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Appeal
If you disagree with our decision to deny your coverage, you can ask us to reconsider it. We call this an appeal.
Beneficiary
This is a person who has health care insurance through a Medicare or Medicaid program.
Case management programs
These programs help people who need extra assistance and help. Case managers help to coordinate care.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS is a federal agency that runs the Medicare program. It also works with states to run the Medicaid program.
Coinsurance
Amount you may have to pay for your share of services. Coinsurance is usually a percentage. Your plan doesn't have coinsurance.
Complaint
The formal name for “making a complaint” is “filing a grievance.” You can use the complaint process for certain types of problems you may have with your plan’s service. These include issues with quality of care, wait times and customer service. Also see “Grievance.”
Copay / Copayment
Amount you may have to pay for your share of services. Copays are usually a set amount. Your plan doesn't have copayments for services.
Cost sharing
What you pay for care. Under the State of New Hampshire plan, your cost share is the deductible. It’s the same amount as your Part B deductible.
Deductible
This is the amount some plans require you to pay for covered services before the plan starts to pay. It’s the same amount as your Part B deductible.
Disenroll
This means to end your membership in our plan. Disenrollment may be voluntary (your choice) or involuntary (not your choice).
Enrollee
This is a member of our Medicare plan.
Evidence of Coverage (EOC)
The EOC gives you detailed information on your plan’s coverage, costs and your rights and responsibilities as a plan member.
Grievance
A type of complaint about the quality of your care.
Group health plan
We also call this group coverage. This is a health plan that an employer, such as the State of New Hampshire, offers their retirees.
In network
This means Aetna has a contract with a doctor or other health care provider. We negotiate reduced rates with network providers to help you save money. Network providers won’t bill you for the difference between their standard rate and their contracted rate. All you pay is your plan deductible
MA Plan
This type of Medicare Advantage Plan doesn’t cover prescription drugs (except for Part B prescriptions). Your prescription drug benefit (Part D) continues to be covered by Express Scripts. For questions about retail or mail order drugs through your prescription drug plan with Express Scripts, just call 1-844-468-0427 (TTY: 1-800-716-3231). They’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also visit www.express-scripts.com.
Maximum out-of-pocket amount
This is the most you’ll pay in a year for certain health services. See your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the maximum amount you’ll pay.
Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
A program that provides health coverage to specific individuals including low-income adults, children, elderly adults and people with disabilities. It’s funded jointly by states and the federal government and administered by states according to federal requirements.
Medicare
This is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Some people under age 65 also may be eligible for Medicare. People with Medicare can get their health coverage through original Medicare, a Medicare Cost Plan, a PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
The Medicare IEP period lasts for seven months. It centers on the event that qualifies you for Medicare. For most people, that event is your 65th birthday. You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B to continue coverage in the Medicare Advantage retiree health plan.
Medicare Part D
Prescription drug coverage. You can get Part D through a Medicare Advantage plan that offers prescription drugs. Or through a separate Prescription Drug plan.
Member
A member is a person with Medicare who is eligible for covered services and has enrolled in our plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has also confirmed their enrollment.
Network
This is a group of health care providers. It includes doctors, dentists and hospitals. A health care provider in a network signs a contract with a health plan to provide services.
Network provider
This is a provider that has an agreement with our plan. The plan pays a network provider based on the agreement. We also call network providers plan providers.
Organization determination (coverage decision)
This is a decision about whether we cover items or services or how much you have to pay for covered items or services.
Out-of-network provider or out-of-network facility
These are providers or facilities that don’t have a contract with Aetna to deliver covered services to you. The State of New Hampshire Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan has an extended service area (ESA) which gives you the flexibility to see any provider, in or out of network, at the same cost. They just have to be licensed, eligible to receive Medicare payments and willing to accept your plan.
Point-of-Service option (POS)
This type of health plan lets you see network providers. You can also see providers outside the network. In many POS plans, if you use referrals and see a primary care physician (PCP), you get more coverage. You may also pay less for care. You can still get care from a provider who isn’t a PCP, but you might pay more for that care.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO ESA)
The State of New Hampshire plan is an Aetna Medicare Plan (PPO) with an Extended Service Area (ESA). A PPO is a preferred provider organization plan. A PPO plan with an extended service area (ESA) gives you the flexibility to see any provider, in or out of network, at the same cost, according to the costs listed on your plan benefits summary. They just have to be licensed, eligible to receive Medicare payments and willing to accept your plan.
Premium
This is the amount you pay for coverage. If you get coverage from an employer or group health plan, the costs might be shared between you and the employer. Contact the State of New Hampshire Retiree Health Benefits Office at 1-603-271-1432 (TTY: 711), Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM ET. Or email RetireeHealth@das.nh.gov. You can also visit SONH retiree health benefits for more information.
Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Primary Care Doctor
A PCP is a doctor who is part of a health plan's network, and sometimes called your main doctor. Your PCP is your main contact for care. They coordinate the care you get from specialists or other care facilities. This plan does not require you to choose a PCP, but it is recommended.
Prior authorization
Some services require your doctor and the plan to approve them before you get care. The approval tells you if the plan covers the service. Review your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to see which services need prior authorization. Prior authorization is also called precertification, certification and authorization. In Texas, this approval is known as pre-service utilization review and is not verification as defined by Texas law.
Provider
This is a doctor, hospital or other licensed professional or facility that provides medical services.
Referral
A referral is a type of preapproval from your primary care doctor to see a specialist. When your doctor issues a referral, they share the reason for the recommendation with the specialist. They also help coordinate your visit, so you get the proper care.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
This is also called a special election period. If you have a Medicare plan, it’s a time when you can change your benefits because something in your life changes. Examples are moving out of a plan’s service area or being able to get Medicaid.