A blog on the latest news and events for ACU faculty and staff
All benefits-eligible employees will need to complete their enrollment online between November 10 and November 14, 2014. Please watch the myACU newsletter for details on Open Enrollment Meetings, which will start later this month.
When surgery is the next step, Compass can provide cost comparisons for your upcoming surgery, verify your plan benefits, and help you anticipate your out-of-pocket costs.
If your doctor has recommended surgery, please provide the following information to help Compass get started on your behalf:
• Surgical Procedure or Diagnoses
• Referring Doctor
• Facility where procedure is scheduled (if available)
After surgery, Compass can review all medical bills from your surgeon, hospital/facility, anesthesiologist, and other providers to validate the amount you actually owe. If there is a billing problem, Compass can help you resolve any errors. Call or email Compass at your convenience for recommendations.
October 8th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Walgreens will be in the Hunter Welcome Center to administer flu vaccines to ACU Faculty, Staff and their dependents (age 7 and up). All you need to do is bring your BCBSTX ID card to receive this preventive vaccine at no charge. Tdap and pneumonia vaccines will also be available for qualified individuals.
At this point Hendrick and BCBS still have not reached an agreement that would bring Hendrick back in-network. Human Resources is working with ACU’s Benefit Committee and Holmes Murphy (ACU’s broker) to determine our plan of action for 2015. It is ACU’s intention to provide health insurance in which both Hendrick and Abilene Regional would be in-network.
Preventive Care Covered at 100 Percent, But What Is Considered Preventive? With Health Reform, many people are now aware that preventive care is covered at 100 percent–meaning there is no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. But what care is consideredpreventive? Not all cancer screening is preventive (e.g. lung cancer screening is usually not considered preventive). Not all routine blood tests are preventive (e.g. thyroid tests are usually not preventive). Not all ‘screening’ doctors’ office visits are preventive (e.g. total body skin exams by dermatologists are usually not considered preventive). So what is preventive and who decides? For more information, please visit the Compass Healthcare Consumerism Blog.
With Blue Access Mobile, the health information you need is as close as your cell phone. You have quick and secure access to our most in-demand information and tools on the go.
Have you been delaying an important doctor’s visit for a nagging sports injury, a necessary skin exam or allergy relief? Compass can recommend quality providers that are right for you, such as:
If you need a referral to a specialist, please send us the following information with your request:
While hospitals may seem like the most convenient option when scheduling an imaging test, they are rarely the most cost effective. Compass can save you money by guiding you to high quality, cost effective options. To begin, we need:
ACU will offer a wellness discount on your health insurance premiums again for 2015. To qualify for the discount employees will once again need to have a preventive exam (i.e. a physical or a well woman visit) In addition, if you have a spouse on ACU’s health insurance plan, your spouse will need to do the same. Watch your email this week for details!
Do not let medical emergencies spoil your summer vacation. When preparing for your summer travels, contact Compass for medical care options in the cities you will be visiting. In the event an emergency arises, Compass can provide emergency facility options. Prior to traveling, please contact Compass with your destination zip-code(s) or area. Call 1-800-513-1667 ext. 788 or email leahm@compassphs.com.
