SurgeryPlus is changing it's name to Lantern. When your doctor recommends a surgery, the Lantern Benefit, will assist you with both planning and paying for the covered medical procedure, including any necessary travel associated with the procedure. A Lantern Care Advocate can help you find a board certified, high-quality surgeon for your procedure, set up an initial consultation, schedule your procedure appointments, make travel reservations (if required), transfer your medical records, and coordinate all your related surgery bills.
This benefit will be available as of January 1, 2025, at which time member’s will be able to contact a Lantern Care Advocate at 855-715-1680 for additional information. Members may also refer to the 2025 AlaskaCare Retiree Insurance Information Booklet for additional details regarding coverage for this benefit.
Creating the Path to Wellness: Setting SMART Goals
The new year is coming soon! The start of the year is a good time to make changes in our lifestyle to become healthier. Instead of setting a large “New Year’s Resolution” that has already been forgotten by February, start by making a few small changes that you can stick to and will last throughout the whole year.
Remember to keep your goals SMART:
S - Specific – Instead of saying “I will eat healthier”, you can say “I will eat at least one more fruit or vegetable each day”. When you are specific, you know when you have reached your goal or what you need to improve.
M - Measurable – Being able to measure your goal will keep you on track. Instead of saying “I will exercise more” you can say “I will walk with my dog 3 days of the week for at least 15 minutes”.
A - Achievable – Create goals that will keep you motivated. For example, “I will try to get to bed at the same time 2 nights a week”, instead of “every night”. It is better to set a simple goal and achieve it faster than to set it too high and feel down on yourself for not meeting your goal.
R - Relevant – Take a look at the big picture of your life to see what changes would be most beneficial and fall in line with your values. You want goals that will add benefit to your life, not cause extra stress and conflict.
T – Time bound – Having a specific timeframe on your goal will keep you focused. Try out a goal “I will commit to one month of making this change.” At the end of the month, you can keep on with this goal or choose a new one that works with you. Also, when you meet your goal, you can celebrate your hard work!
Other tips for success:
- Find a buddy to help you stay on track. Making changes can be hard but it is more fun, and you are more likely to stick with it if you are working on something together. Knowing you will be sharing your progress with another person also helps you remember to keep trying.
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- Think about some problems you might run into. Knowing how you can get past these challenges will keep you motivated to keep going rather than getting discouraged and quitting.
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- Write down reasons why you are making your goals. If your goal was walking and it is the end of the day and you are tired, reading through your reasons can help give you the motivation to keep going.
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- Keep a record of your efforts and achievements to see how you have taken care of yourself. Remember, progress is progress no matter how small.
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- It’s ok to take a break. Sometimes life happens and our healthy goals get put on the back burner. Instead of being hard on yourself, just pick back up when you can and keep going.
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The new year is around the corner, and it is almost time to review your account and submit your 2024 Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) reimbursement request! This is also a reminder that the December 31, 2024 deadline to submit your IRMAA reimbursement request for 2023 is here!
Reminder: What is an IRMAA? Certain high-income retirees are required to pay an extra premium surcharge, known as an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. This is similar to the surcharge for high-income enrollees in the Medicare Part B 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 Employer Group Waiver Program (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.
What do you need to know?
- You need to set up your HRA account every year, since IRMAA surcharges are based on your annual income and your income may change from year to year.
- If you are not assessed a Part D IRMAA surcharge, this does not apply to you.
- To receive the reimbursement, you should submit your claim and letter as soon as possible, but no later than 12 months after the last day of the current year. For example: The deadline for submitting your 2023 IRMAA for reimbursement is December 31, 2024.
How do I know if I have to pay a Part D IRMAA surcharge in 2024?
Each year, if you are Medicare-eligible, you will be notified by the Social Security Administration about your plan. This includes if you are required to pay an IRMAA and at what amount. The Social Security Administration uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) to determine if the IRMAA applies to you and, if so, how much you will have to pay. MAGI is the sum of:
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which can be found on the last line your IRS 1040 tax form (line 37 on form 1040, line 21 on form 1040A, or line 4 on form 1040EZ), plus
- Any tax-exempt interest income (line 8b on form 1040).
The Social Security Administration requests income information from the IRS for the tax year that is two years prior to the surcharge year. IRMAA is automatically re-determined each year as long as you file an income tax return.
How to Set Up Your IRMAA Reimbursement with Optum Rx:
Once you have your letter from Social Security or a Medicare Bill that shows your 2024 Part D IRMAA surcharge, you can submit your reimbursement request by following the instructions below. You may submit your documents early to OptumRx if you have them available, but claims received prior to January will not be processed until the start of the new year.
Follow these steps to establish your 2024 IRMAA HRA account online:
- Register and/or log in to your Optum Rx.com account either online or through the mobile app.
- Navigate to the AlaskaCare IRMAA Reimbursement Form by taking the following steps:
- On the top of the main page, click the "Information Center" tab.
- Click "Programs and Forms".
- Click on the "AlaskaCare IRMAA Reimbursement" section. There you will find the digital enrollment form as well as the paper version.
- To submit your reimbursement request digitally (the faster method), click and submit the IRMAA HRA Digital Enrollment Form.
- Upload as an attachment, a copy or image of your letter from Social Security or a Medicare Bill that shows what your Part D IRMAA surcharge is.
- Optum Rx will confirm your eligibility and set up your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) with Optum Bank within 5 to 7 business days of receipt.
- Once your HRA has been set up with Optum Bank, they will send you a Welcome Packet within 5 to 7 business days, which will include information on signing up for Direct Deposit.
- If you currently have Direct Deposit set up with Optum Bank, that information does not need to be submitted again.
- Once you receive your Welcome Packet, log in to OptumBank.com to view your HRA account status/balance or to sign up for Direct Deposit.
If you have any questions on how to submit your documents online or if you do not have internet access and would like to submit paper documentation, please contact OptumRx at (855) 409-6999.
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