estimates to have a discussion with your doctor about the options available to you, or to get opinions from other doctors and care providers. Would you like to know more? Start by taking a step-by-step tour of the Member Payment Estimator. Check out the Brainshark presentation at today! *The Member Payment Estimator may not be available in all locations. 3

4 Hospital Comparison Tool It s a fact that hospitals have different levels of experience and expertise with certain procedures and conditions. With the Hospital Comparison Tool, you have the advantage of knowing how your local facilities measure up. Search based on cost In the same way you look up costs for services for specific providers using Member Payment Estimator, you can find the average cost of services within hospitals and care facilities by clicking Hospital and Facility Rates on the Cost of Care page. You ll be able to compare costs between facilities, taking into account your specific plan. Search based on quality Cost isn t always the only concern before you have a procedure. By clicking Hospital Quality from the Cost of Care page, the Hospital Comparison Tool lets you enter a procedure or condition and see how hospitals you select compare in four key areas: Number of patients treated per year Complication rates Mortality (death) rates Length of stay To start your search, specify facilities by location or within a certain number of miles. Then select the ones you want to compare from the list. You can also rate the search criteria by how important each point of comparison is to you. Next, click Create Report to get your results. The summary shows how each hospital scored for each point of comparison. You can then click on each point of comparison for more detailed information and statistics. There are also videos that explain the comparison criteria. 4

5 Average estimated costs When you want more general information about a medical procedure, treatment or service, you can find average estimated costs (in- and out-of-network) in your area for: Diseases and conditions Diagnostic tests and vaccines Surgical and scope procedures Office visits Just click Medical Care under Learn the Average Costs in Your Area on the Cost of Care page. You ll get a cost breakdown based on the average costs of services in your area to help you plan your care. See what you can expect to pay for your medication Another big factor in your overall health care cost is prescription medication. Now you can use the Aetna Price-A-Drug tool to estimate the cost of your medication from a local retail pharmacy or mail order pharmacy. You can also compare generic and brand-name drug prices. Access the tool from the Cost of Care page by clicking Price-A-Drug or by clicking the Aetna Pharmacy tab and Get Drug Prices on your Aetna Navigator home page. Looking beyond cost to value: More tools from Aetna As an Aetna member, you have access to a number of resources that help you get the most from your medical plan. Log on to Aetna Navigator and check them out today! DocFind online provider directory: Find an in-network doctor or specialist anywhere in the nation. Personal Health Record (PHR): Keep your health history information in one easily accessible place. Aetna InteliHealth : Find articles, tools and expert advice to help you lead a healthier life. Healthwise Knowledgebase: Research treatment options using this decision-support tool. Aetna SmartSource SM : Use this advanced search engine to get personalized results based on your PHR. 5

6 Get what you need on the go with Aetna Mobile and itriage. Aetna Mobile web and Aetna Mobile app put the most popular online features at your fingertips. Using your smartphone or web-enabled device, you can: Search for a doctor, hospital or pharmacy Use the Urgent Care Finder to quickly find urgent care centers and walk-in clinics Log in to your secure Aetna Navigator website, where you can: View your claims, coverage and benefits Link to your PHR View your Aetna member ID card information Contact us by phone or Another way to get the care you need on the go is with itriage. Using this free app, you can: Check symptoms and find possible causes Research tests, treatments, procedures and diseases Determine the appropriate treatment path Find the closest medical provider You can try it online at itriagehealth.com. Download your free Aetna Mobile and itriage apps from the App Store, BlackBerry App World or Google Play for Android. 6

7 Tools Available to Members of Blue Cross Blue Shield in Illinois and Blue Care Network Find a Doctor Check out Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Michigan s redesigned and enhanced provider search function and directory, located at bcbsm.com. New features give you: More searchable criteria Easy provider comparisons you can compare up to six doctors or facilities side-by-side with selected criteria A chance to review your doctor, or to read reviews of doctors by other members You can also get cost estimates. Cost-range estimates for certain procedures performed in hospitals and other facilities are included within the search function and directory on the Member Secured Services site. The cost estimates are based on BCBS-approved amounts, but your actual out-of-pocket costs may be different, depending on your deductible and cost-sharing plan. Get started by searching for a doctor. From the Member Secured Services website: Log in to Member Secured Services Click on the Hospitals, physicians and medications tab Click on Find a Doctor From bcbsm.com On the lower right side of the home page, click on Search for a doctor or hospital Tools Available to Cigna Members The mycigna.com portal is designed to click with Cigna customers. Completely personalized and designed, you can easily locate a doctor, access your personal health information, view and manage claims, refill prescriptions and so much more. Find a doctor. Personalized search results make it easy to find the right doctor. Search by name, specialty, procedure, location and other criteria. Estimate medical costs. Review estimated costs for specific, in-network procedures, treatments and facilities so there aren t any surprises. Compare hospitals and doctors. See how they compare by cost, patient outcomes and more. Quality of care. Quality distinctions and cost-efficiency ratings for doctors appear with every search result, with quality-designated doctors appearing at the top of the list. Prescription drug price quote tool. Compare prices between Cigna Home Delivery Pharmacy SM and our network of retail pharmacies to help ensure customers are getting the best price possible. Manage and track claims. Quickly search and sort claims, as well as track account balances, like deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. 7

8 Tools Available to HealthPartners Members HealthPartners transparency tools provide you with information to help you make health care decisions based on what s important to you. From co-pays to hospital stays, you can use HealthPartners transparency tools to become a more informed consumer. As a HealthPartners member, you have access to: Cost and quality ratings. Cost and quality ratings for primary care, specialist and hospitals help you have a better understanding of health care value. Provider cost comparison. Compare provider costs for common conditions, treatments and services. Quality comparison. Compare providers based on quality scores. Cost calculator. Estimate medical costs for specific treatments or for the year. Plan comparison. Compare costs for different plans. Drug cost calculator. Compare co-pays, find generic equivalents and learn other ways to save money. Cost saving tips. Learn how to reduce your medical costs. To learn more about these great tools and resources, log on to your healthpartners.com account and click the Medical Plan Services tab or visit healthpartners.com/costandquality. Tools Available to Humana Members Humana provides a variety of tools and resources for you on the MyHumana website at humana.com. These include: Humana s MyChoice Tools SM for comparing physicians, hospitals and outpatient facilities Online pharmacy tools Planning tools, resources and budgeting Health and wellness information Access to one-on-one advice for members with information about ongoing or chronic health conditions By using these resources, you can compare estimated costs and provider quality to choose what s right for you. This gives you control over your costs, making it easier to be actively involved in your own health care decisions. 8

9 Stay Informed About Your Dental Benefits with Delta Dental s Consumer Toolkit Stay current on your dental benefits with Delta Dental s easy-to-use Consumer Toolkit. This secure online tool is designed to give you access to important information regarding your dental benefits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Use this free service to: Check eligibility. Review your specific benefits, including eligibility for dependents. Get up-to-date benefit information. Find current information about your benefits, such as how much of your annual maximum has been used to date, how much is still available to use and levels of coverage for specific dental purposes. View claims information. Review specific claims transactions, reimbursements and payments. Find a dentist. Search for participating dentists in your area. Print an ID card. The site also allows you to sign up for electronic delivery of Explanation of Benefits statements and to browse oral health information. To learn more and get started using the Consumer Toolkit, visit deltadentalmi.com/consumertoolkit. Helpful hint: If you already have a Consumer Toolkit account, you can log in directly from the front page of the Delta Dental of Michigan website. Look for the Toolkits & Resources box in the lower left corner of the home page. Find a Dentist There are a number of ways to find a participating Delta Dental dentist near you: Consumer Toolkit. Click on the Dentist Directory link in the menu once you have logged in to the Toolkit. Delta Dental of Michigan s website. Click on the Find a Dentist tab at the top of any page in our website or go directly to deltadentalmi.com/findadentist. Customer Service. Call Delta Dental of Michigan s customer service department by dialing DOWDOW ( ), option 5. Use the automated phone system to hear a list of participating dentists in your area. 59

10 Back by Popular Demand! Financial Education Seminars for U.S. Employees Now Available for On-Demand Viewing In 2012, Dow provided financial education seminars for U.S. employees. The response was overwhelming, with a 99% satisfaction rate among participants. For those who were unable to attend or who would like to hear the information again, the sessions are now available for on-demand viewing. We hope you see this offering as one more indication of your company s commitment to creating a work environment that is second to none. Financial planning goals can get pushed aside. Keep your financial goals in the forefront and view one of the seminars when it is convenient for you. Four Ways to Plan Smart (recommended for ages 49 and below) will help you develop a smart financial plan through: Budgeting Investing Retirement planning Protecting assets Retire Smart (recommended for ages 50 and above) will help you plan for the next phase in your life by covering the following topics: Wealth accumulation Cash flow in retirement Benefit plan distributions Sources of retirement income, and more To access these seminars, go to My HR Connection (My HR Connection/Benefits/Pension & Savings/Employees Savings Plan/Financial Education Seminars). The financial education seminars are provided by The Ayco Company, L.P., a Goldman Sachs Company. Dow plans to provide financial education seminars for U.S. employees again this year. The content will be updated for Please watch for further communications regarding dates and times. 10

11 Planning for Retirement Want to learn more about how your Employees Savings Plan contributions today may impact your retirement income? Estimate your potential monthly retirement income using the new Income Simulator tool provided by Fidelity. Here s what to expect: You provide some basic information, like the year that you hope to retire. The tool crunches the numbers on how your savings might accumulate. You can experiment with a few what if scenarios (i.e., retirement age, contributions or asset allocation) to see the impact on your potential retirement income. To use the tool, log in to your Savings Plan account on NetBenefits.com/Dow and go to the Tools & Learning section. 401k Investment Guide Coming! Later this year, Dow plans to provide the Employees Savings Plan participants with an Investment Options Guide. This reference tool can assist you in making investment decisions. Please watch future communications for this guide. 11

12 The Dow Chemical Company 2030 Dow Center Midland, MI Questions? For answers and information on Aetna benefits, programs and tools, call DOWDOW ( ). You also may contact the Dow HR Service Center at or call ( ). You can download a copy of this newsletter on My HR Connection or at dowfamilyhealth.com. Coming in Future Issues: Life events on My HR Connection Retirement Modeling Tool HSA contribution changes can be made during the year, not like FSA The foregoing descriptions of benefit plans provide only general information. You should refer to the plan document and summary plan description of the applicable plan for a more complete description of the plan s terms. If there is any conflict between the information provided above and the plan document for the applicable plan, the plan document will govern. The foregoing descriptions are subject to change based on the terms of the plan and applicable law The Dow Chemical Company All rights reserved. Lit.#