HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aetna®, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), announced its 2021 Medicare offerings, featuring increased integration with CVS Health; expanded and differentiated Medicare Advantage plan options, including HMO and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan offerings in new states; new Aetna Medicare Eagle™ plans designed especially for Veterans; and the lowest premium standalone prescription drug plan product in all 50 states and D.C.
A pioneer in the Medicare industry, Aetna has served Medicare beneficiaries since 1966, when it paid the nation's first Medicare claim. Aetna now serves nearly 9.2 million Medicare members nationwide, as of June 30, 2020.
"Now more than ever, it's important for older adults to focus on their total health — body, mind and spirit," said Christopher Ciano, president of Aetna Medicare. "To help members improve their health, we expanded our Aetna Medicare Solutions portfolio of products to include new plans and benefits designed to make care more affordable and convenient. As part of CVS Health, we're bringing care closer to home and making more meaningful connections that help our members age actively on their path to better health."
To encourage members to stay active and choose the plan that best fits their needs, Aetna announced legendary U.S. figure skater Dorothy Hamill1 as its new Medicare spokesperson. Hamill will appear in Aetna Medicare's advertising campaign and is featured in a new Aetna guide called Putting the 'Me' in Medicare eBook. The eBook offers tips and resources on eating healthy, staying active, using technology tools and maintaining mental health.
Medicare Advantage plans
Nearly 2.7 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in an AetnaMedicare Advantage (MA) plan, which can include extra benefits, such as prescription drug coverage, vision, dental, hearing and fitness.
For 2021, Aetna is offering Individual Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.Aetna added 115 new counties across the country, providing an additional 1.9 million more Medicare beneficiaries access to an Aetna plan. In total, Aetna will offer MAPD plans in 1,793 counties in 2021 accessible by 54.7 million Medicare beneficiaries.2
To make plans more affordable, Aetna expanded its $0 premium plan options. Aetna estimates 81 percent of the Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the U.S. will now have access to a $0 monthly premium Aetna Medicare Advantage plan.3
For those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits, Aetna expanded its Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP) offering to select counties in 9 new states — bringing Aetna's total DSNP footprint to 604 counties in 23 states. New DSNP markets include California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.
New for 2021, Aetna will offer Aetna Medicare Eagle MA plans in 27 states. These MA-only plans are designed especially for Veterans to complement their VA health care coverage. With a $0 monthly premium, plans will include, dental, vision, SilverSneakers® fitness program, and $0 or low PCP and lab cost shares. Most of these plans will also include hearing, an over-the-counter allowance and meal benefits to improve overall health and wellness.
Medicare prescription drug plans
Aetna's standalone prescription drug plans (PDP) serve 5.6 million members. In 2021, Aetna Medicare will offer three individual standalone PDPs. A new plan, SilverScript SmartRx (PDP), featuring an average monthly premium of $7.15, will be the lowest premium available in all 50 states and D.C. SilverScript Choice (PDP) will continue to be available in all 50 states and D.C. and will be under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) benchmark pricing in 49 states and D.C. SilverScript Plus (PDP), the plan with the most robust prescription drug coverage, will continue to be available in 49 states and D.C. All three plans feature $0 Tier 1 copays at preferred retail pharmacies.4
Medicare Supplement plans
We offer competitively priced individual Medicare Supplement insurance plans from the CVS Health/Aetna family of companies nationwide. With nearly 1 million members, our Medicare Supplement plans utilize a simplified underwriting process. We also offer a dental, vision and hearing product in 37 states. Our ancillary portfolio covers 45 states and includes the new Accendo (CVS Health) Final Expense whole life product. Ancillary products can provide members with benefits paid directly to them after being diagnosed with cancer, or for hospital stays and home care.
Offering innovative programs and benefits through CVS Health
As a CVS Health company, Aetna provides individual MA members access to convenient and affordable care through various benefits and programs:
Addressing social determinants of health with new and expanded MA benefits
Aetna Medicare Advantage plans take a total approach to health that goes beyond clinical care. With this approach in mind, Aetna expanded benefits to include:
In addition, Aetna will continue to offer the following supplemental benefits or other services as part of its Medicare Advantage plans:
Continuing efforts to help members during the COVID-19 pandemic
From waiving charges for home delivery of prescription medications, to increased access to telehealth visits, to lifting cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment, CVS Health and Aetna Medicare have been a leading force in efforts to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most recently, Aetna shipped Caring for You kits of over-the-counter items to all its Medicare Advantage members across the country to help support them with simple self-care at home. Kits included a thermometer, hand sanitizer and Aetna-branded face mask, among other items.
Aetnaextended waivers for Medicare Advantage member cost shares for in-network primary care office visits and all telehealth visits for any reason through December 31, 2020.
Aetna Medicare will continue to support members in 2021 by committing to $0 COVID-19 testing even if the public health emergency ends. The company will also waive PCP cost shares and expand coverage of virtual mental health services while the COVID-19 public health emergency is in effect. Building on the Caring for You kits, Aetna will also send members diagnosed with COVID-19 a box of supplies to help with recovery and prevent further spread.
Visit AetnaMedicare.com to learn more about Aetna's 2021 Medicare plans. Or call 1-855-335-1407 (TTY: 711)7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM. The Medicare Annual Election Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2020. A licensed agent may answer your call.
1This is a paid endorsement for Aetna.2This number includes Aetna's Joint Ventures in Minnesota (with Allina Health) and in Northern Virginia (with Innovation Health).3Data as of August 2020 CMS eligibility file.4Source: CMS 2021 PDP Landscape Source Files (v 09 08 20) available at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn 5Members have a choice of providers and can elect to go to their PCP or a nationally contracted clinic of their choice. 6Level and type of coverage vary by plan.
About Aetna
Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 34 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.
Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. The formulary and/or pharmacy network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Aetna Medicare's pharmacy network includes limited lower cost, preferred pharmacies in Rural Nebraska, Rural Kansas, Suburban West Virginia, Rural Maine, Suburban Arizona, Rural Michigan and Urban Michigan. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, members please call the number on your ID card, non-members please call 1-855-338-7027 (TTY: 711) or consult the online pharmacy directory at http://www.aetnamedicare.com/pharmacyhelp.
SilverScript is a Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract marketed through Aetna Medicare. Enrollment in SilverScript depends on contract renewal. The SmartRx pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost, preferred pharmacies in Rural Wisconsin, Rural Missouri, Rural Arkansas, Rural Mississippi, Rural Oklahoma, Rural Kansas, Rural Iowa, Rural Minnesota, Rural Montana, Rural North Dakota, Rural South Dakota, Rural Nebraska and Rural Wyoming. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call 1-866-235-5660 (TTY: 711) or consult your online pharmacy directory at http://www.aetnamedicare.com/pharmacyhelp.
Aetna, CVS HealthHUB and MinuteClinic, LLC (which either operates or provides certain management support services to MinuteClinic-branded walk-in clinics) are part of the CVS Health family of companies.
Aetna Resources For LivingSM is the brand name used for products and services offered through the Aetna group of subsidiary companies (Aetna). The EAP is administered by Aetna Behavioral Health, LLC. and in California for Knox-Keene plans, Aetna Health of California, Inc. and Health and Human Resources Center, Inc.
SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc. © 2020 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
©2020 Aetna Inc.
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Media Contact: Ethan Slavin860-273-6095SlavinE@aetna.comInvestor Contact:Katie Durant401-770-6442katherine.durant@cvshealth.com
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