Reminders and Updates
Posted on October 24, 2018
Time to Get the Flu Vaccine
An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the chance that you will get the flu and spread it to others. In addition, receiving the flu shot may reduce the risk of more serious flu outcomes if you do get sick. For more information about the flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/flu.
Health New England covers the flu vaccination at no cost to members when obtained from an in-plan provider. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office or at a participating retail pharmacy. Remember to consult with your primary care provider before receiving the flu vaccine.
Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Form
At Health New England, we want to make it easy for you to pay your premium. We are happy to offer an electronic funds transfer (EFT) option. If you prefer to pay by automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account, please fill out the EFT form and return it to us. The EFT form can be found at healthnewengland.org/medicare/forms.
National Pharmaceutical Services is Now CastiaRx
Our pharmacy benefit manager National Pharmaceutical Services (NPS) is now CastiaRx. CastiaRx is a fully integrated pharmacy benefit manager that services our Medicare Advantage members for prescription drugs.1
1Pharmacy benefits apply only to members with a Health New England Medicare Advantage plan
with prescription drug benefits.
Reminder – New Medicare Cards
Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its fraud prevention initiative to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards to help combat identity theft, and safeguard taxpayer dollars. The new cards use a unique, randomly assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), to replace the Social Security-based Health Insurance
Claim Number
(HICN) used on the old Medicare card. CMS began mailing new cards in April 2018. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, CMS has until April 2019 to meet the deadline for replacing all Medicare cards.
Be aware. Don’t fall victim to scammers.
- Beware of anyone calling about the new card. You do not need to pay for a new card or give
anyone your current Medicare card number. - The cards will automatically be mailed to all current Medicare beneficiaries. You don’t need to do anything special to receive one.
- CMS will not call you to ask for your Social Security or Medicare ID number, because they already know it.
- Your benefits won’t change with the new MBI number.
- More information can be found at www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card.
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