Aetna Retiree ConnectionFor Aetna retirees and employees on long-term disability

Winter 2016

News for Aetna Retirees

Quality health plans & benefitsHealthier livingFinancial well-beingIntelligent solutions

Aetna Retiree Connection | Winter 2016

PublisherAetna Inc. publishes Aetna Retiree Connection for Aetna retirees and employees who are on long-term disability.

Contact InformationSpecific questions about benefit programs or services: 1-800-AETNA-HR (1-800-238-6247)

For general questions or comments, write to: Aetna Retiree Connection – REAG, Aetna Inc., 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06156

The descriptions of Aetna benefits in this newsletter summarize only the highlights of the plans and programs. If any statement in this newsletter conflicts with applicable plan documents, the documents will govern. The company retains the right to amend or terminate its benefits at any time. Also, participation in the plans described in this newsletter does not ensure your right to any benefits, except as specifically provided in the plans. This newsletter describes the benefits available to Aetna retirees and employees on long-term disability who are eligible for certain benefits.

In this issue

• Understanding your prescription drug coverage

• Are you turning 65 soon?

• Walk-A-While: Eight years, and it’s a wrap!

• Boost your metabolism!

• March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

2016 Resource Guide enclosed

Included with this issue of Aetna Retiree Connection newsletter is the “2016 Resource Guide to Your Aetna Retiree Benefits.” Use it throughout the year for contact information, references, tools and resources to help you navigate all aspects of your retiree benefits.

Update: Aetna Retiree Connections newsletter frequency change for 2016

In an effort to “go green,” you will receive this one newsletter issue in 2016. We will mail your annual enrollment materials (if applicable to you) later this fall.

For questions about retiree benefits and programs, you can call the Aetna HR Contact Center at 1-800-AETNA-HR (1-800-238-6247). You can also access your information online at Your Benefits Resources (YBR) website at www.ybr.com/aetna.

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Your 2016 Guide to Benefits explains how your pharmacy coverage works (for both pre-Medicare and Medicare plan coverage). If you don’t have a copy, it’s available online at the Retirement Services YBR website at www.ybr.com/aetna. Under the Health and Insurance tab, click the “Plan Information” link. You’ll see the Guides under the heading “Summary Plan Descriptions.”

What you pay for prescription drugs can vary depending on the pharmacy you visit

Retail pharmacies have different negotiated prices. So, if your plan has a coinsurance, the amount you pay could vary depending on where you go to fill your prescription. For example, someone enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Rx Plus (PDP) plan could have a different cost share for 30 days at CVS vs. 30 days at Walgreens vs. the cost when you order a 90-day supply through mail order.

Your medical plan determines how to pay pharmacy benefits

All pre-Medicare Aetna retiree group medical plans include prescription drug coverage. Covered expenses, including prescription drugs, are subject to the deductible before the coinsurance is effective. After you meet the deductible, your coinsurance or amount you pay varies depending on the type of prescription: generic, preferred brand name, nonpreferred brand name and specialty medications.

Aetna retirees eligible for Medicare have a choice between two Aetna Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP): Aetna Medicare Rx Standard (PDP) or Aetna Medicare Rx Plus (PDP). The plans have different deductibles and different levels of copays or coinsurance that you pay as you move through the different stages of the plan and meet certain out-of-pocket limits.

Understanding your prescription drug coveragePharmacy benefits can be complicated. What you pay for a prescription depends on several factors. Here are some important ones to consider and some resources that can help you out.

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You can compare your cost at different pharmacies before you buy. Just log in at www.aetna.com and click “Estimate drug costs” on the left hand side to get started. Remember, to receive coverage you must visit a network pharmacy. You can click “Find a Doctor, Dentist or Facility” and then click “Pharmacies” under provider types (after you log in) or call Member Services for a list of participating pharmacies near you.

In DocFind be sure to indicate you’re in the “Group S2 pharmacy network” if you are in either of the Medicare Rx plans. If you’re in the pre-Medicare plans, the pharmacy network is called “Premier Plus.”

Aetna Rx Home Delivery: Mail order can help you save time and money

All plans offer the convenience of home delivery for your maintenance drugs. These are drugs you take to treat a chronic condition like a thyroid problem or heart disease. You can order up to a 90-day supply.

For more information, call Aetna Rx Home Delivery at 1-888-RX-AETNA (1-888-792-3862).

Note: If you’re enrolled in either of the Aetna Medicare prescription drug plans, you may fill a 90-day prescription at a retail pharmacy, if you prefer, for the same price as the mail-order copay or coinsurance amount. Just ask your doctor to submit a 90-day prescription to the pharmacy. (Note that some medications have quantity limits and are not available in a 90-day supply.)

Check your plan’s Preferred Drug Guide (formulary) to see what prescriptions are covered

Aetna Medicare formulary for your Medicare Rx plans

• To qualify as a federally sponsored Medicare Part D plan, our prescription drug plans must receive government approval of the list of covered drugs. If you’re enrolled in either Aetna Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) plan, we mailed a formulary to you in December.

• If you have any questions about a particular drug, you can also call Aetna Medicare Member Services at 1-888-97-AETNA (1-888-972-3862).

Aetna pre-Medicare formulary for your pre-Medicare medical plan

• Access the formulary online at www.aetna.com/formulary and select Premier Plus plans.

• Contact Aetna One Premier at 1-800-558-0860 with any questions.

Aetna Medicare Rx Plus plan: 30-day vs. 90-day supply

Example 1: You take a low-cost generic drug that has a total cost of $15 per month and you have met your deductible.

• For a 30-day supply at retail, you’ll pay 20% coinsurance on $15, or $3 for the 30-day supply. For three months at retail (which equates to 90 days), you would visit the pharmacy each month and end up paying $9 total for the three months.

• For a 90-day supply (through mail order or retail), you’ll pay a flat $30 copay (or the cost of the drug for 90 days, if it’s cheaper).

• It’s less expensive to get three 30-day supplies at retail, since you’ll only pay $9. The 90-day cost (retail or mail order) is more expensive at the $30 copay.

Retail Mail Order

30-day prescription $3 (20% of $15) or$9 for three months

Not applicable

90-day prescription $30 copay for preferred brand(you’ll always pay the mail-order copay whether retail or mail)

Example 2: You take a preferred brand drug that costs $500 per month.

• For a 30-day supply at retail, you’ll pay 25% coinsurance on $500, or $125. Three, 30-day prescriptions at retail would be $375.

• For a 90-day supply (retail or mail order), you would pay a flat $60 copay.

• In this example, purchasing a 90-day supply (through retail or mail order) at $60 is the best option.

If you’re enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Rx Plus Prescription Drug Plan, sometimes ordering a 90-day supply through mail order or retail is more expensive than getting your 30-day prescription filled three times at a retail pharmacy. This is typically true for very low-cost drugs. However, for higher-cost drugs, a 90-day supply (at mail order or retail) is almost always more cost effective than a 30-day retail supply. Below are two examples, which assume you have already met your deductible for the year. Note: The Medicare Standard Rx plan uses copays for both retail and mail order. If you’re enrolled in this plan, a 90-day prescription will cost you two copays instead of three. So, a 90-day prescription (vs. 30 days) will always cost less.

Retail Mail Order

30-day prescription $125 (25% of $500) or$375 for three months

Not applicable

90-day prescription $60 copay for preferred brand(you’ll always pay the mail-order copay whether retail or mail)

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Join an information session to learn more about your options

To help you understand your choices, we have scheduled group telephone conferences where you can learn about the Aetna Medicare medical benefits and ask questions. If you’re turning 65 in 2016, you will receive an invitation at your home address closer to actual date of the call. Dates for upcoming conference calls (Eastern Time) are:

• April 13, 10 a.m. (for May or June birthdays)

• June 8, 2 p.m. (for July or August birthdays)

• August 9, 10 a.m. (for September through December birthdays)

Just call the RSVP line at 1-800-392-4488 to reserve your date and to get the dial-in information. Each call lasts about one hour and family members are welcome to listen with you.

Call us if you become Medicare eligible due to disability status

Call the Aetna HR Contact Center at 1-800-AETNA-HR (1-800-238-6247) if you (or your dependent[s]) no longer qualify for the pre-Medicare plans due to disability status. Otherwise, if you qualify for Aetna retiree medical benefits, we’ll automatically send you an enrollment package before you turn 65.

If you’re enrolled in an Aetna retiree pre-Medicare medical plan or if you have deferred coverage, you must select one of our Medicare plan options when you become eligible for Medicare if you want group coverage through Aetna. We’ll automatically send you (or your covered dependent) an enrollment package before you turn 65 to help you choose an Aetna Medicare plan.

Once you become eligible for Medicare, you must first sign up for both Medicare Parts A and B before you can enroll in the Aetna Medicare Plan (PPO). You can find a helpful guide with specific information on eligibility and actions you must take on the Aetna Retiree Connection website. You’ll also find Medicare policies and plan designs here. Just go to www.ybr.com/aetna.

Are you turning 65 soon?

Congratulations to all who participated in the 2015 Walk –A–While program.

Eight years ago we launched this annual program to motivate you to stay active and healthy while having some fun. Over the last eight years, participation has been steady; however, the overall number of participants has remained very low. For this reason, we will no longer offer the program. But we do encourage you to keep up your activities and healthy eating habits!

We are still committed to building a healthier world and a healthier you, so stay tuned as we refresh our wellness programs. In the meantime, read on for some great fitness tips that can help you stay on track this year.

Walk-A-While: Eight years, and it’s a wrap!

Walk-A-While: Eight years, and it’s a wrap!

Congratulations to the 2015 Walk-A-While Program winners who received a $50 American Express® gift card.

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Julie Riddle, AZJodi Hearn, AZJackie Sanderson, CASusan McDaniel, CALinda Nelson, CASusanne Turnbull, CAMary Gee, CAPriscilla L. Dimapilis, CACarol Ramsing, CAJanice Janusz, CABrenda Ball, CAPatricia Stuehler, COBernadette Dostaler, CTAnthony D’Amore, CTElaine Santos, CTNancy Neumann, CTSteve Byko, CTGeorge Ziemba, CTMary Jo Greco Krumviede, CTJayne Brundage, CTJoan Terzo, CTAnthony Maiscalco Jr., CTJeanne Verdecchia, CTGeraldine Williams, CTShirley Staski, CTJoe Barbino, CTRuth Creswell, CT

Carol Spooner, CTClaire Padron, CTTheresa Kelley, CTMarilee Porter, CTWendy Wahatalo, CTSebastian Fazzino, CTAnne Chrostowski, CTLeslie Martin, CTSharon Hannah, CTMary Olson, CTBrian O’Neill, CTMarilyn Jacobsen, CTHarry M. Najarian, CTValerie Sideris, CT Carol Loewecke, DCLeila Dellacamera, FLBernice Larkins, FLCheryl Ishman Harrn, FLCarolyn Carr, FLJoseph Petitta, FLJennifer Powell, FLHoward Schechter, FLHerbert W. Jones, FLCarol Griger, FLMartha Brown, GAAnita Cullen, GALynn James, GA

Jean Matsushita, HIKathleen McCombs, IADebra Orozco, ILPhillip Carrigan, ILSharon Keutzer, ILE.W. Adams, ILKathy Goodnight, INGerry Harvey, MABarbara Kuspa, MIBeverly R. Campbell, MIGay Verburg, MIPauline Unfried, MIMarge Gaydos, MIGregory Zeller, MNStella Osterberg, MNCarol Larson, MNSharon Sullivan, MOCarol Cieline, NCElisabeth Beck, NHMichael Mittelmann, NJKaren Lavezzi, NJHelen Olchaskey, NJRuth Longcore, NVMaryanne Sergott, NYSue Mandaville, NYKathleen Murray, NYSusan Hyatt, NY

Susan Levi, NYRussell MacIsaac, NYCharles Petrosky, OHJames Sabat, OHVictoria Caldwell, OHSteven Popa, OHLinda Bowser, OKAmy Mazur-Hession, PASue Deobil, PAJoan Shillington, PALinda Szoszorek, PAEdmund Much, PALoretta Sandy, PAGary Lopez, PARosemary Currie, TXElton Stanley, TXValerie Wolfson, TXRichard Omodt, TXJoseph Ciechawoinicz, VT

Need to rev things up when it comes to your metabolism? It’s important to understand

how your metabolism affects the way in which you burn or don’t burn calories. Having

a slow metabolism can result in gaining weight more easily than someone with a high

metabolism. Along with this, you may find yourself gaining weight as you get older. This

additional weight gain comes from your metabolism slowing down. Whatever the case

may be, if you’re looking to boost your metabolism and burn more calories, here are

some things you can do!

Boost your metabolism!By Jennifer Winter, Exercise Physiologist in the Hartford Fitness Center

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Move more – Studies show that people who “fidget” weigh less than those who don’t. Even if you’re not a “fidgeter” by nature, you can still make efforts to move a bit more in daily life — doing shoulder rolls, knee lifts and ankle circles while sitting at your desk, getting up and walking around, parking a little farther away, etc. Little things, done consistently, do add up!

Resistance train – Resistance training becomes even more important as you age — without it, most people lose muscle at a rate of 2 – 4 percent per decade after age 20, and 10 percent per decade after age 50! Resistance training commonly involves lifting weights — but you can also use your own body weight (think squats, push-ups, and crunches) or other equipment (such as bands or tubing).

Add to the intensity, frequency or time of your workouts – Did you know your metabolism stays elevated for up to 24 hours after a workout? You’ll get an even greater “after-burn” the longer and harder you work out. So, if you’ve been working at a light-to-moderate pace, try working a little harder! If you’re currently doing 30-minute workouts, try increasing to 35 minutes. Or, if you’re currently working out three times per week, how about adding a fourth day? Changing even one of these things can greatly increase the number of calories you burn both during and after your workouts!

Circuit training – Rather than sitting and resting between sets, why not work another muscle group while resting the one you just worked? Quickly moving from one exercise to the next is called “circuit training” — it saves time, and you’ll also keep your heart rate up and burn more calories!

Combine exercises – If you’ve been working one muscle at a time, try combining some exercises, like squats with overhead presses, or lunges with bicep curls. You’ll save time, engage your core and develop balance. These exercises also pick up your heart rate, so you’ll get some “bonus” cardio as well!

Lift to failure – Muscle burns about three times more calories than fat, even at rest! Make sure you’re lifting heavy enough weights to build muscle. To do this, you should completely fatigue the muscle you’re working during each set (with good form, of course). So, if you’re doing 8 – 12 reps, be sure you’re lifting heavy enough that you “max out” somewhere within 8 – 12 reps. This means that if you can do more than 12 reps, you need a heavier weight! (Note: Do not lift so heavy that you have to “drop” the weights; this can be dangerous. If in doubt, ask a trainer to spot you.)

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Change your routine – Your body becomes used to the same things and won’t use as many calories after a while. You’ll need to change your routine at least every three months to avoid hitting a “plateau.” Ask a trainer to show you some new exercises or even a whole new routine. If you don’t have access to a trainer, there are a lot of great programs you can find in magazines or online.

Build a cardio “base” – By building a cardio “base,” you train your body to burn calories quicker and more efficiently. You should be doing some form of continuous cardio at least three times per week. Examples of cardio include: walking, jogging, swimming, aerobics, using the elliptical trainer or stationary bike, etc. The key is to get your heart rate up for an extended period of time (usually at least 20 minutes).

Sometimes do what you don’t like – Doing what you like works well to build the habit of exercise, because you’re more likely to stick with things you enjoy. But if you already work out regularly, you may want to consider doing some things you don’t like sometimes. This is because you probably favor activities or movements that your body is already more efficient (and/or stronger) at. Try gradually easing in some exercises you don’t like as much . . . chances are you’ll see some changes!

Eat less, but more often – When you eat a large amount of food at once, your blood sugar spikes and your body has to secrete a lot of insulin at one time. This can lead to a big drop in blood sugar, and craving for sugary or other high-calorie foods (often leading to overeating again!). To avoid this vicious cycle, eat four to six smaller meals (or snacks) over the course of your day. This way your blood sugar is kept on a more “even keel” and you’ll have more sustained energy throughout your day.

Colon cancer: Catching it early

According to recent statistics, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.

The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer — that’s why it’s so important to get screened. People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

• Get screened* starting at age 50

• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke

• Get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy

*Colorectal screenings are typically considered preventive care and therefore covered at 100 percent under Aetna retiree medical plans (age and frequency schedules apply). Call your plan’s Member Services for details or questions.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

For questions about retiree benefits and programs, you can call the Aetna HR Contact Center at 1-800-AETNA-HR (1-800-238-6247). You can also access your information online at Your Benefits Resources (YBR) website at www.ybr.com/aetna.

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Connect.Access.Learn.Grow.www.ybr.com/aetnaYour 24-hour-a-day retirement resource

CCG AETNAHR-0232 (03/16) ©2016 Aetna Inc.

Aetna Retiree Connection Winter 2016Important updates:

• Understanding your prescription drug coverage

• Are you turning 65 soon?

• Walk-A-While: Eight years, and it’s a wrap!

• Boost your metabolism!

• March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month