Secure Email

Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), required by law, has provided AmeriHealth with the opportunity to take additional steps to increase the security of out-bound electronic communications.

To meet the requirements of HIPAA, AmeriHealth has installed new software that secures outbound email containing protected health information (PHI) and has adopted new procedures to be followed internally and by external members, group customers and business partners when sending/receiving a secure email. A secure email is altered (or "encrypted") so that it is unintelligible to unauthorized parties. PHI is individually identifiable health information held or transmitted by a covered entity such as AmeriHealth.

AmeriHealth is now securing all outbound email containing PHI. Instead of receiving email directly to your inbox, you will receive a notification message that AmeriHealth has an email waiting for you on a secure server. A link will take you, via a secure browser, to that server, where you will receive instructions for opening the email.

Process for Retrieving Secure Emails

1. Member of the AmeriHealth workforce sends an email containing protected health information.
2. The email is saved on a secure server.
3. The addressee (member, broker, group administrator, or provider) receives the message saying the email is waiting for them. Then, the addressee retrieves the message from a secure server with instructions for opening the email.

While this process requires some extra steps, we are making every effort to ensure that there is no significant disruption to your communications with us. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us safeguard PHI.

Secure Email Tutorial

Review a step-by-step process of secure emails.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

The Medicare Contract is renewed annually, and the availability of coverage beyond the end of the current year is not guaranteed.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change January 1, 2013. Members may enroll in the plan during specific times of the year. Contact the plan for more information. Please reference the Evidence of Coverage for information on premiums, cost-sharing, out-of-network coverage, rights and responsibilities upon disenrollment and any applicable conditions associated with using the plan benefits, as well as limitations, copayments, and restrictions.

Members must use network pharmacies to access their prescription drug benefit, except under non-routine circumstances, and quantity limitations and restrictions may apply.

You may be able to get Extra Help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for extra help, call:

• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week;
• The Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or
• Your State Medicaid Office.

People with limited incomes may qualify for Extra Help to pay for their prescription drug costs. If you qualify, Medicare could pay for up to seventy-five (75) percent or more of your drug costs including monthly prescription drug premiums, annual deductibles, and co-insurance. Additionally, those who qualify will not be subject to the coverage gap or a late enrollment penalty. Many people are eligible for these savings and don't even know it. For more information about this Extra Help, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

You must use plan providers except in emergency or urgent care situations or for out-of-are renal dialysis or other services. If you obtain routine care from out-of-network providers neither Medicare nor AmeriHealth 65 NJ HMO will be responsible for the costs.

Please contact AmeriHealth 65 HMO for more information.

In lots of cases, your prescriptions are covered under AmeriHealth 65 NJ HMO, AmeriHealth Rx PDP if they are filled at a network pharmacy or through our mail-order pharmacy service. There are thousands of network pharmacies, including:

• national chain and independent retail pharmacies
• long-term care and home-infusion pharmacies
• Indian Health Service/Tribal/Urban Indian Health (I/T/U) Program pharmacies

Website last updated: 12/30/11
Y0041_HNS_12_301a Pending CMS Approval