Category: Healthcare

Note a recall of medication Pradaxa(r)

November 19, 2012 The manufacturer of the prescription medication Pradaxa(r) is voluntarily recalling all patient-level lots of 75mg dosage of the medication. The reason is a potential packaging defect that the manufacturer says may compromise the integrity of the bottle and permit moisture to [...]

Tags Pradaza(r), recall

Early rail retiree insurance cap rises in 2013

November 16, 2012 UTU members and their dependents insured under the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA) Plan (GA-46000) will have their lifetime maximum amount of coverage increased, effective Jan. 1. ERMA is a comprehensive benefits plan for employees wh [...]

Save money by using in-network providers

November 16, 2012 The national railroad plans (“plan”) allow you to see any doctor in your plan administrator’s network, including specialists, without a referral. This means that you have the freedom to choose a physician or specialist without first seeing a primary care physician. There are [...]

Tags Aetna, CHCB, Highmark, in-network, MHSA, MMCP, providers, United Behavioral Health, UnitedHealthcare

Medicare and ambulance services

September 23, 2012 Ambulances transport critically ill or injured passengers to hospitals every day. They also take patients with non-emergency conditions to hospitals, critical access hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and other medical facilities to treat serious health cond [...]

Tags ambulance, Medicare

Medco, Express Scripts now combined

August 3, 2012 Medco and Express Scripts are now one company managing the prescription benefit for those whose health care plans include Express Scripts or Medco. You should continue to refill your prescriptions as you normally would by using your current prescription drug ID card, member I [...]

Tags Express Scripts, Medco

Affordable Care Act eliminates many copays

July 6, 2012 UTU members with questions on how the Affordable Care Act will affect them and their families should visit the websites of their health care insurance carriers. For UTU members covered under the national railroad medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance [...]

Tags Affordable Care Act, copays, health care, preventive care, Railroad Information Depot

One-stop web address for rail health care info

May 29, 2012 Railroad employees and/or their eligible dependents covered under the national railroad medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits plans may now find information about those benefits on a single web page. The Railroad Information Depot webpage add [...]

Tags Aetna, health care, Highmark, Medco, MetLife, Railroad Information Depot, United Healthcare, vsp

Healthier lifestyle, longer life a mouse click away

May 2, 2012 Small can be big – especially when “small” is small lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, more exercise, a reduction in alcohol consumption, and kicking a tobacco habit. Such lifestyle changes, say health care experts, may lead to “big” health improvements and a happier you [...]

Tags Aetna, health risk assessment, UnitedHealthcare; Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Medco now Express Scripts; no changes foreseen

April 30, 2012 Many UTU members obtain their prescription drugs through Medco, which has been acquired by Express Scripts following Federal Trade Commission approval of the corporate combination. Notwithstanding the acquisition by Express Scripts of Medco, UTU members receiving mail order p [...]

Tags Express Scripts, Medco, pharmacy, prescriptions

Childhood obesity cause for concern

April 19, 2012 The incidence of childhood obesity has more than tripled over the past 30 years, according to data developed by UnitedHealthcare. Since 1980, the incidence of childhood obesity in children between 6 and 11 years old has jumped from 7 percent to 20 percent; and among children [...]

Tags childhood, obesity