Aetna Helps Members Affected by Hurricane Sandy

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) is making it easier for members affected by Hurricane Sandy to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs. The company also is extending claim and appeal filing times, and helping members who have evacuated find care outside their home areas, among other steps.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by the storm, and we urge people to take safety precautions. Aetna’s medical, pharmacy and behavioral health teams are ready to help our members and their families get the medications and care they need.”

Aetna members and health care providers who need assistance can reach the company at the following toll-free numbers.

• Aetna Member Services: Call the number printed on your ID card*. If ID card is unavailable, call 1-800-443-AETNA (1-800-443-2386)
• Aetna Specialty Pharmacy Customer Service: 1-866-782-ASRX (1-866-782-2779)
• Aetna Rx Home Delivery Customer Service: 1-866-612-3862 or 1-800-227-5720
• Aetna Employee Assistance Program: 1-888-AETNA-EAP (1-888-238-6232)
• Aetna Dental: 1-877-238-6200
• Health care providers should contact the Provider Service Centers:
  - Indemnity and PPO-based benefit plans: 1-888-MD-Aetna (1-888-632-3862)
  - HMO benefit plans: 1-800-624-0756

* Replacement ID cards and access to a Personal Health Record (PHR) can be found on Aetna Navigator™: http://www.aetna.com/index.htm

“Many of our members and employees along the East Coast have had to leave their homes due to Hurricane Sandy and are unable to access their usual pharmacies, doctors and hospitals,” said Aetna Chairman, CEO and President Mark T. Bertolini. “Our thoughts are with those affected by the storm, and we urge people to take safety precautions. Aetna’s medical, pharmacy and behavioral health teams are ready to help our members and their families get the medications and care they need.”

Aetna’s business operations in the path of the storm are shifting work to alternate locations around the country as needed to ensure that the company’s members continue to be served while also protecting the safety of Aetna employees. The company also has staged alternate work sites, including ample teleworking capacity, for employees whose home or office locations have lost power.

Affected Aetna members may refill their prescriptions early, as needed. Those who use Aetna’s mail-order pharmacy can receive a prescription at an alternate delivery location or refill a prescription that may have been lost, damaged or destroyed.

Aetna Behavioral Health has opened its Employee Assistance Program resources to all Aetna plan sponsors, regardless of whether or not they are Aetna EAP customers, during these times of need. Aetna’s EAP professionals, who have experience dealing with traumatic events, are available to help. Aetna members can contact Aetna EAP 24/7 for telephonic consultation, referrals or general information such as areas affected by a disaster, shelters and government resources.

Affected Aetna members also can seek emergency care anywhere, as needed. As part of its disaster procedures, Aetna will monitor the impact on its network doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. The company will work closely with providers to make further modifications to its policies as necessary to ensure members have access to care.

If any additional local, state or federal disaster executive orders or regulations are issued related to these catastrophic events, Aetna will adjust its policies to comply.

As part of storm or evacuation preparations, Aetna urges its members to make sure Personal Health Records (PHRs) are updated for all family members. The information in the PHR is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, anywhere an Internet connection is available – making it an important resource for those who have had to evacuate during an emergency and might need to see a health care provider unfamiliar with their medical history. Aetna members who have access to the PHR can print it out or share it with a doctor online.

People also can find tips on protecting their families’ health in a natural disaster at www.planforyourhealth.com, a public education website from Aetna and the Financial Planning Association^®.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.