August 22, 2024
Starting August 16th, 2024
- Aetna Student Health (tell your providers it is Aetna Open Choice PPO network) will be our new insurance carrier
- Prescriptions benefits will be managed by CVS’s retail network (does not mean that we are limited to CVS)
- Telehealth is switching to Teladoc, which offers more resources specific to mental health care needs (costs the same as seeing a regular doctor, but available 24/7)
- Dental insurance (Delta Dental) remains unchanged
- Vision benefits remain unchanged
- We will be signed up for Aetna Choice starting in early August – it may take until September 3rd
- If you have urgent need to access your health insurance, contact Becky Meyer at becky.meyer@wsu.edu for emergency enrollment
On August 16th, 2024, WSU will begin switching its health insurance carrier for graduate students,international students, and their dependents from UnitedHealthcare StudentResources to Aetna Student Health. To find out how this will affect your existing coverage, ask your providers if they accept Aetna Open Choice PPO! Under the new plan, our members will have all hospitals in-network and over 13,000 more providers in the state of Washington (link to see the executive summary). Our new deductible for both in- and out-of-network providers will be $300. Our dental plan through Delta Dental is staying the same and vision benefits are the same. If you are currently using Cougar Health Services (CHS), it should be a nearly seamless transition.
Plan information can be seen at this website and you will be able to create an account once you have been enrolled.
Specialists
You will still be able to see any specialist you want without a referral. To prevent surprise bills or denial of coverage, please call your provider to determine if Aetna Choice PPO is accepted at your clinic. Some procedures (e.g. surgeries, residential treatment, etc.) may require pre-certification and you can see the list here – your provider should know what requires pre-certification.
Prescriptions
Starting August 16th, 2024, we will also be switching pharmacy coverage from Optum RX to CVS’s Retail network. For folks using Cougar Health Service’s pharmacy, this should also be a nearly seamless transition. For folks not using CHS, you will still be able to use major pharmacy chains like Kroger, Walmart, Safeway, etc., we will update you when more information becomes available to us.
A major change is which specific drugs are covered. Please use this link to view the formulary. Drugs covered in the plan are classified from least-cost to highest cost, as Preferred Generic (PG), Preferred-Brand/Preferred Speciality (PB/PSP), and Non-preferred Brand and Generic/Non-preferred Speciality (NP/NPSP). Please see the executive summary linked previously for prices. Drugs not covered are classified as NF for Non-formulary. For example, for folks who need insulin, this transition will mean a change from Lispro (brand name, Humalog), which is NF, to Insulin Aspart (brand name, Novolog), PB. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like assistance. We are here to help our fellow ASEs access healthcare!
Telehealth
Regarding telehealth, we will be switching to Teladoc, which offers more options for specific mental health care needs. You can see a summary of the options using this link. Telehealth visits will cost the same as a doctor’s visit ($25 copay and then 20% of the remaining bill after meeting the $300 deductible). You may need this for after-hours care or mental health visits outside of CHS’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
Contact us!
Our workgroup is still waiting upon answers from WSU’s Student Health Insurance Advisory Board (SHIAB). Please stay tuned for more information in signing up.
If you have any questions about this change please contact healthcare-uaw4591@googlegroups.com.
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In Solidarity,
UAW 4591 Healthcare Workgroup
Ninh Khuu
Jenna Douglas
Madeline Desjardins