Members of the government of Guam insurance program members will now have access to over 1 million providers in the U.S. mainland, including world-renowned hospitals from coast-to-coast, according to Aetna International.
Aetna has been chosen as the exclusive health insurance provider for Gov Guam employees, retirees and their families.
Enrolment period will run from Sept. 23 through Oct. 12.
“We are honored that we have been chosen to deliver industry leading health and wellness benefits with a local touch for government of Guam employees, retirees and their families,” said Justin Remick, head of Government Programs at Aetna.
Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced her approval of GovGuam’s 2020 Health Insurance Plan with Aetna, which she said was “the most economical and beneficial healthcare insurance proposal plan.”
“For several reasons, the Team was limited in time to conduct its negotiations. Even so, it was able to perform all of its duties and provide me with a quality insurance plan to consider.” As mandated by Public Law 34-83, the negotiating team is limited to forwarding only the lowest cost option healthcare insurance proposal plan to the governor” Leon Guerrero said.
She said Aetna represented the smallest increase when compared to the fiscal year 2019 plans.
“Now that the work of the Health Negotiation Team is done, my administration will spend the next few days working to ensure that any increase to the finalized rate structures will minimally affect, if at all, our employees, retirees, and foster children,” Leon Guerrero said.
Aetna said under GovGuam’s healthcare program for FY2020, members will benefit from a range of enhanced benefit options while retaining the basic features under their current program,
Members will continue to have access to St. Luke’s hospital in the Philippines, just as they do today.
FY2020 plan options, including PPO 1500, HSA 2000, the Retiree Supplemental Plan and Foster Plan, will remain the same as the current plan year. Local network access and on-island support will continue as normal. Under the new program, members will receive additional support in the form of 24/7 customer service, reduced limitations on key screening services, and will have enhanced access to a broader range of off island providers.
“At Aetna International we firmly believe that healthcare should be personal, convenient and affordable, and that industry leading health and wellness benefits should always go hand-in-hand with local connections and expertise,” Remick said. “I’m very much looking forward to speaking with our new members at our upcoming enrolment sessions and am proud that Aetna International will be supporting government of Guam employees on their healthcare journeys.”
Other improved benefit options include Medicare Direct which reduces the member intervention required in the claim payment process. Deductibles will accumulate across both non-participating and participating providers. No age and dollar limits for Autism Spectrum Disorders. No age and frequency limit on Prostate Specific Antigen screenings and annual mammography screenings.
To aid in member transition and allow GovGuam employees more time to enroll, Leon Guerrero has requested that the annual enrollment period be extended.
In response, the annual enrollment period will now take place from Sept. 23 through Oct. 12.