• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention↗
• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services↗ 
• COVID-19 Health Alerts and Mandates for Alaska↗

Telemedicine services, including Teladoc, are an excellent way to connect with a health care provider from the comfort of your own home. As the COVID-19 disease outbreak progresses, increased demand for telemedicine services is occurring across the state and the nation.

As clinicians work to meet this increased demand for telemedicine services, members may experience longer wait times for consultations than they experienced previously. We appreciate your patience as health care delivery systems work to expand their capacity to handle increased patient volumes.

If your situation is more urgent, or if you are experiencing an emergency, please contact an urgent care clinic or call 911. If you believe that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are seeking medical care, call your health care provider before going in so that they can prepare for your visit.

Virtual care resources available to members include:

• Aetna 24-Hour Nurse Line: (800) 556-1555
• Teladoc: (855) TELADOC or (855) 835-2362

All patients, providers, hospitals and surgical centers are required to postpone or cancel all non-urgent or elective procedures for three months to decrease the overall impact on the Alaska health care structure and preserve personal protective equipment. This would include pre-scheduled surgeries deemed non-essential. This mandate does not apply to surgical cases coming through the emergency room or for an existing hospitalized patient. Other states may be taking similar action. If you are affected by this contact your provider to discuss your options.

Note: Precertification for surgery is valid for nine months. If you are unable to complete your surgery within the nine-month time frame, your provider may need to obtain precertification at a later date.

View all health mandates issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy, DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink.

Dental clinical settings and oral health professionals are recognized within the highest risk categories for both transmission and contraction of the coronavirus, as most dental procedures release significant aerosols in the operatory atmosphere. Therefore, in concurrence with recommendations from the American Dental Association (ADA), the Alaska Dental Society, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, elective oral health care procedures are required to be postponed for a period of one month.

View all health mandates issued by Governor Mike Dunleavy, DHSS Commissioner Adam Crum, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink.

Providence Alaska Medical Center is partnering with Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Regional Hospital and Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center to offer free drive-through COVID-19 testing to the community. You must have a referral from a clinician before being tested for COVID-19. If you are seeking a referral, please contact a clinician to discuss your options. 

If you’re experiencing symptoms, call your health care provider. Here are some additional tools you may want to consider:  

• Providence Hospital—Coronavirus Assessment Tool↗
• Coronavirus Checker: Check your risk for COVID-19↗

In response to the national public health emergency associated with the COVID-19 disease outbreak, the Commissioner of the State of Alaska Department of Administration directed the Division of Retirement and Benefits to take the following steps:

Maintenance Medications that Require Prior Authorization
Maintenance medications that require prior authorization, set to expire between March 17 and May 1, 2020 will automatically be extended by 90 days. This measure is to help ease the burden on an already stressed provider network. Opioids or medications that are dosed for a finite duration will follow the normal process for renewals. Prior authorization requirements for medications that are newly prescribed will remain in place.

Medication Preparation
Effective Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the AlaskaCare employee and retiree plans lifted restrictions on early medication refills. Members may obtain an additional 90-day supply of valid prescriptions. This does not apply to opioid medications.

Diagnostic Testing
Effective March 9, 2020, the AlaskaCare employee and retiree health plans are waiving member cost share (e.g. deductible, co-insurance) for laboratory tests ordered to diagnose and treat COVID-19 including: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A & B, viral respiratory panel, and COVID-19 testing. To qualify for waived deductible and co-insurance, laboratory tests must be deemed medically necessary under the terms of the plan and they must be FDA-approved. The co-insurance and deductible are also waived for the office visit if the primary diagnosis code for the visit is COVID-19 or any of the above diagnostic tests are billed with the office visit. Reimbursement for members that obtain services from an out of network provider may result in balance billing if the provider charges above the recognized charge.

Crisis Response Line
We know that the uncertainty around COVID-19 may cause stress and anxiety. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please know that help is available. Aetna is providing support for AlaskaCare employee and retiree health plan members through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) during the COVID-19 public health event. EAP staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To speak with a counselor contact AlaskaCare EAP at (855) 417-2493. You can also contact Alaska’s suicide prevention and someone-to-talk to line at (877) 266-help or text 4help to 839863.

Teladoc for Retirees
Effective March 9, 2020, AlaskaCare retiree health plan members will have temporary access to Teladoc general medical services with a $0 copay. This service is already available to AlaskaCare employee health plan members. Teledoc doctors can evaluate your risk for COVID-19 and help with next steps when necessary. Teladoc can also fulfill other health care needs unrelated to COVID-19 and is a convenient and affordable way to receive care whenever you need it from wherever you are within the United States. Using telemedicine can help you and your family members avoid unnecessary contact.

• Register or Login: Teladoc.com/Aetna
• Mobile App: Teladoc.com/mobile
• Phone: (855) TELADOC or (855) 835-2362

Influenza Vaccine (flu shots) Coverage for Retirees
Effective March 9, 2020 the AlaskaCare retiree plans will cover Trivalent and Quadrivalent influenza vaccines received at an in-network pharmacy. If a retiree plan member receives an influenza vaccine from an out-of-network pharmacy the AlaskaCare retiree plans will cover the cost up to the recognized charge; the member will be responsible for paying the total amount of the prescription at the time of purchase and must submit a paper claim for reimbursement. If a retiree plan member receives an influenza vaccine from a healthcare provider, the standard deductible and coinsurance will apply for the vaccine and the office visit. Reimbursement for members that obtain services from an out of network provider may result in balance billing if the provider charges above the recognized charge.

Pneumococcal Vaccine Coverage for Retirees
Effective March 9, 2020 the AlaskaCare Retiree Plan will cover pneumococcal vaccines consistent with the guidelines published by the CDC. The pneumococcal vaccine will be covered at 100% if administered at an in-network pharmacy. If a retiree plan member receives a pneumococcal vaccine from an out-of-network pharmacy the AlaskaCare retiree plans will cover the cost up to the recognized charge; the member will be responsible for paying the total amount of the prescription at the time of purchase and must submit a paper claim for reimbursement. If a retiree plan member receives an influenza vaccine from a healthcare provider, the standard deductible and coinsurance will apply for the vaccine and the office visit. Reimbursement for members that obtain services from an out of network provider may result in balance billing if the provider charges above the recognized charge. Whenever possible, to avoid exposure to sick patients and minimize the strain on the medical system, pneumonia vaccines should be obtained at a network pharmacy.

The preceding temporary administrative changes are prospective in nature and shall remain in effect until the national public health emergency is terminated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the determination is made by the Secretary, whichever occurs first. The temporary administrative changes listed above are in response to a federally recognized national health emergency and do not provide a vested right to coverage for any individual. The Division of Retirement and Benefits retains the sole discretion to rescind or modify these temporary administrative changes depending on the circumstances.

Aetna Resources for Living Available to the General Public

Aetna has expanded its Resources for Living program to the general public, regardless of whether or not the person is an Aetna member during the COVID-19 outbreak. Anyone can call in and access the services listed below.

For Individuals:
AlaskaCare members: (855) 784-8646
Non-AlaskaCare members: (833) 327-2386

• In-the-moment phone support to help callers cope with the emotional impact of the event
• Informational brochures about dealing with a crisis
• Community resource referrals including local support services in the local area

For Employers:
Employers: (800) 243-5240

• Management consultation to help organizations respond to the needs of their employees, even if they’re not Resources for Living customers
• Onsite services are available on a fee-for-service basis for companies to help their employees recover from the impact of these events on the workplace

If you are subject to the Medicare Part D IRMAA surcharge, you will be reimbursed for the surcharge related to your prescription drug coverage. The deadline for submitting reimbursement requests for 2019 IRMAA charges has been extended from March 31, 2020 to May 30, 2020.

Are you enrolled in the AlaskaCare enhanced Employer Group Waiver Plan? Are you being charged a premium for your Medicare Part D coverage? If you answered yes to both of these questions you may be eligible for reimbursement from AlaskaCare for your Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

What is an IRMAA? Certain high-income retirees are required to pay an extra premium surcharge, known as an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. This is similar to the surcharge for high-income enrollees in Medicare Part B plan, or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. If you are an individual or a married couple earning more than the threshold, you will be required to pay an extra surcharge for being enrolled in the AlaskaCare EGWP because it is a group Medicare Part D plan. Retirees whose household income is below this threshold will not be subject to the IRMAA premium surcharge.

For all Medicare plans, the IRMAA will be deducted directly from your monthly Social Security check (if you qualify for Social Security) or will otherwise be invoiced to you directly each month. If you are charged a Medicare Part D IRMAA for your prescription drug coverage, the Division of Retirement and Benefits will reimburse you for the full cost of the surcharge each month, through a tax-advantaged Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) account. Please contact the Division to learn about your reimbursement options and visit our website for more information.

We Are All in This Together

What happens in the next few weeks depends on what each of us does today. Everyone can play their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19, protecting our most vulnerable Alaskans, and making sure our health systems can handle this pandemic. What we do to practice social distancing now may save people’s lives.

Take Everyday Precautions

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Take everyday preventive actions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places—elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
• Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
• Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)
• Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.
• Avoid all non-essential travel
• Stay informed—keep up to date with the latest guidance from federal, state, and local health organizations

Health Benefit Contact Information

Division of Retirement and Benefits
DRB Call Center: (907) 465-4460 |Toll Free: (800) 821-2251

Medical Benefits: Aetna
Member Services: (855) 784-8646

Long Term Care Benefits: CHCS Services, Inc.
Member Services: (888) 287-7116

Dental Benefits: Moda/Delta Dental
Member Services: (855) 718-1768

Pharmacy Benefits: OptumRx
Member Services: (855) 409-6999

Specialty Pharmacy: BriovaRx
Enrollment Services: (855) 427-4682