State Of Louisiana Employees Medical Information

[editor]

State of Louisiana Office of Group Benefits

DISASTER BULLETIN

September 7, 2005

Help Available for Displaced OGB Plan Members

The Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB) is reaching out to its 72,000 plan members and their families who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and who have health insurance through the state of Louisiana.

OGB has instituted a number of options to make it easier for employees of the state of Louisiana to obtain health care through its four programs (PPO, EPO, MCO, HMO):

. All plan members who lived in zip codes starting with 700, 701, 704 and 395 (plus zip code 70377) who want to switch to the PPO or the EPO may do so. The EPO has a nation-wide network of physicians and hospitals. Plan members can contact their agency headquarters or can call OGB for assistance at 1-800-272-8451. Plan members can also determine their new premiums for their new plans.

. Effective September 14, 2005, PPO, EPO and MCO plan members can visit the OGB website at www.groupbenefits.org and print a two-year history of their medical claims, including lists of lab and x-ray tests, and prescriptions. This will be especially useful for plan members seeing new providers.

. PPO, EPO and MCO plan members who use out-of-network pharmacies will not have to pay a penalty until further notice.

. Plan members in the EPO, PPO, MCO and Humana HMO plans will be able to refill prescription drugs without the usual 30-day restrictions, until further notice.

. Plan members in the FARA MCO can call 1-800-427-4511 for help. FARA has moved its customer service operation to Lafayette.

. Plan members in the United EPO should know that claims and customer service functions are up and running. United's toll-free number is 1-866-336-9374.

. Plan members in the Humana HMO can call toll free to its customer service center at 1-866-427-7478.

. United Behavioral Health has a hotline for all OGB members in any plan who have behavioral issues or who need a list of disaster relief assistance resources in their area. The toll-free number is 866-615-8700. Additional resources are also available at the UBH website at liveandworkwell.com.