Steve Hughes, Commerce

 TOPIC 
HEALTH CARE :
Diabetes and Disease Management

The union's online Q & A section explores topics such as health care benefits, contract rights, career planning, education and training, bargaining, consumer discounts for members only and more.

 QUESTION: 

Steve Hughes, the Ohio Department of Commerce, asks:

"I switched my health care provider during the last open enrollment. I’m getting low on my diabetic testing supplies, and would like to order more – however, I was informed by my new provider’s customer service representative that I would have to pay the co-pay for these supplies. Previously, I received them at no cost. Shouldn’t this still be the case?"

 ANSWER: 

The first thing you need to do is contact your provider and make sure you are enrolled in their disease management program.

If not, ask that they enroll you. Once enrolled, your provider is required under the OCSEA contract to provide your diabetic testing supplies at no cost.

If you choose not to enroll, you will have to continue paying a co-pay.

Overall, a wide variety of disease management programs are available—depending on which plan you are enrolled in—including programs for back conditions, cancer, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, renal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Additionally, you may be eligible for incentives under the Take Charge! Live Well! program, rolling out Nov. 1, 2007.

See Related

Q & A Archive

OCSEA Health Care Website

Take Charge! Live Well!

Flexible Spending Account Open Enrollment Nov. 5 - 30 for 2008