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Aetna Reminds Members in Southern California Affected by Wildfires Where to Call for Help

^{Published on 2010-07-30 14:25:57 - Market Wire}
 

HARTFORD, Conn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Aetna (NYSE: AET) is making it easier for members impacted by the wildfires burning in Kern County and Northern Los Angeles County to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs. The company is monitoring the situation carefully, and will re-evaluate its medical and dental policies for members as necessary to help them access care in the fire-impacted areas in Southern California where many people face evacuations from their homes.

"Our focus is on helping our members get the care they need, knowing that they may not be able to use their usual pharmacies, physicians and hospitals due to evacuations."

Aetna members who need help in finding care or have lost or left their ID cards behind in an evacuation can reach Aetna at the following toll-free numbers:

• Aetna Member Services: 1-800-443-AETNA (1-800-443-2386)
• Aetna Specialty Pharmacy Customer Service: 1-866-782-ASRX (1-866-782-2779)
• Aetna Pharmacy 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
• For physicians who have questions: 1-800-MDAETNA (1-800-632-3862)

* Replacement ID cards and access to a Personal Health Record (PHR) can be accessed on Aetna Navigatora" found here: [ http://www.aetna.com/index.htm ]

aOur deepest concern and sympathies go out to those people in Southern California who have been impacted by the wildfires,a said Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams. aOur focus is on helping our members get the care they need, knowing that they may not be able to use their usual pharmacies, physicians and hospitals due to evacuations.a

Aetna members in areas affected by the wildfires may refill their prescriptions early, if needed, and those who use Aetnaa™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 by fire.

Aetna Behavioral Health is offering its Employee Assistance Program resources to all Aetna plan sponsors, regardless of whether or not they are Aetna EAP customers, during this time of need. Aetna members can contact Aetna EAP 24/7 for telephonic consultation, referrals or general information such as areas affected by the wildfires, shelters and government resources.

Aetna's EAP professionals have experience dealing with traumatic events and are available to help. Consultation and other support are available for plan sponsors as they welcome employees back to work.

Impacted Aetna members can seek urgent or emergency care anywhere, as needed. Aetna is monitoring the impact of the wildfires on its network providers and working closely with its participating network providers, and will make further modifications to its policies as necessary to ensure members have access to care. Aetna will also adjust its policies to comply with any local, state or federal disaster executive orders or regulations issued related to these catastrophic events.

Aetna urges its members that have been evacuated to set up or update their health information in a Personal Health Record (PHR) for themselves and their family members. The information in the PHR is available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, anywhere an Internet connection is available a" making it an important resource for those people who have had to evacuate during an emergency, like wildfires. Aetna members who have access to the PHR can print it out or share it with their physician online. A Personal Health Record (PHR) can be accessed on Aetna Navigatora" [ http://www.aetna.com/index.htm ].

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nationa™s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 35.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see [ www.aetna.com ]