December 15, 2022
Premera has updated its preventive care benefits. These changes are in response to new federal recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and are effective January 1, 2023, or as groups renew, for all members with non-grandfathered health plans.
The following is a summary of additional benefits that may now be covered for your employees:
- Breastfeeding services and supplies: The comprehensive lactation support and services will include coverage without cost sharing for double electric breast pumps.
- Well-woman preventive care visits: The coverage for preventive care visits will now include pre pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, and interpregnancy visits.
- Access to contraceptives and contraceptive counseling: The contraceptive care benefit for women will now include condoms and all FDA-approved, cleared, or granted mobile apps, such as Natural Cycles and Clue Birth Control, which can be used as a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy.
- Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): The age criteria for our HIV screening benefit has changed from ages 15 to 65, to 15 or older. It also includes screening starting at age 13 for members at increased risk.
Preventive care benefits can help your employees stay healthy. Encourage them to use their benefits by:
- Reminding your employees that preventive benefits are paid in full when in-network providers are used.
- Sharing the updated preventive services list. (Updates will be listed on or after the effective date.)
Using the ready-to-share resources about preventive services by logging in to your secure accounts and selecting the B’link Employee Communications Center link.