Category: Healthcare
A guide to RR Medicare’s voice-responsive phone line
You need to know more about your Railroad Medicare benefits or specific claims. Sometimes you’d like to find the information on your own, and other times, you want to speak with a Customer Service Representative (CSR). Railroad Medicare, administered by Palmetto GBA, gives [...]“Nurse line” offers answers to medical questions
Members covered by Aetna, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or UnitedHealthcare seeking information about treatment options, chronic conditions or answers to other health-related questions can call a “nurse line” for answers 24 hours a day, every day. This free serv [...]RRB awards Palmetto GBA new Medicare contract
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has once again awarded its Medicare contract to Palmetto GBA, which will continue to handle Medicare Part B claims for Railroad Retirement beneficiaries. The award, which was announced Sept. 28, names Palmetto as the Railroad Specialty Medi [...]
Rail-member vision plan improvements on tap
UTU members covered by the Railroad Employees’ National Vision Plan will see improvements in the program effective Jan. 1 when benefits formerly provided by VSP will be administered by EyeMed Vision Care. Enhancements include: • A larger national network of providers, [...]Medicare premiums to increase in January
Medicare beneficiaries will see their standard Medicare Part B monthly premium increase by $5 monthly to $104.90 beginning in January. A small number of beneficiaries will continue to pay higher premiums based on their modified adjusted gross income, which depends on the exte [...]Note a recall of medication Pradaxa(r)
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 [...]
Early rail retiree insurance cap rises in 2013
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
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 [...]