Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
http://
www. kaiserpermanente. org
2002
A Health Maintenance Organization
Serving: Metropolitan Washington, DC Area and Metropolitan
Baltimore, Maryland Area
Enrollment in this Plan is limited. You must
live or work in our Geographic service area to enroll. See page 8 for
requirements.
Enrollment codes for this Plan:
E31 Self Only E32 Self and Family
RI 73-047
This Plan has commendable accreditation from the NCQA.
See the 2002
Guide for more
information on accreditation.
For changes
in benefits
see page 9 1
1 Page 2 3
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 2 Table of Contents
Table of
Contents
Introduction
.................................................................................................................................................................................
5
Plain
Language..................................................................................................................................................................................
5
Inspector General Advisory
............................................................................................................................................................
6
Section 1. Facts about this HMO
plan..........................................................................................................................................
7
How we pay providers
.................................................................................................................................................
7
Your
Rights....................................................................................................................................................................
7
Service
Area...................................................................................................................................................................
8
Section 2. How we change for
2002.............................................................................................................................................
9
Program-wide changes
................................................................................................................................................
9
Changes to this Plan
.....................................................................................................................................................
9
Section 3. How you get care
.......................................................................................................................................................
10
Identification
cards.....................................................................................................................................................
10
Where you get covered
care......................................................................................................................................
10
Plan
providers.......................................................................................................................................................
10
Plan facilities
........................................................................................................................................................
10
What you must do to get covered care
....................................................................................................................
11
Primary care
..........................................................................................................................................................
11
Specialty
care........................................................................................................................................................
11
Hospital care
.........................................................................................................................................................
12
Circumstances beyond our
control..........................................................................................................................
12
Services requiring our prior
approval......................................................................................................................
13
Section 4. Your costs for covered services
...............................................................................................................................
14
Copayments
..........................................................................................................................................................
14
Deductible
.............................................................................................................................................................
14
Coinsurance..........................................................................................................................................................
14
Fees when you fail to make your copayment or coinsurance
...................................................................... 14
Your catastrophic protection out-of-pocket maximum for copayments and
coinsurance ............................. 14
Section 5.
Benefits.........................................................................................................................................................................
15
Overview......................................................................................................................................................................
15
(a) Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other health
care professionals ............. 16
(b) Surgical and anesthesia services
provided by physicians and other health care professionals ......... 28
(c)
Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and ambulance
services........................................... 32
(d) Emergency
services/ accidents
......................................................................................................................
36
(e) Mental health and substance abuse benefits
..............................................................................................
38
(f) Prescription drug
benefits..............................................................................................................................
41
(g) Special features
...............................................................................................................................................
45 2
2 Page 3 4
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 3 Table of Contents
Flexible benefits
option......................................................................................................................................
45
24 hour nurse line
................................................................................................................................................
45
Services for deaf and hearing
impaired............................................................................................................
45
Centers of excellence for transplants
...............................................................................................................
45
Travel
benefit........................................................................................................................................................
46
Services from other Kaiser Permanente
plans................................................................................................
47
(h) Dental
benefits.................................................................................................................................................
48
(i) Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members
........................................................................................
57
Section 6. General exclusions – things we don't
cover...........................................................................................................
58
Section 7. Filing a claim for covered services
..........................................................................................................................
59
Medical, hospital, and drug
benefits........................................................................................................................
59
Deadline for filing your
claim...................................................................................................................................
59
When we need more
information.............................................................................................................................
59
Section 8. The disputed claims
process.....................................................................................................................................
60
Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage
............................................................................................................
62
When you have other health
coverage....................................................................................................................
62
What is
Medicare?................................................................................................................................................
62
The Original Medicare Plan (Part A or Part
B)................................................................................................
62
Medicare managed care
plan...............................................................................................................................
65
If you do enroll in Medicare Part
B...................................................................................................................
66
If you do not enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B
...........................................................................................
66
TRICARE.....................................................................................................................................................................
66
Workers'
Compensation............................................................................................................................................
66
Medicaid
.......................................................................................................................................................................
66
When other Government agencies are responsible for your care
....................................................................... 66
When others are responsible for injuries
................................................................................................................
66
Section 10. Definitions of terms we use in this brochure
.......................................................................................................
67
Section 11. FEHB facts
................................................................................................................................................................
69
Coverage
information.............................................................................................................................................
69
No pre-existing condition
limitation.................................................................................................................
69
Where you get information about enrolling in the FEHB
Program............................................................ 69
Types of coverage available for you and your family
...................................................................................
69
When benefits and premiums start
...................................................................................................................
70
Your medical and claims records are
confidential.........................................................................................
70
When you
retire....................................................................................................................................................
70
When you lose benefits
.........................................................................................................................................
70
When FEHB coverage
ends...............................................................................................................................
70
Spouse equity
coverage......................................................................................................................................
70 3
3 Page 4 5
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 4 Table of Contents
Temporary
continuation of coverage
(TCC)...................................................................................................
70
Converting to individual
coverage....................................................................................................................
71
Getting a Certificate of Group Health Plan
Coverage...................................................................................
71
Long term care insurance is coming later in
2002.....................................................................................................................
72
Index
....................................................................................................................................................................................
73
Summary of benefits
......................................................................................................................................................................
74
Rates………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Back cover 4
4 Page 5 6
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 5
Introduction/ Plain Language/ Advisory
Introduction
Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 2101 East Jefferson
Street
Rockville, Maryland 20849
This brochure describes the benefits of
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., under our
contract (CS 1763) with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), as authorized
by the Federal Employees Health
Benefits law. This brochure is the official
statement of benefits. No oral statement can modify or otherwise affect the
benefits, limitations, and exclusions of this brochure.
If you are enrolled in this Plan, you are entitled to the benefits described
in this brochure. If you are enrolled for self and family coverage, each
eligible family member is also entitled to these benefits. You do not have a
right to
benefits that were available before January 1, 2002, unless those
benefits are also shown in this brochure.
OPM negotiates benefits and rates
with each plan annually. Benefit changes are effective January 1, 2002, and
changes are summarized on page 9. Rates are shown at the end of this brochure.
Plain Language
Teams of Government and health plans' staff worked
on all FEHB brochures to make them responsive, accessible, and understandable to
the public. For instance,
Except for necessary technical terms, we use
common words. For instance, "you" means the enrollee or family
member; "we"
or "Plan" means Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.
We limit acronyms to ones you know. FEHB is the Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program. OPM is the
Office of Personnel Management. If we use
others, we tell you what they mean first.
Our brochure and other FEHB plans' brochures have the same format and
similar descriptions to help you compare
plans.
If you have comments or suggestions about how to improve this brochure, let us know.
Visit OPM's "Rate Us" feedback area at www. opm. gov/ insu re or e-mail us at fehbwebcomments@ opm. gov. You may
also write to OPM at
the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Insurance
Planning and Evaluation, 1900 E Street NW, Washington,
DC 20415. 5
5 Page 6 7
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 6 Introduction/ Plain Language/ Advisory
Inspector General Advisory
Stop health care fraud! Fraud
increases the cost of health care for everyone. If you suspect that a physician,
pharmacy, or hospital has charged you for services you did not receive,
billed you twice for the same service, or misrepresented any information, do
the following:
Call the provider and ask for an explanation. There may be an error.
If the provider does not resolve the matter, call us at 301/ 468-6000 inside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area, and explain the situation. Our TDD
telephone number is 301/ 816-6344.
If we do not resolve the issue, call or write
THE HEALTH CARE FRAUD
HOTLINE 202/ 418-3300
The United States Office of Personnel Management
Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline 1900 E Street, NW, Room 6400
Washington, DC 20415
Penalties for Fraud Anyone who falsifies a
claim to obtain FEHB Program benefits can be prosecuted for fraud. Also, the
Inspector General may investigate anyone who uses an ID
card if the person tries to obtain services for someone who is not an
eligible family member, or is no longer enrolled in the Plan and tries to obtain
benefits.
Your agency may also take administrative action against you. 6
6 Page 7 8
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 7
Section 1
Section 1. Facts about this HMO plan
This Plan
is a health maintenance organization (HMO). We require you to see specific
physicians, hospitals and other
providers that contract with us. These Plan
providers coordinate your health care services.
HMOs emphasize preventive care such as routine office visits, physical exams,
well-baby care and immunizations, in
addition to treatment for illness and
injury. Our providers follow generally accepted medical practice when
prescribing any course of treatment.
When you receive services from Plan providers, you will not have to submit
claim forms or pay bills. You only pay the copayments and coinsurance described
in this brochure. When you receive emergency services or benefits from
non-Plan providers (while you travel) you may have to submit claim forms.
You should join an HMO because you prefer the plan's benefits, not
because a particular provider is available. You cannot change plans because a
provider leaves our Plan. We cannot guarantee that any one physician,
hospital, or other provider will be available and/ or remain under contract
with us.
How we pay providers
We pay the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical
Group, P. C., the Affiliated Primary Care Physician's Network (APCPN) located in
Baltimore, Maryland, APS Healthcare, Maryland Eye Care, Dental Benefit
Providers, and
contracted community specialists and ancillary providers to
provide your medical, surgical, mental health, substance abuse,
ophthalmological, optometry, and dental services. We contract with local
community hospitals to provide
hospitalization services. These Plan
providers accept a negotiated payment from us.
Your Rights
OPM requires that all FEHB plans provide certain
information to their FEHB members. You may
get information
about us, our networks, providers, and facilities. OPM's
FEHB website (www. opm. gov/ insure) lists the specific types of information
that we must make available to you. Some of the required information is listed
below.
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. (Kaiser
Permanente), is a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization.
This Plan is part of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, a group of
not-for-profit organizations and
contracting medical groups that serve over
8 million members nationwide.
Kaiser Permanente is a Maryland non-profit
corporation licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia
and the state of Maryland.
Kaiser Permanente began delivering prepaid healthcare services to
Washington, DC residents in December 1972.
Kaiser Permanente presently
serves approximately 535,000 members in the Washington, DC and Baltimore,
Maryland metropolitan areas.
Kaiser Permanente credentials its Plan providers in accord with national
standards.
If you want more information, call us at 301/ 468-6000 inside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area. Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344. Write to us at
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., Attention:
Member Services Department, 2101 E.
Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland,
20852 or by fax at 301/ 816-6192. You may visit our website at http:// www.
kaiserpermanente. org or contact us by email at kponline. org. 7
7 Page 8 9
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 8 Section 1
Service Area
To
enroll in this Plan, you must live or work in our service area. This is where
our providers practice. Our service
area is:
The District of Columbia
The following Virginia counties:
Arlington
Fairfax
Loudoun
Prince William
The following Virginia cities:
Alexandria
Falls Church
Fairfax
Manassas
Manassas Park
The following Maryland counties:
Anne Arundel
Baltimore
Carroll
Harford
Howard
Montgomery
Prince Georges
Portions of the following Maryland counties, as indicated by the zip codes
below, are also within the service area:
Calvert – 20639, 20678, 20689,
20714, 20732, 20736, and 20754 zip codes only
Charles – 20601, 20602,
20603, 20604, 20612, 20616, 20617, 20637, 20640, 20643, 20646, 20658, 20675,
and 20695 zip codes only
Frederick – 21701, 21702, 21703, 21704,
21705, 21709, 21710, 21714, 21716, 21717, 21718, 21754, 21755, 21758, 21759,
21762, 21769, 21770, 21771, 21774, 21775, 21777, 21790, 21792, and 21793 zip
codes only
Baltimore City, MD
Ordinarily, you must receive
your care from physicians, hospitals, and other providers who contract with us.
However, we are part of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, and if you
are visiting another Kaiser
Permanente service area, you can receive
virtually all of the benefits of this Plan at any other Kaiser Permanente
facility. We also pay for certain follow-up services or continuing care services
while you are traveling outside the
service area, as described on page 46;
and for emergency care obtained from any non-Plan provider, as described on
page 37. We will not pay for any other health care services.
If you or a covered family member move outside of our service area, you can
enroll in another plan. If your
dependents live out of the area (for
example, if your child goes to college in another state), you should consider
enrolling in a fee-for-service plan or an HMO that has agreements with
affiliates in other areas. If you or a family
member move, you do not have to wait until Open Season to change plans.
Contact your employing or retirement
office. 8
8
Page 9 10
2002
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 9 Section
2
Section 2. How we change for 2002
Do not rely on these
change descriptions; this page is not an official statement of benefits. For
that, go to Section 5
Benefits. Also, we edited and clarified language
throughout the brochure; any language change not shown here is a clarification
that does not change benefits.
Program-wide changes
We removed the requirement that services
must be needed to restore functional speech from the speech therapy benefit.
Changes to this Plan
Your share of the non-Postal premium will
increase by 1.2% for Self Only or 1.1% for Self and Family.
We now lower
or waive many copayments if you also enroll in our Medicare Managed Care Plan.
See page 65 for details.
We clarified the Preventive care, adult benefit by removing the entry for
blood lead level testing for adults because it is a test more typically done for
children.
All primary care visits up to the age of 5 years will be
provided at no charge. Previously, we waived our copay only up to age 3.
We provide chemotherapy and radiation therapy at $10 per office visit.
Previously, we did not charge a copay for these services.
You pay $100 per
admission for all inpatient services. Previously, we did not charge a copay for
inpatient services.
We cover hearing aids for children through age 17. We
pay up to $1400 per hearing aid for each hearing impaired ear every 36 months.
Previously, we did not cover hearing aids.
You pay 20% of our allowance
for covered prosthetic devices. Previously, we provided these for $10 per item.
You pay 20% of our allowance for covered durable medical equipment (DME).
Previously, we provided DME for no charge.
Insulin pumps and their supplies require a payment of 20% of our allowance.
Previously, we did not charge a copayment for insulin pumps or supplies.
We increased your copayment for emergency care in a hospital emergency room
within our service area from $35 to $50 per visit.
We increased your
copayment for emergency care in a hospital emergency room outside our service
area from $35 to $50 per visit.
The prescription drug copayment changes
from $7 to $10 for generic drugs or $20 for brand-name drugs when
you fill
the prescription at a Plan pharmacy. You pay $8 for generic drugs or $18 for
brand-name drugs when you fill the prescription through our mail order delivery
system.
You pay 25% of our allowance for amino acid modified products. Previously,
we provided amino acid modified
products for no charge.
If you have Medicare Part B benefits, we now require that you assign your
Medicare Part B benefits to the Plan to receive covered services.
We no longer limit total blood cholesterol tests to certain age groups.
(Section 5( a))
We now cover certain intestinal transplants. (Section 5(
b))
We changed the address for sending disputed claims to OPM. 9
9 Page 10 11
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 10
Section 3
Section 3. How you get care
Identification cards
We will send you an identification (ID) card when you enroll. You should
carry your ID card with you at all times. You must show it
whenever you
receive services from a Plan provider, or fill a
prescription at a Plan
pharmacy. Until you receive your ID card, use your copy of the health benefits
election form, SF-2809, your health
benefits enrollment confirmation (for annuitants), or your Employee
Express confirmation letter.
If you do not receive your ID card within 30 days after we have
received
your enrollment from your payroll office, or if you need replacement cards, call
us at 301/ 468-6000 inside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area. Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344.
Where you get covered care You get care from "Plan providers" and
"Plan facilities." You will only pay copayments or coinsurance, and you will not
have to file claims,
except for emergency, urgent care services outside our
service area, and for covered services while you travel.
Plan providers Our Plan providers are physicians and other health
care professionals in our service area that we contract with to provide covered
services to our
members. We contract with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente
Medical Group, P. C. and the Affiliated Primary Care Physician Network
(APCPN) to provide primary care services and some specialty services.
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group is a multi-specialty physician group
practice with over 28 years of experience in providing services to
members of our Plan. Specialists in most major specialties are available
as part of the medical teams for consultation and treatment. Medical care is
provided through physicians, nurse practitioners and other
skilled medical personnel working as medical teams at Kaiser
Permanente
facilities. We contract with APS Healthcare in Baltimore, Maryland to provide
mental health and substance abuse services to
members, and with Maryland Eye Care and Dental Benefit Providers to
provide optometry, optical, and dental services to our members.
The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P. C. also contracts with
other specialists who may see you after you obtain a referral from your Plan
physician. The Affiliated Primary Care Physician Network,
located in Baltimore, Maryland is a group of independent primary care
physicians the Plan has contracted with to provide primary care services to
members. If your primary care physician, in consultation with you,
determines that you need to see a specialist, he or she will refer you to
one of our specialists.
Our Provider Directory lists the Plan providers, with locations and
phone
numbers. Directories are updated twice a year and are available at the time of
enrollment. However, our online Provider Directory is
updated monthly. Our website address is
http:// www. kaiserpermanente. org.
Plan facilities Plan facilities are hospitals and other facilities
in our service area that we contract with to provide covered services to our
members. Our Plan
physicians provide your health care at 25 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan Medical Centers conveniently located throughout the
Washington,
DC and Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan areas. We also contract
with 10
10 Page 11
12
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 11
Section 3
local community hospitals, Centers of Excellence and other
facilities, where you may get service after you receive a referral from a Plan
physician.
You must receive your health services at Plan facilities,
except if you have an emergency. We offer health care services at our Plan
Medical
Centers, Affiliated Primary Care Physician Network medical offices,
community hospitals and other selected locations throughout the
Washington,
DC, and Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan areas.
If you are visiting another
Kaiser Permanente service area, you may receive health care services at those
Kaiser Permanente facilities.
Under the circumstances specified in this
brochure you may receive follow-up or continuing care while you travel anywhere.
Our Provider Directory lists the Plan facilities. Directories are updated
twice a year and are available at the time of enrollment. However, our
online Provider Directory is updated monthly. Our website address is
http:// www. kaiserpermanente. org.
What you must do to get covered care It depends on the type of care
you need. First, you and each family member must choose a primary care
physician. This decision is
important since your primary care physician
provides or arranges for most of your health care.
To choose a primary care physician you can either select one from our
Provider Directory, or you can call us at 301/ 468-6000 inside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344.
We are happy to assist you in selecting a primary care
physician.
Primary care We require you to choose a primary care physician when
you enroll. Your primary care physician can be an internal medicine physician, a
pediatrician, or a family practice physician. Your primary care physician
will provide most of your health care, or give you a referral to
see a
specialist.
If you want to change primary care physicians or if your primary
care physician leaves the Plan, call us. We will help you select a new one.
Specialty care Your primary care physician will refer you to a
specialist for needed care. When you receive a referral from your primary care
physician,
you must return to the primary care physician after the
consultation, unless your primary care physician authorized a certain number of
visits
without additional referrals. The primary care physician must provide
or authorize all follow-up care. Do not go to the specialist for return
visits unless your primary care physician gives you a referral.
However, you may see a gynecologist, an optometrist, or our mental
health
and substance abuse Plan providers without a referral.
Here are other things you should know about specialty care:
If you need to see a specialist frequently because of a chronic, complex,
or serious medical condition, your primary care physician
will work with the
specialist, in consultation with you, to develop a treatment plan that allows
you to see your specialist for a certain
number of visits without additional
referrals. Your primary care
physician will use our criteria when creating
your treatment plan. 11
11 Page
12 13
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 12 Section 3
If you are
seeing a specialist when you enroll in our Plan, talk to
your primary care
physician. Your primary care physician will decide what treatment you need. If
he or she decides to refer you
to a specialist, ask if you can see your current specialist. If your
current specialist does not participate with us, you must receive treatment
from a specialist who does. Generally, we will not pay
for you to see a specialist who does not participate with our Plan.
If you are seeing a specialist and your specialist leaves the Plan, call
your primary care physician, who will arrange for you to see
another
specialist. You may receive services from your current specialist until we can
make arrangements for you to see someone
else.
If you have a chronic or disabling condition and lose access to your
specialist because we:
—terminate our contract with your specialist for other than cause; or
—drop out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and you
enroll in another FEHB plan; or
—reduce our service area and you enroll in
another FEHB plan,
you may be able to continue seeing your specialist for up
to 90 days after you receive notice of the change. Contact us, or if we drop out
of the Program, contact your new plan.
If you are in the second or third
trimester of pregnancy, you can
continue to see your specialist until the
end of your postpartum care, even if it is beyond the 90 days.
Hospital care Your Plan primary care physician or specialist will
make necessary hospital arrangements and supervise your care. This includes
admission
to a skilled nursing or other type of facility.
If you are in the hospital when your enrollment in our Plan begins, call our
Member Services department immediately at 301/ 468-6000 inside
the
Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area. Our TDD telephone number is
301/ 816-6344.
If you are
new to the FEHB Program, we will arrange for you to receive care. If you changed
from another FEHB plan to us, your former plan
will pay for the hospital
stay until:
You are discharged, not merely moved to an alternative care
center;
or
The day your benefits from your former plan run out; or
The 92 nd day after you become a member of this Plan,
whichever happens first.
These provisions apply only to the benefits of
the hospitalized person.
Circumstances beyond our control Under
certain extraordinary circumstances, such as natural disasters, we may have to
delay your services or we may be unable to provide them.
In that case, we
will make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the necessary care. 12
12 Page 13 14
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 13 Section 3
Services requiring our
prior approval Your primary care physician has authority to refer you for
most services. For certain services, however, your physician must obtain
approval from us. Before giving approval, we consider if the service is
covered, medically necessary, and follows generally accepted medical
practice.
We call this review and approval process precertification. Your physician
must obtain precertification for the following services:
Acupuncture
All inpatient services, except maternity
Adenoids or tonsil removal
Breast surgery not associated with cancer
Carpal tunnel surgery
Chiropractic services
Clinical trials
Durable medical equipment
Gastric bypass surgery
Home health care
Hospice care
Hysterectomy
Infertility treatment
Infusion therapy
Injectable
medications
MRI
Nasal surgery
Occupational therapy
Oral
surgery
Organ transplants
Pain clinics
Physical therapy
Pulmonary therapy
Prosthetics
Reconstructive surgery
Sclerotherapy for varicose veins
Speech therapy
Spinal surgery not
associated with cancer
Sleep studies
Surgical procedures
Temporomandibular Joint surgery
Tubes in the ears
Requests for these services are made to your primary care physician just like
any other referral. Your primary care physician submits the
request, with
supporting documentation. It takes an average of 2 working days to process the
request. You should call your primary care
physician's office if you have
not been notified of the outcome of the
review within 5 working days. If
your request is not approved, you have a right to appeal by calling inside the
Washington, DC
Metropolitan area at 301/ 468-6000 or toll free at 800/ 777-7902. Our
TDD
is 301/ 816-6344. If you wish additional services, you must make the request to
your primary care physician.
Emergency services do not require precertification. However, you or your
family member must notify the Plan within 48 hours, or as soon as
is
reasonably possible. 13
13 Page
14 15
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 14 Section 4
Section 4.
Your costs for covered services
You must share the cost of some
services. You are responsible for:
Copayments A copayment is a
fixed amount of money you pay to the provider, facility,
pharmacy, etc.,
when you receive services. Example: When you see your primary care physician,
you pay a copayment of $10 per office visit.
Deductible We do not have a deductible.
NOTE: If you change
plans during open season, you do not have to start a
new deductible under
your old plan between January 1 and the effective date of your new plan. If you
change plans at another time during the year,
you must begin a new deductible under your new plan.
Coinsurance Coinsurance is the percentage of our allowance that you
must pay for certain services you receive. Example: In our Plan, you pay 50% of
our
allowance for infertility services, ovulation stimulants, weight
management drugs, smoking cessation drugs, and oxygen and equipment for home use
after the first three months.
Fees when you fail to If you do not pay your copayment or
coinsurance at the time you receive make your copayment services, we will
bill you. You will be required to pay a $10 charge for
or coinsurance
each bill sent for unpaid services.
Your catastrophic protection After your copayments and coinsurance
total $1,500 per person or $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum for per family
enrollment in any calendar year, you do not have to pay any
copayments
and coinsurance more for covered services. However, copayments for the
following services do not count toward your out-of-pocket maximum, and you must
continue to pay copayments and coinsurance for these services:
Prescription drugs
Chiropractic and acupuncture services
Dental
services
Follow-up and continuing care outside the service area
Infertility services
Any non-FEHB benefits
Be sure to keep accurate records of your copayments and coinsurance since you
are responsible for informing us when you reach the maximum. 14
14 Page 15 16
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 15 Section 5
Section 5. Benefits –
OVERVIEW
(See page 9 for how our benefits changed this year and
page 74 for a benefits summary.)
NOTE: This benefits section is divided into subsections. Please read
the important things you should keep in mind at the beginning of each
subsection. Also read the General Exclusions in Section 6; they apply to the
benefits in the
following subsections. To obtain claim forms, claim filing
advice, or more information about our benefits, contact us at 301/ 468-6000
inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the
Washington, DC
metropolitan area. Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344.
You can also visit our website at
www. kaiserpermanente. org.
(a) Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other health
care professionals ............................... 16-27
Diagnostic and treatment services
Lab, X-ray, and other diagnostic
tests
Preventive care, adult
Preventive care, children
Maternity
care
Family planning
Infertility services
Allergy care
Treatment therapies
Physical and occupational therapies
Speech
therapy
Hearing services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
Vision services
(testing, treatment, and
supplies)
Foot care
Orthopedic and
prosthetic devices
Durable medical equipment (DME)
Home health
services
Chiropractic
Alternative treatments
Educational classes
and programs
(b) Surgical and anesthesia services provided by physicians and other health
care professionals ........................... 28-31
Surgical procedures
Reconstructive surgery
Oral and maxillofacial
surgery
Organ/ tissue transplants
Anesthesia
(c) Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and ambulance
services............................................................. 32-35
Inpatient hospital
Outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgical
center
Extended care benefits/ skilled nursing care facility benefits
Hospice
care
Ambulance (d) Emergency services/ accidents
.....................................................................................................
36-37
Emergency within our service area
Emergency outside our service area
Ambulance
(e) Mental health and substance abuse benefits
................................................................................................................
38-40
(f) Prescription drug
benefits................................................................................................................................................
41-44
(g) Special features
.................................................................................................................................................................
45-47
Flexible benefits option
24 hour nurse line
Services for deaf and
hearing impaired
Centers of excellence for transplants
Travel benefit
Services
from other Kaiser Permanente Plans
(h) Dental
benefits...................................................................................................................................................................
48-56
(i) Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members
................................................................................................................
57
Summary of benefits
......................................................................................................................................................................
74 15
15 Page 16
17
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 16 Section 5( a)
Section 5 (a).
Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other health care
professionals
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions,
limitations, and exclusions in this brochure and we cover them only when we
determine they are medically necessary.
Plan physicians must provide or arrange your care.
Be sure to read
Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for valuable information
about how cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits
with other
coverage, including with Medicare.
We have no calendar year deductible.
Note: We waive the $10 charge if you enroll in our Medicare+ Choice Plan
and assign your Medicare benefits to the Plan.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Benefit Description You Pay
Diagnostic and treatment services
Professional services of physicians and other health care professionals
In a physician's office
In an urgent care center
Second
surgical opinion
$10 per office visit
Nothing for children 59 months and younger
During a hospital stay
In a skilled nursing facility
Note: See
Section 5 (c) for facility charges.
Nothing
At home (in the service area) Nothing
Lab, X-ray, and other diagnostic
tests
Tests, such as:
Blood tests
Urinalysis
Nonroutine pap smears
Pathology
X-rays
Non-routine mammograms
CAT scans/ MRI
Ultrasound
Electrocardiogram and EEG
Nothing 16
16 Page
17 18
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 17 Section 5( a)
Preventive care, adult You Pay
Routine screenings, such as:
Total blood cholesterol
Colorectal cancer screening, including
—Fecal occult blood test
—Sigmoidoscopy -every five years starting at
age 50
$10 per office visit
Bone mass measurement for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
osteoporosis
Prostate Specific Antigen -one annually for men age 40 and older
Chlamydia screenings – women under age 20 who are sexually
active and women
over age 20 with multiple risk factors
Routine pap smear
Note: You should consult with your physician to
determine what is
appropriate for you.
Routine immunizations, limited to:
Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster
-once every 10 years, ages 19 and over (except as provided for under Childhood
immunizations)
Influenza/ Pneumococcal vaccines, annually, age 65 and over
Note: You
pay only one copayment if you receive your routine
screening or immunization
on the same day as your office visit.
Routine mammogram – Covered for women age 35 and older, as follows:
From age 35 to 39, one during this five-year period
From age 40 to
64, one every calendar year
At age 65 and older, one every two consecutive
calendar years
Nothing
Not covered:
Physical exams required for:
Obtaining or
continuing employment
Participating in employee programs
Insurance or licensing
Court ordered for parole or probation
Attending schools
Travel
Travel immunizations
All charges 17
17 Page 18 19
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 18 Section 5( a)
Preventive care, children You Pay
Childhood immunizations
recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
Examinations, such as:
—Eye exams to determine the need for vision
correction
—Ear exams to determine the need for hearing correction
Nothing for primary care office visits for infancy through age 4
$10 per
office visit from age 5 up to age 22
Not covered:
Physical exams required for:
Obtaining or
continuing employment
Participating in employee programs
Insurance or licensing
Court ordered for parole or probation
Attending schools
Travel
Travel immunizations
All charges
Maternity care
Complete maternity (obstetrical) care, such as:
Prenatal care
Delivery
Postnatal care
Note: Here are some
things to keep in mind:
You do not need to precertify your normal
delivery.
You may remain in the hospital up to 48 hours after a regular
delivery and 96 hours after a cesarean delivery. Your inpatient stay
will be extended if medically necessary.
We cover routine nursery care
of the newborn child during the
covered portion of the mother's maternity
stay. We cover other care of an infant who requires non-routine treatment only
if the infant is
covered under a Self and Family enrollment.
We pay hospitalization and
surgeon services (delivery) the same as
for illness and injury. See Hospital
benefits (Section 5c) and Surgery benefits (Section 5b).
$10 for the first office visit to confirm pregnancy
Nothing once
pregnancy is confirmed through the post-partum
office visit 18
18 Page 19 20
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 19 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
Routine sonograms to determine fetal age, size, or sex
All charges
Family planning You Pay
Family planning services, including
counseling
Voluntary sterilization
Information on birth control
Genetic counseling
Note: We cover surgically implanted contraceptives,
injectable contraceptive drugs, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and diaphragms
under
the prescription drug benefit.
$10 per office visit
Not covered:
Reversal of voluntary surgical sterilization
All charges
Infertility services
Diagnosis and treatment of involuntary
infertility
Artificial insemination
—intravaginal insemination (IVI)
—intra-cervical insemination (ICI)
—intrauterine insemination (IUI)
Fertility Drugs
Note: We cover injectable fertility drugs under the
prescription drug
benefit.
50% of our allowance
In vitro fertilization, if:
—your oocytes are fertilized with your
spouse's sperm; and
—you and your spouse have a history of infertility of at
least 2 years duration as a result of endometriosis, exposure in utero to
diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES, blockage of, or surgical removal
of, one or both fallopian tubes (lateral or
bilateral salpingectomy, or
abnormal male factors, including oligospermia, contributing to the infertility;
and
—you have been unable to become pregnant through a less costly infertility
treatment for which coverage is available under the
Plan
50% of our allowance; Plan pays up to $100,000 in a Member's lifetime 19
19 Page 20 21
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 20 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
These
exclusions apply to fertile as well as infertile individuals or couples:
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, such as:
—embryo transfer
—gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
—zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
Donor semen and
donor eggs, including retrieval of eggs
Storage and freezing of
eggs
Note: Infertility services are not available when either member of the
family has been voluntarily surgically sterilized.
All charges
Allergy care You Pay
Testing and treatment
Allergy
injection
Note: Allergy serum is covered in full as a part of the $10
copayment per office visit.
$10 per office visit
Not covered:
Provocative food testing
Sublingual
allergy desensitization
All charges
Treatment therapies
Respiratory and inhalation therapy
Intravenous IV/ Infusion Therapy – Home IV and antibiotic therapy
Note: We
cover growth hormone therapy (GHT) under the prescription drug benefit.
Qualified medical clinical trials that provide treatment for
life-threatening
conditions or for preventive, early detection, or treatment
studies of cancer for Phases I, II, III and IV
Dialysis – Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
Chemotherapy and
radiation therapy
Note: We limit high dose chemotherapy in association with autologous bone
marrow transplants to those transplants listed under Organ/ tissue
transplants.
$10 per office visit 20
20 Page 21 22
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 21 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
Long term rehabilitative therapy
Cognitive therapy
Chemotherapy supported by a bone marrow
transplant or with stem cell support, for any diagnosis not listed as covered
Sleep therapy
Thermography and related services
All charges
Physical and occupational therapies You Pay
Inpatient Services –
up to 2 consecutive months of therapy per condition:
Physical therapy by a qualified Plan therapist in consultation with a Plan
physician to restore bodily function when you have a total or
partial loss
of bodily function due to illness or injury
Occupational therapy by a Plan
therapist in consultation with a Plan
physician to assist you in achieving
and maintaining self-care and improved functioning in other activities of daily
life
We provide inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation in a prescribed,
organized program in a plan facility or skilled nursing facility for up to
two consecutive months for all covered rehabilitation services and supplies
you may receive at different sites for the same condition
Note: This $100 charge is waived if you have been admitted directly from a
hospital inpatient stay.
$100 per admission
Outpatient physical and occupational therapy
We cover up to 40 office
visits or 90 days (whichever is greater) per condition of out-patient physical
therapy services
We cover up to 90 days per condition of out-patient occupational therapy
services
Habilitative services for children – from birth to age 19 for the
treatment of congenital and generic birth defects
We cover services to
help a child function age-appropriately within his or her environment and
enhance his or her functional ability
without an effective cure
$10 per visit
Not covered:
Long-term rehabilitative therapy
Exercise programs
Cognitive rehabilitation programs
Vocational rehabilitation programs
Therapies done primarily for
education purposes, except as may otherwise be covered above
Cardiac rehabilitation
All charges 21
21 Page 22 23
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 22 Section 5( a)
Speech therapy You pay
Inpatient Services – up to 2
consecutive months of therapy per condition:
Speech therapy by a Plan therapist in consultation with a Plan physician
when medically necessary
Note: This $100 charge is waived if you have been
admitted directly from a hospital inpatient stay.
$100 per admission
We cover up to 90 days per condition of outpatient speech therapy $10 per
outpatient visit
Not covered:
Speech therapy that is not medically
necessary such as:
Therapy for educational placement or other
educational purposes
Training or therapy to improve articulation in
the absence of injury, illness, or medical condition affecting articulation
Therapy for tongue thrust in the absence of swallowing problems
Voice therapy for occupation or performing arts
All charges
Hearing services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
Hearing
tests to determine the need for hearing correction $10 per office visit
Hearing aids for children under age 18 All charges in excess of $1400 for each
hearing impaired ear every 36
months
Not covered:
Hearing aids, tests to determine their
effectiveness, and examinations for them for all persons age 18 and over
All other hearing testing
All charges
Vision services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
Eye exam to
determine the need for vision correction
Annual eye refractions
Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the eye
$10 per office visit
Eyeglass frames purchased at Plan Optical Shops
Eyeglass lenses
purchased at Plan Optical Shops
75% of our allowance 22
22 Page 23 24
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 23 Section 5( a)
Initial fitting for
contact lenses at a Plan facility
Insertion and removal of contact lens
training
Three months of follow-up office visits
Note: These services
are provided only in conjunction with obtaining
your first set of contact
lenses at a Plan Optical Shop.
85% of our allowance
Not covered:
Eye exercises and orthoptics
Radial
keratotomy and other refractive surgery
Eye surgery solely for the
purpose of correcting refractive defects of the eye, such as near-sightedness
(myopia), far-sightedness
(hyperopia), and astigmatism
Cosmetic contact lenses
Cost of eyewear not purchased at Plan facilities
Sunglasses without corrective lenses
All charges
Foot care You Pay
Routine foot care when you are under active
treatment for a metabolic or peripheral vascular disease
Note: See orthopedic and prosthetic devices for information on podiatric shoe
inserts.
$10 per office visit
Not covered:
Cutting, trimming, or removal of corns,
calluses, or the free edge of
toenails, and similar routine treatment for
conditions of the foot, except as stated above
Treatment of weak, strained, or flat feet or bunions or spurs; and of
any instability, imbalance, or subluxation of the foot (unless the
treatment
is by open cutting surgery)
All charges
Orthopedic and prosthetic devices
Externally worn breast
prostheses and surgical bras including necessary replacements following a
mastectomy
Internal prosthetic devices, such as artificial joints, pacemakers,
cochlear implants, and surgically implanted breast implants
following
mastectomy. Note: See Section 5( b) for coverage of the
surgery to insert
the device.
20% of our allowance
One hair prosthesis if your hair loss results from chemotherapy or
radiation treatment for cancer All charges in excess of $350 23
23 Page 24 25
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 24 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
Comfort, convenience, or luxury equipment or features
External
prosthetics and orthotics, such as braces, foot orthotics, artificial limbs, and
lenses following cataract removal
Devices, equipment, supplies, and prosthetics related to sexual
dysfunction
Orthopedic and corrective shoes
Arch
supports
Foot orthotics
Heel pads and heel cups
Lumbosacral supports
Corsets, trusses, elastic
stockings, support hose and other supportive devices
All charges
Durable medical equipment (DME) You Pay
We cover prescribed DME
for home use for up to three months following:
An authorized hospital admission
An authorized skilled nursing
facility admission
An authorized rehabilitation facility admission
An authorized outpatient surgical procedure
Covered items include:
Hospital beds
Wheelchairs
Canes
Walkers
Portable
commodes
Crutches
Bilirubin lights and apnea monitors for infants up
to age 3 for a period not to exceed 6 months
Insulin pumps and supplies
20% of our allowance
Oxygen and equipment for home use
Note: Your Plan physician must
recertify your medical need for oxygen and equipment every 30 days.
20% of
our allowance for the first
three months; 50% of our allowance for every 30
days thereafter 24
24 Page
25 26
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 25 Section 5( a)
Asthmatic equipment (spacers, peak-flow meters, and nebulizers) for adults and
children, when purchased at a Plan pharmacy.
Note: We decide whether to rent
or purchase the equipment, and we select the vendor. We will repair the
equipment without charge, unless
the repair is due to loss or misuse. You
must return the equipment to us
or pay us the fair market price of the
equipment when it is no longer prescribed.
Spacers: $5 per spacer
Peak-Flow Meters: $10 per meter
Nebulizers:
$30 per nebulizer
Not covered:
Oxygen tents
Motorized wheelchairs
Comfort, convenience, or luxury equipment or features
Exercise or hygiene equipment
Non-medical items such as sauna
baths or elevators
Modifications to your home or car
Devices for testing blood or other body substances (glucose test strips are
covered under your prescription drug benefits)
Electronic monitors of bodily functions, except apnea monitors and blood
glucose monitors
Disposable supplies
Replacement of
lost equipment
Repairs, adjustments, or replacements necessitated
by misuse
More than one piece of durable medical equipment serving
essentially the same function, except for replacements other than
those necessitated by misuse or loss
Devices, equipment,
supplies, and prosthetics for the treatment of sexual dysfunction disorders
External and internally implanted hearing aids for all persons age 18
and over
Experimental or research equipment
Dental
appliances
All charges
Home health services You Pay
If you are homebound and reside in
the service area, we cover home
health care ordered by a Plan physician and
provided by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational
nurse, physical
therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language pathologist, or home
health aide
Services include oxygen therapy, intravenous therapy, and medications
Note: Your Plan physician will periodically review the home health program
for continuing appropriateness and medical need.
Nothing 25
25 Page
26 27
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 26 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
Nursing care requested by, or for the convenience of, the patient
or the patient's family
Custodial care
Homemaker services
Services
outside the service area
Home care primarily for personal
assistance that does not include a
medical component and is not diagnostic,
therapeutic, or rehabilitative
General maintenance care of colostomy, ileostomy, and ureterostomy
Medical supplies or dressings applied by you or a family caregiver
Care that a Plan physician determines may be provided in a Plan
facility or skilled nursing facility if we provide or offer to provide
that care in one of those facilities
Transportation and
delivery service costs of durable medical
equipment, medications, drugs,
medical supplies, and supplements to the home
Personal care items
All charges
Chiropractic You Pay
Chiropractic services, including spinal
manipulation of the neck and back, up to 20 visits per calendar year, for the
following services:
Evaluation and management
Routine chiropractic x-rays provided in the
chiropractor's office
Chiropractic adjustments
Adjunctive therapies
(e. g., hot and cold packs)
Educational materials
Note: You receive
these services when your Plan physician, in consultation with the Complementary
and Alternative Medicine Department, determines
that such care will result in improvement in your condition.
$15 per office visit 26
26 Page 27 28
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 27 Section 5( a)
Not covered:
Structural supports
Nutritional
supplements
All charges
Alternative treatments You Pay
Acupuncture services up to 20
visits per calendar year, for the following services:
Evaluation and management
Note: You receive these services when your
Plan physician, in consultation with the Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Department, determines that such care will result in improvement in
your
condition.
$15 per office visit
Not covered:
Herbal and nutritional supplements
All
charges
Educational classes and programs
Health education for conditions
such as diabetes, post-coronary, and nutritional counseling $10 per office visit
General health education classes such as Lamaze, weight control,
smoking cessation, and stress management.
Nominal fees ranging from $10
to
$50 per class
Not covered:
Educational classes and programs not offered
through this Plan
All charges 27
27 Page 28 29
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 28 Section 5( b)
Section 5 (b). Surgical and anesthesia services provided by
physicians and other health care professionals
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions,
limitations, and exclusions in this brochure and are payable only when we
determine they are medically
necessary.
Plan physicians must provide or arrange your care.
Be
sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for valuable
information about how cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating
benefits with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
We have no calendar year
deductible.
The amounts listed below are for the charges billed by a
physician or other health care
professional for your surgical care. Look in
Section 5( c) for charges associated with the facility (i. e. hospital, surgical
center, etc.).
YOUR PHYSICIAN MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION OF SOME SURGICAL
PROCEDURES.
Please refer to the precertification information shown in Section 3 to be sure
which services require precertification and identify which surgeries require
precertification.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Benefit Description You Pay
Surgical procedures
A
comprehensive range of services, such as:
Operative procedures
Treatment of fractures, including casting
Normal pre-and post-operative
care by the surgeon
Pre-surgical testing
Correction of amblyopia and
strabismus
Endoscopy procedures
Biopsy procedures
Removal of
tumors and cysts
Correction of congenital anomalies (see reconstructive
surgery)
Surgical treatment of morbid obesity --a condition in which an
individual weighs 100 pounds or 100% over his or her normal weight according
to current underwriting standards; eligible members must be
age 18 or over
Insertion of internal prosthetic devices. See Section 5(
a) – Orthopedic
and prosthetic devices for device coverage information.
Voluntary sterilization (tubal ligation and vasectomy)
Treatment of
burns
Insertion of Norplant (a surgically implanted contraceptive) and
intrauterine devices (IUDs). Note: We cover the cost of these devices
under the prescription drug benefit.
Nothing for professional services,
$10 per office visit for outpatient
services, or
$100 per inpatient admission 28
28 Page 29 30
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 29 Section 5( b)
Not covered:
Reversal of voluntary sterilization
Routine foot care; see Foot care
All charges
Reconstructive surgery You Pay
Surgery to correct a functional
defect
Surgery to correct a condition caused by injury or illness if:
—it produced a major effect on the member's appearance; and
—the
condition can reasonably be expected to be corrected by such surgery.
Surgery to correct a condition that existed at or from birth and is a
significant deviation from the common form or norm. Examples of congenital
anomalies are protruding ear deformities, cleft lip, cleft
palate, birth marks, web fingers, and toes.
All stages of breast
reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy, such as:
—surgery to produce a symmetrical appearance on the other breast;
—treatment of any physical complications, such as lymphedemas; and
—breast prostheses and surgical bras and replacements (see Prosthetic
devices).
Note: If you need a mastectomy, you may choose to have the
procedure performed on an inpatient basis and remain in the hospital up to 48
hours
after the procedure.
Nothing for professional services,
$10 per office visit for outpatient
services, or
$100 per inpatient admission
Not covered:
Cosmetic surgery – any surgical procedure (or
any portion of a procedure) performed primarily to improve physical appearance
and/ or treat a mental condition through change in bodily form
Surgeries related to sex transformation
All charges 29
29 Page 30 31
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 30 Section 5( b)
Oral and maxillofacial surgery You Pay
Oral surgical
procedures, limited to:
Reduction of fractures of the jaws or facial bones
Surgical correction of cleft lip, cleft palate, or severe functional
malocclusion
Removal of stones from salivary ducts
Excision of leukoplakia or
malignancies
Excision of cysts and incision of abscesses when done as
independent procedures
Other surgical procedures that do not involve the teeth or their
supporting structures
Nothing for professional services,
$10 per office visit for outpatient
services, or
$100 per inpatient admission
Not covered:
Oral implants and transplants
Procedures that involve the teeth or their supporting structures (such as the
periodontal membrane, gingiva, and alveolar bone)
Shortening of the mandible or maxillae for cosmetic purposes and
correction of malocclusion.
All charges
Organ/ tissue transplants
Limited to:
Cornea
Heart
Heart/ Lung
Kidney
Kidney/ Pancreas
Liver
Lung:
Single -Double
Pancreas
Allogeneic (donor) bone marrow transplants
Autologous bone marrow transplants (autologous stem cell and peripheral
stem cell support) for the following conditions: acute
lymphocytic or non-lymphocytic leukemia, advanced Hodgkin's
lymphoma,
advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, advanced neuroblastoma, testicular,
mediastinal, retroperitoneal and ovarian
germ cell tumors, breast cancer, multiple myeloma and epithelial ovarian
cancer
Intestinal transplants (small intestine) and the small intestine with the
liver or small intestine with multiple organs such as the liver,
stomach,
and pancreas
Nothing for professional services,
$10 per office visit for outpatient
services, or
$100 per inpatient admission 30
30 Page 31 32
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 31 Section 5( b)
After referral to a transplant facility, the following apply: unless
otherwise authorized by your physician, transplants are covered only at
institutions that we designate as "Centers of Excellence" for that
specific transplant. If your physician or the transplant facility determines
that you do not satisfy the criteria for receiving the
transplant, we will pay only for the covered services and supplies you
receive before you are notified of that determination.
Limited Benefits: Treatment for breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and
epithelial ovarian cancer may be provided in an NCI-or NIH-approved
clinical
trial at a Plan-designated center of excellence and if approved by the Plan's
medical director in accordance with the Plan's protocols.
Note: We cover related medical and hospital expenses for a living donor when
those expenses are directly related to your covered
transplant.
Not covered:
Donor screening tests and donor search expenses,
except screening blood tests and advanced testing performed for the actual donor
Implants of non-human or artificial organs
Transplants not
listed as covered
All charges
Anesthesia You Pay
Professional services provided in:
Hospital (inpatient)
Hospital outpatient department
Ambulatory
surgical center
Office
Nothing 31
31 Page
32 33
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 32 Section 5( c)
Section
5 (c). Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and ambulance services
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to remember about these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations,
and
exclusions in this brochure and are payable only when we determine they
are medically necessary.
Plan physicians must provide or arrange your care and you must be
hospitalized
in a Plan facility.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for
valuable information about how cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about
coordinating benefits with other coverage, including with Medicare.
The
amounts listed below are for the charges billed by the facility (i. e., hospital
or surgical center) or ambulance service for your surgery or care. Any costs
associated with the professional charge (i. e., physicians, etc.) are covered
in Sections 5( a) or (b).
YOUR PHYSICIAN MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION OF HOSPITAL
STAYS (except
for Maternity stays). Please refer to Section 3 to be sure which services
require precertification.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Benefit Description You Pay
Inpatient hospital
Room and board,
such as:
Ward, semiprivate, or intensive care accommodations
General
nursing care
Medically necessary special duty nursing
Meals and
special diets
Note: If you want a private room when it is not medically
necessary, you pay the additional charge above the semiprivate room rate.
$100 per admission 32
32 Page 33 34
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 33 Section 5( c)
Other hospital services and supplies, such as:
Operating,
recovery, maternity, and other treatment rooms
Prescribed drugs and
medicines
Diagnostic laboratory tests, X-rays, and pathology services
Administration of blood and blood products
Blood or blood plasma, if
donated or replaced
Dressings, splints, plaster casts, and sterile tray
services
Medical supplies and equipment, including oxygen
Anesthetics and anesthesia services
Take home items
Hospitalization
for inpatient foot treatment
Note: You may receive covered medical hospital
services for certain dental procedures if a Plan physician determines that you
need to be
hospitalized for reasons unrelated to the dental procedure. The conditions
for which we will provide hospitalization include hemophilia
and heart
disease. The need for anesthesia, by itself, is not such a
condition.
$100 per admission
Not covered:
Custodial care
Non-covered
facilities
Personal comfort items, such as telephone, television,
barber services, guest meals, and beds
Private nursing care
Whole blood and packed red blood cells
not replaced by member
Any inpatient dental procedures
All charges
Outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgical center You Pay
Operating, recovery, and other treatment rooms
Prescribed drugs and
medicines
Diagnostic laboratory tests, X-rays, and pathology services
Administration of blood and blood products
Blood and blood plasma,
if donated or replaced
Pre-surgical testing
Dressings, casts, and
sterile tray services
Medical supplies, including oxygen
Anesthetics
and anesthesia service
$10 per outpatient surgery 33
33 Page 34 35
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 34 Section 5( c)
Not covered:
Whole blood and packed red blood cells not
replaced by the member
All charges
Extended care benefits/ skilled nursing care facility benefits You Pay
Up to 100 days per calendar year when full-time skilled nursing care is
necessary and confinement in a skilled nursing facility is medically
appropriate. We cover the following:
Physician and nursing services
Room and board
Medical social services
Administration of
blood, blood products, and derivatives
Durable medical equipment
ordinarily furnished by a skilled nursing facility, including oxygen-dispensing
equipment and oxygen
Respiratory therapy
Biological supplies
Medical supplies
Note: We waive the $100 charge if you are admitted to an extended care or
skilled nursing facility directly from a hospital inpatient stay.
$100 per admission
Not covered:
Custodial care
Care in an
intermediate facility
All charges 34
34 Page 35 36
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 35 Section 5( c)
Hospice care You Pay
Supportive and palliative care for a
terminally ill member
You must reside in the service area
Services
are provided in your home, or
Services are provided in a Plan approved
hospice facility
Services include inpatient care, outpatient care, and
family counseling. A Plan physician must certify that you have a terminal
illness, with a life
expectancy of approximately six months or less.
Note: Hospice is a
program for caring for the terminally ill that
emphasizes supportive
services, such as home care and pain control, rather than curative care of the
terminal illness. A person
who is terminally ill may elect to receive hospice benefits. These
palliative and supportive services include nursing care, medical social
services, physician services, and short-term inpatient care
for pain control and acute and chronic symptom management. We also provide
counseling and bereavement services for the
individual and family members,
and therapy for purposes of
symptom control to enable the person to continue
life with as little disruption as possible. If you make a hospice election, you
are not
entitled to receive other health care services that are related to the
terminal illness. If you have made a hospice election, you may revoke that
election at any time, and your standard health benefits
will be covered.
Nothing
Not covered
Independent nursing
Homemaker services
All charges
Ambulance
Local professional ambulance service when medically
appropriate Nothing 35
35 Page
36 37
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 36 Section 5( d)
Section
5 (d). Emergency services/ accidents
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations,
and exclusions in this brochure.
We have no calendar year deductible.
Be sure to read Section 4,
Your costs for covered services, for valuable information about how cost
sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
What is a medical emergency?
A medical emergency is the sudden and
unexpected onset of a condition or an injury that you believe endangers your
life or could result in serious injury or disability, and requires immediate
medical or surgical care. Some problems
are emergencies because, if not treated promptly, they might become more
serious; examples include deep cuts and
broken bones. Others are emergencies
because they are potentially life threatening, such as heart attacks, strokes,
poisonings, gunshot wounds, or sudden inability to breathe. There are many other
acute conditions that we may
determine are medical emergencies – what they all have in common is the need
for quick action.
What to do in case of emergency:
In a life
threatening emergency-call the local emergency system (e. g., the local 911
telephone system). When the
operator answers, stay on the phone and answer
all questions. If you are not sure whether you are experiencing a medical
emergency, please contact our Emergency Line at 800/ 677-1112.
Emergencies within our service area:
Emergency care is provided at
Plan Hospitals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you think you have a medical emergency condition and you cannot safely go
to a Plan Hospital, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Be sure to tell the
emergency room personnel that you are a Plan member so they can notify the
Plan. You or a family member must notify us within 48 hours, or as soon as
is reasonably possible, by calling
703/ 359-7878 inside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area or toll free 800/ 777-7904. Our TDD is 800/ 700-4901.
If you need to be hospitalized, the Plan must be notified within 48 hours or
on the first working day following your admission, unless it was not reasonably
possible to notify us within that time. If you are hospitalized in non-Plan
facilities and Plan physicians believe care can be better provided in a Plan
Hospital, we will transfer you when medically feasible, with any ambulance
charges covered in full.
Benefits are available for care from non-Plan providers in a medical
emergency only if delay in reaching a Plan provider
would result in death,
disability or significant jeopardy to your condition.
Emergencies outside our service area:
Benefits are available for
any medically necessary health service that is immediately required because of
injury or
unforeseen illness.
If you need to be hospitalized, the Plan must be notified within 48 hours or
as soon as is reasonably possible. If a Plan
physician believes care can be
better provided in a Plan Hospital, we will transfer you when medically
feasible, with any ambulance charges covered in full.
You may obtain emergency and urgent care services from Kaiser Permanente
medical facilities and providers when you are in the service area of another
Kaiser Permanente plan. The facilities will be listed in the local telephone
book under Kaiser Permanente. These numbers are available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. You may also
obtain information about the location of
facilities by calling the Membership Services department at 301/ 468-6000 inside
the Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the Washington,
DC metropolitan area.
Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344. 36
36
Page 37 38
2002
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 37 Section
5( d)
Benefit Description You Pay
Emergency within our service
area
Emergency care at a physician's office
Emergency care at a
Plan urgent care center
$10 per visit
Emergency care in a hospital emergency room
Note: Your hospital
emergency room visit copayment is waived if you are admitted to a Plan Hospital.
Your $100 inpatient copay will apply.
$50 per visit
Not covered:
Elective care or non-emergency care
All
charges
Emergency outside our service area
Emergency care at a
physician's office
Emergency care at an urgent care center
$10 per
visit
Emergency care in a Kaiser Foundation hospital in another Kaiser Foundation
Health Plan service area
Emergency care in a non-Plan hospital emergency
room
Note: We waive your hospital emergency room visit copayment if you
are admitted to a Plan Hospital. Your $100 inpatient copay will apply. See
the Travel Benefit for coverage of continuing or follow-up care.
$50 per visit
Not covered:
Elective care or non-emergency care
Emergency care provided outside the service area if the need for care could
have been foreseen before leaving the service area
Medical and hospital costs resulting from a normal full-term delivery of
a baby outside the service area
All charges
Ambulance
Professional ambulance service, including air ambulance,
when approved by the Plan.
Note: See Section 5( c) for non-emergency ambulance service.
Nothing 37
37 Page 38 39
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 38 Section 5( e)
Section 5 (e).
Mental health and substance abuse benefits
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
When you get our approval for services and follow a treatment plan we
approve, cost-sharing and limitations for Plan mental health and substance abuse
benefits will be no greater than for
similar benefits for other illnesses
and conditions.
Here are some important things to keep in mind about
these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the
definitions, limitations, and exclusions
in this brochure and are payable
only when we determine they are clinically appropriate to treat your condition.
Plan physicians must provide or arrange your care.
We have no
calendar year deductible.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for
covered services, for valuable information about how cost sharing works.
Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits with other
coverage, including with Medicare.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Benefit Description You Pay
Mental health and substance abuse benefits
We cover all diagnostic and treatment services recommended by a Plan
provider and contained in a treatment plan. The treatment plan may
include
services, drugs, and supplies described elsewhere in this brochure.
Note: We cover the services only when we determine that the care is
clinically appropriate to treat your condition, and only when you receive
the care as part of a treatment plan developed by a Plan provider.
Note:
OPM will base its review of disputes about treatment plans on the
treatment
plan's clinical appropriateness. OPM will generally not order us to pay or
provide one clinically appropriate treatment in favor of
another.
Your cost sharing responsibilities are no
greater than for other
illnesses or conditions 38
38 Page 39 40
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 39 Section 5( e)
Mental health and substance abuse benefits You pay
Diagnosis
and treatment of psychiatric conditions, mental illness, or disorders of
children, adolescents, and adults. Outpatient services
include:
Diagnostic evaluation
Crisis intervention and stabilization for acute
episodes
Psychological testing necessary to determine the appropriate
psychiatric treatment
Outpatient psychiatric treatment (including individual and group therapy
visits)
Medication evaluation and management
Diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse. Services include:
Detoxification (medical management of withdrawal from the substance)
Treatment and counseling (including individual and group therapy visits) as
part of intensive outpatient programs
Intensive day treatment
Methadone treatment
Note: You may see a Plan provider for outpatient
treatment without a referral from your primary care physician.
Note: Your Plan provider will develop a treatment plan to assist you in
improving or maintaining your condition and functional level, or to
prevent
relapse and will determine which diagnostic and treatment services are
appropriate for you.
$10 per office visit
Inpatient psychiatric care
Inpatient detoxification
Acute
inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation
Note: All inpatient admissions
and hospital alternative services treatment programs require approval by a Plan
physician. Inpatient services will only
be part of a treatment plan when services cannot be provided safely on an
outpatient basis or in a less intensive setting than an acute care hospital.
$100 per admission
Hospital alternative services, such as partial hospitalization and
intensive
outpatient psychiatric treatment programs
$10 per visit or
$100 per
admission if your treatment is more than 24
hours 39
39 Page
40 41
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 40 Section 5( e)
Mental
health and substance abuse benefits You pay
Not covered:
Care that is not clinically appropriate for the treatment of your condition
Services we have not approved
Intelligence, IQ, aptitude
ability, learning disabilities, or interest testing not necessary to determine
the appropriate treatment of a psychiatric
condition
Evaluation or therapy on court order or as a
condition of parole or probation, or otherwise required by the criminal justice
system, unless
determined by a Plan physician to be medically necessary and appropriate
Services that are custodial in nature
Marital, family, or
educational services
Services rendered or billed by a school or a
member of its staff
Services provided under a federal, state, or
local government program
Psychoanalysis or psychotherapy credited
toward earning a degree or furtherance of education or training regardless of
diagnosis or
symptoms that may be present
All charges
Limitation We may limit your benefits if you do not obtain a treatment
plan. 40
40 Page
41 42
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 41
Section 5( f)
Section 5 (f). Prescription drug benefits
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
We cover prescribed drugs and medications, as described in the chart
beginning on the next page.
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions,
limitations, and exclusions in this brochure and we cover them only when we
determine they
are clinically appropriate to treat your condition.
We
have no calendar year deductible.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs
for covered services, for valuable information about how cost sharing works.
Also read Section 9 about
coordinating benefits with other coverage, including with Medicare.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
There are important features you should be aware of. These include:
Who can write your prescription. A Plan physician or licensed
contracted dentist must write the prescription.
Where you can obtain
them. You must fill the prescription at a Plan pharmacy, or by mail for a
maintenance
medication. We will pay for prescriptions written by a non-Plan
physician and filled at a non-Plan pharmacy only when the prescription was given
during a hospital emergency room visit or an urgent care visit outside the
service
area.
We use a formulary. Our drug formulary is a list of prescribed drugs
and accessories that have been approved by our Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Committee for our Members. Unless otherwise specified by your Plan physician
or dentist, generic drugs may be used to fill prescriptions.
Our
Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, which is comprised of Plan physicians, Plan
providers, and our
pharmacists, selects prescription drugs and accessories
for the drug formulary based on a number of factors, including safety and
effectiveness as determined from a review of medical literature and research. In
addition, the
Committee sets dispensing limitations in accord with therapeutic guidelines
based on the medical literature and
research. The Pharmacy and Therapeutics'
Committee meets periodically to consider adding and removing prescribed drugs
and accessories on the formulary.
If you request a non-formulary drug – when your physician feels there is an
acceptable formulary alternative – you will be responsible for the full cost of
that drug.
However, if your Plan physician believes that a non-formulary
drug best treats your medical condition; a formulary drug has been ineffective
in the treatment of your medical condition; or a formulary drug causes or is
reasonably expected to cause a harmful reaction, then an exception process
is available to your Plan physician. In
that case, your standard
prescription drug copayment would apply.
If you would like information about whether a particular drug or accessory is
included in our drug formulary,
please visit us on line at www. kaiserpermanente. org, or call
our Member Services Department at 301/ 468-6000 inside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area.
Our TDD telephone number is 301/ 816-6344.
These are the dispensing limitations. We provide up to a 60-day
supply based upon (a) the prescribed dosage,
(b) the standard manufacturers
package size, and (c) specified dispensing limits. Maintenance medications may
be obtained for up to a 90-day supply when ordered through our mail order
program. 41
41 Page
42 43
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 42 Section 5( f)
Why
use generic drugs? Kaiser Permanente providers have successfully included
the use of generic drugs as
part of patient care without compromising
quality. Generic drugs offer a safe and economic way to meet your medication
needs. They are less expensive than brand name drugs -therefore you may reduce
your out-of-pocket
costs by choosing to use a generic drug. Generic drugs must contain the same
active ingredients and be equivalent
in strength and dosage to the original
brand name product. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration and also Kaiser
Permanente set criteria for the use of generic drugs to ensure that they meet
the same standards of purity,
strength and quality as brand-name drugs. They are expected to have the same
therapeutic effect as the brand
name product.
When you have to file a claim. When you receive drugs from a Plan
pharmacy, you do not have to file a claim.
For a covered out-of-area
emergency, you will need to file a claim when you receive drugs from a non-Plan
pharmacy. To file a claim, you should contact the Plan's Member Services
Department at 301/ 468-6000 inside
the Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area and
obtain a claim form. Our TDD inside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area is 301/ 816-6344. A claim for reimbursement
must be submitted to the Plan within 12 months after you purchased the
prescribed drugs.
Prescription drug benefits begin on the next page 42
42 Page 43 44
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 43 Section 5( f)
Benefit Description
You Pay
Covered medications and supplies
We cover the following
medications and supplies prescribed by a Plan physician and obtained from a Plan
pharmacy or through our mail order
program:
Drugs for which a
physician's prescription is required by law
Disposable needles and
syringes for the administration of covered medications
Contraceptive drugs
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and diaphragms
Implanted time-released drugs and injectable contraceptives, including
—Norplant
—Depo Provera
Self-injectable drugs, other than
ovulation stimulants
Self-administered chemotherapeutic drugs and oral
chemotherapeutic agents
Growth hormone therapy (GHT) -for treatment of children with
growth
hormone deficiency
Note: Compounded preparations must contain at least one ingredient requiring
a prescription.
$10 per prescription or refill for generic drugs or $20 per
prescription
or refill for brand-name
drugs if you get your prescription filled at a Plan
medical center pharmacy
$8 per prescription or refill for generic drugs or $18 per
prescription
or refill for brand-name drugs if you get your prescription
filled through
our mail order
delivery system
Post-surgical immunosuppressant outpatient drugs required as a
result
of a covered transplant
Intravenous fluids and medications for home use
Clinically administered chemotherapy drugs
Nothing
Amino acid modified products used to treat congenital errors of amino acid
metabolism (PKU) 25% of our allowance
Diabetic supplies when purchased at a
Plan pharmacy
Insulin (up to six (6) vials)
Disposable needles and
syringes (up to 3 boxes)
$10 per prescription or refill for generic drugs or
$20 per
prescription or refill for brand-name drugs if you get your prescription
filled at a Plan medical center pharmacy
Glucose test strips (six (6) boxes of 50 count) $10
Glucose meter $10
per meter
Replacement batteries
Control solutions
Lancets
$5 per package
$8 per package
$8 per package 43
43 Page 44 45
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 44 Section 5( f)
Covered medications
and supplies You pay
Smoking cessation products are provided for one
course of therapy per calendar year, when:
—prescribed by Plan provider
—you are in a formal smoking cessation
program
Weight management drugs for morbid obesity
Drugs for covered
infertility treatments
Drugs for sexual dysfunction
Note: Drugs to
treat sexual dysfunction have dispensing limitations. Please contact the Plan
for details.
50% of our allowance
Not covered:
Drugs or supplies for cosmetic purposes
Vitamins and nutritional supplements that can be purchased without
a prescription
Nonprescription drugs
Prescription drugs for which there is
a nonprescription equivalent available
Drugs obtained at a non-Plan pharmacy except for emergencies inside and
outside the service area
Medical supplies such as dressings and
antiseptics
Drugs to enhance athletic performance
Drugs related to non-covered infertility services
Drugs for
non-covered services
Dental prescriptions other than those prescribed for pain relief or
antibiotics
Replacement prescriptions necessitated by theft, loss, or damage
All drugs and accessories for the sole purpose of foreign travel
All charges 44
44 Page 45 46
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 45 Section 5( g)
Section 5 (g). Special features
Feature Description
Flexible benefits option Under the flexible benefits option, we
determine the most effective way to provide services.
We may identify
medically appropriate alternatives to traditional care and coordinate other
benefits as a less costly alternative benefit.
Alternative benefits are subject to our ongoing review.
By approving
an alternative benefit, we cannot guarantee you will get it in the future.
The decision to offer an alternative benefit is solely ours, and we may
withdraw it at any time and resume regular contract benefits.
Our decision
to offer or withdraw alternative benefits is not subject to OPM review under the
disputed claims process.
24 hour nurse line For any of your health concerns, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, you may call 703/ 359/ 7878 inside the Washington, DC metropolitan
area or
800/ 777-7904 outside the Washington, DC metropolitan area or call
our TDD at 703/ 359-7616 or 800/ 700-4901 and talk with a registered nurse
who will discuss treatment options and answer your health questions.
Services for deaf and hearing impaired For any of your health
concerns, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you may call 703/ 359-7616 inside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area or 800/ 700-4901 outside the Washington, DC
metropolitan area and talk with
a registered nurse who will discuss
treatment options and answer your health questions.
During regular business hours Monday through Friday, you may contact our
Member Services Department with any questions concerning the Plan and how to
obtain services by calling 301/ 816-6344.
Centers of excellence for transplants The Centers of Excellence
program began in Fall 1987. As new technologies proliferate and become the
standard of care, Kaiser Permanente refers members to contracted "centers of
excellence" for certain
specialized medical procedures.
We have
developed a national contract network of Centers of Excellence for organ
transplantation, which consists of medical facilities that have met
stringent criteria for quality care in specific procedures. A national
clinical
and administrative team has developed guidelines for site
selection, site visit protocol, volume and survival criteria for evaluation and
selection of
facilities. The institutions have a record of positive outcomes and
exceptional standards of quality. 45
45 Page 46 47
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 46 Section 5( g)
Travel benefit Kaiser Permanente's travel benefits for Federal
employees provide you with outpatient follow-up or continuing medical care when
you are outside your home service area by more than 100 miles or outside of
any other Kaiser Permanente service area. These benefits are in addition to
your emergency and urgent care benefits and include:
Outpatient follow-up care necessary to complete a course of treatment after
a covered emergency. Services include removal of stitches, a
catheter, or a
cast.
Outpatient continuing care for covered services for conditions
diagnosed
by a Kaiser Permanente health care provider or affiliated Plan
provider that have been treated within the previous 90 days. Services include
childhood immunizations, dialysis, or prescription drug monitoring.
You
pay $25 for each follow-up or continuing care office visit. This amount will be
deducted from the payment we make to you.
Your benefit is limited to $1200 each calendar year.
For more
information about this benefit call 800/ 390-3509.
File claims as shown on
page 59.
The following are not included in your travel benefits coverage:
Non-emergency hospitalization
Infertility treatments
Medical and hospital costs resulting from a normal full-term
delivery of a baby outside the service area
Transplants
Prescription drugs 46
46 Page 47 48
2002 Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the
Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 47 Section 5( g)
Services from other
Kaiser Permanente
plans
When you are visiting in the service area of another Kaiser Permanente plan,
you are entitled to receive virtually all the benefits described in this
brochure at any Kaiser Permanente medical office or medical center. You
will have to pay the charges imposed by the Plan you are visiting. If the
Plan you are visiting has a benefit that is different from the benefits of this
Plan, you are not entitled to receive that benefit.
Some services covered by this Plan, such as artificial reproductive services
and the services of specialized rehabilitation facilities, will not be available
in other Kaiser Permanente service areas. If a benefit is limited to a
specific number of visits or days, you are entitled to receive only the
number of visits or days covered by the Plan in which you are enrolled.
If you are seeking routine, non-emergent, or non-urgent services, you
should call the Kaiser Permanente Membership Services Department in that
service area and request an appointment. You may obtain routine follow-up
or continuing care from these Plans, even when you have obtained the
original services in the service area of this Plan. If you require emergency
services as the result of unexpected or unforeseen illness that requires
immediate attention, you should go directly to the nearest Kaiser
Permanente facility to receive care.
At the time you register for services, you will be asked to pay the charges
required by the local Plan.
If you plan to travel to an area with another Kaiser Permanente plan, and
wish to obtain more information about the benefits available to you from
the
Kaiser Permanente plan, please call Membership Services at 301/ 468-
6000
inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902 outside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our TDD is 301/ 816-6344
inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 47
47
Page 48 49
2002
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 48 Section
5( h)
Section 5 (h). Dental benefits
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
Please remember that all benefits are subject to the definitions,
limitations, and exclusions in
this brochure and are payable only when we
determine they are medically necessary.
Plan dentists must provide or arrange your care.
We have no calendar
year deductible.
We cover hospitalization for dental procedures only when
a nondental physical impairment
exists which makes hospitalization necessary
to safeguard the health of the patient; we do not cover the dental procedure
except as described below.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for
valuable information about
how cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about
coordinating benefits with other coverage, including with Medicare.
I M
P O
R T
A N
T
Dental Benefits You pay
Accidental injury benefit
We cover
restorative services and supplies necessary
to promptly repair (but not
replace) your sound natural teeth that you have injured as the result of an
external force (not chewing). A sound natural tooth is
one that has not
been weakened by existing dental pathology such as, decay or periodontal
disease, or
previously restored with a crown, inlay, onlay or
porcelain restoration,
or treatment by endodontics.
Note: You must start to receive services within 60 days of your accident and
complete them within 12
months of your accident. You are only covered for
the most cost effective procedure that will produce a
satisfactory result.
$10 per office visit, up to $2,000 per member per
accident
Not covered:
Injuries to non-sound natural teeth
Services required after the 12-month period
Services that are
needed, but did not start until later than 60 days after the accident
Services for teeth that have been so severely damaged that restoration
is impossible, in the
opinion of the Plan dental provider
Services for teeth that have been knocked-out
All charges 48
48 Page 49 50
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 49 Section 5( h)
Other dental benefits You pay
We cover general anesthesia and
associated hospital or ambulatory surgery facility charges in conjunction with
dental care provided by a fully accredited specialist in pediatric
dentistry, fully accredited specialist in oral and
maxillofacial surgery, or
a dentist for whom hospital privileges has been granted, for the following
members:
Children, 7 years of age or younger, who are developmentally disabled, for
whom a successful
result cannot be expected from dental care provided
under local anesthesia because of a physical, intellectual, or other
medically compromising
condition, for whom a superior result can be expected from dental care
provided under general anesthesia
Children, 17 years of age or younger, and extremely
uncooperative,
fearful, or uncommunicative with dental needs of such magnitude that treatment
should
not be delayed or deferred; and whom a lack of
treatment can be expected
to result in oral pain, infection, loss of teeth, or other increased oral or
dental morbidity
Adults, age 17 and older, whose medical condition
requires that dental service be performed in a hospital or ambulatory
surgical center for their
safety (e. g., heart disease and hemophilia)
$100 per inpatient admission
$10 per visit for outpatient services
Not covered:
The dentist's or specialist's professional
services
Dental care for temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
All charges 49
49 Page 50 51
2002 Kaiser
Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. 50 Section 5( h)
Discounted Fee -Dental Benefits
Kaiser Permanente has entered
into an Agreement with Dental Benefit Providers, Inc. (" DBP"), under which DBP
will provide or arrange for the administration of covered dental services to you
through Participating Dental Providers.
All procedures listed in the following schedule of dental services and fees
are covered dental services. When you
receive any of the listed procedures
from a Participating Dental Provider, you will pay the fee listed next to the
procedure description for that service. The Participating Dental Provider has
agreed to accept that fee as payment in
full for that procedure. Neither Kaiser Permanente nor DBP are liable for
payment of these fees or for any fees incurred as the result of receipt of
non-covered dental services.
You will pay a fixed rate of $30 per office visit for procedures with an
"FC30" fee indication in the schedule below. We waive the $5 sterilization fee
for any office visit in which FC30 applies. "NB" indicates there is no benefit
available and you must pay the full cost of these services.
You may
select a Participating Dental Provider, who is a "general dentist," from whom
you will receive covered dental services. With a large network of general
dentists in our service area, you may select a general dentist from our
Dental Provider Directory for yourself and your family. You can obtain a
Dental Provider Directory by calling our Member Services Department at 301/
468-6000 inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area or at 800/ 777-7902
outside the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our TDD is 301/ 816-6344.
Specialty care is also available should further covered services be
necessary; however, you must be referred to a
Participating Dental Provider
who is a specialist by your general dentist. Your discounted fees are slightly
higher for care received by a Participating Dental Provider who is a specialist.
Please refer to the following schedule of dental
services and fees for those discounted fees.
When a dental emergency
occurs outside our service area, Kaiser Permanente will reimburse you for the
reasonable
charges, less any discounted fee, upon proof of payment, not to
exceed $50 per incident. We cover emergency dental treatment required to
alleviate pain, bleeding, o