Fall 2022 Spotlight on Benefits Newsletter Now Available

IN THIS ISSUE:

• • Board of Trustees Acts to Expand Coverage of Abortion Services to Dependent Children and Abortion-Related Travel Costs. The Health Plan reconfirms its broad existing coverage of both elective and medically necessary abortions in response to the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Coverage also was expanded to include dependent children and travel and lodging benefits for qualified participants and beneficiaries.  
  • What is Medical Necessity and How Does it Impact Coverage? The Health Plan covers only services deemed medically necessary. Even though a provider may order a treatment or test, that service may not meet the Health Plan’s criteria for medical necessity, leaving you with out-of-pocket costs. Learn more about the criteria of medical necessity used by the Health Plan to determine whether services will be covered.   
  • Making Sure Your Private and Sensitive Personal Information Remains Secure is Our Priority. The Plans take extensive measures to protect your private and sensitive personal information. Learn about our security protocol and recommendations to help keep your information safe.  
  • Three Ways to Ensure that Your Physical Therapy Costs are Medically Necessary and Covered by the Health Plan. When receiving physical therapy, patients should monitor their progress so that they track the medical necessity of their treatment. Physical therapy that can continue as a home exercise program is considered training and therefore, medically unnecessary and not covered under the Health Plan. Learn more about what you can do before and during physical therapy to understand medical necessity as it applies to Health Plan coverage for physical therapy treatment. 
  • Avoid Out-of-Pocket Costs for Labs and Tests. Asking your doctor important questions about potentially expensive labs and tests before they are performed, can help you determine whether they are medically necessary as required by the Health Plan, as well as help you avoid the out-of-pocket costs they could bring. Also, learn about how to get a predetermination of coverage from the Health Plan before proceeding. 
  • Pay Health Premiums More Easily with Automatic Pension Deduction. 
  • Health Fairs this Fall in LA & NYC. The Plans will host health fairs and free flu shot clinics at the DGA’s office on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles on October 1 and at the DGA Theater in New York City on October 15. To view event details and to make a free flu shot reservation, visit www.dgaplans.org/flushots.