UnitedHealth Group Authorizes Early Prescription Refills and Opens Free Counseling Help Line for People in Flood-Affected Counties in Georgia
Minnetonka, Minn. (Sept. 23, 2009) — UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) and its family of companies are authorizing plan participants who are affected by the floods in Georgia and enrolled in its fully insured health plans and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services to obtain early refills of their prescription medications. In addition, a free help line is available for people who are coping with the emotional consequences of the floods.
Effective Sept. 22 through Oct. 6, 2009, UnitedHealthcare customers who live in Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties are eligible to obtain early refills of their prescriptions if they have refills remaining on file at a retail network or mail-order pharmacy.
This early prescription refill exception also applies to individuals with prescription coverage through Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part D offerings, including AARP MedicareRx plans. For mail-order delivery service to affected areas or any other questions related to their prescriptions, health plan participants are encouraged to call the pharmacy number on the back of their ID card, or speak directly to a pharmacist about their situation.
Customers who have been displaced or whose network medical facility is not accessible and require assistance or special accommodations as a result of the flooding should call the number on the back of their medical ID cards. Customer care professionals are available to help people who have been displaced from their place of residence locate an in-network health care provider. In an emergency, customers should seek care at the nearest medical facility.
In addition, OptumHealth, UnitedHealth Group’s health and wellness business, is providing a free help line for people coping with the emotional consequences of the floods. Staffed by experienced master’s-level behavioral health specialists, the help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, such as financial and legal issues.
The toll-free help line number is (866)-342-6892 and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary.
This service is free of charge. Resources and information are also available online in English at
www.liveandworkwell.com and Spanish at
www.mentesana-cuerposano.com.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through six operating businesses: UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves more than 70 million individuals nationwide. Visit
www.unitedhealthgroup.com for more information.
About OptumHealth
OptumHealth helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company’s personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving nearly 60 million people, OptumHealth is one of the nation’s largest health and wellness companies. It is a business unit of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). More information about OptumHealth can be found at
www.optumhealth.com.
