UHC offers help for Tenn. flood victims

UnitedHealth Group and its family of companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, OptumHealth and Prescription Solutions, are assisting thos affected by the flooding in parts of Tennessee.

This includes relief to health plan customers who may need to refill prescription medications that may have been misplaced as a result of the storms; opening a free counseling help line; and a $50,000 donation toward the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which will help support people affected by the storms in Tennessee and other southeastern states.

Early prescription refills: Those displaced or without access to their medications, and who use UnitedHealthcare Pharmacy, who call and identify that they have been affected by the storms and flooding, will be able to have prescription medications filled if they have refills remaining on file at a participating retail or mail-order pharmacy. 

This includes plan participants enrolled in all fully insured commercial products, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part D offerings, and AARP MedicareRx plans. For mail-order delivery service to affected areas or any other questions related to prescriptions, call the pharmacy number on the back of your ID card, or speak directly to a pharmacist about their situation.

This policy is effective immediately and will remain active until at least May 17.

Help line for community residents: OptumHealth, UnitedHealth Group’s health and wellness business, is providing a free help line for people coping with the emotional consequences of the flooding. Staffed by experienced behavioral health specialists, the help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, such as financial and legal issues.

The toll-free help line number, (866) 342-6892, is available 24/7 for as long as necessary. This service is free of charge to all Tennesseans even if they are not UnitedHealthcare customers. Resources and information are also available online at www.liveandworkwell.com.

Support for the American Red Cross: UnitedHealthcare and UnitedHealthcare by AmeriChoice, which serve thousands of health plan customers in Tennessee, has given a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. UnitedHealth Group participates in the Annual Disaster Giving Program of the American Red Cross, a group of leading companies who have pledged donations to the Red Cross during major disasters to ensure an immediate response will meet the needs of people who are affected by disasters of all sizes, at no cost and regardless of income.

The donation will enable the Red Cross to provide support for shelters, meals, and clean-up and comfort kits, as well as mental health support for families and individuals in the affected community. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.

People interested in providing additional assistance can contact the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help provide food, shelter and counseling for people affected by disasters like the recent flooding by logging onto RedCross.org or by calling (800) RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish) to make a donation. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to a local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

Below are additional resources for relief from the flooding in Tennessee:

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, 3041 Sidco Drive, Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 741-0001; http://www.tnema.org.

Situation reports regarding the flooding are being published on the Web site above. Please note that Governor Phil Bredesen has declared a state of emergency.

Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 250-4300; http://www.nashvilleredcross.org.

Note that there are currently 17 emergency shelters open throughout middle and west Tennessee. See a list of shelters below or call to locate the shelter nearest you and to discuss possible available assistance. Note that this office is available from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the national office is available at (800) 733-2767 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Additionally please visit http://www.redcross.org/nss-app to view a list of available shelters.

Lipscomb University, 1 University Park Dr., Nashville, TN 37204

Gordon Jewish Community Center, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205

Fairview Recreation Center, 2714 Fairview Blvd., Fairview, TN 37062

Hazelwood Elementary School, 2623 Tiny Town Rd., Clarksville, TN 37042

Al Menah Shrine Center, 1354 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207

First Assembly of God, 270 Arlington St., Erin, TN 37061

First United Methodist Church, 8029 Wilkinsville Rd., Millington, TN 38053

First Baptist Church, 220 Church St., Dover, TN 37058

Smyrna Town Center, 100 Sam Ridley Pkwy., East, Smyrna, TN 37167

Centerville Church of Christ, 138 North Central Ave., Centerville, TN 37033

College Hills Church of Christ, 1401 Leeville Pike, Lebanon, TN 37090

Haywood Junior High School, 1201 Haralson St., Brownsville, TN 38012

Waverly Church of Christ, 438 W. Main St., Waverly, TN 37185

Civic Center, 400 S. Highland Ave., Jackson, TN 38301

Baker Community Center, 8077 Wilkinsville Rd., Millington, TN 38053

People’s Church, 828 Murfreesboro Rd., Franklin, TN 37064

Ed Rice Community Center, 2907 North Watkins St., Memphis, TN 38127

Tennessee Department of Transportation, 505 Deaderick St., Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37243; (615) 741-2848; http://www.tdot.state.tn.us.

The Web site provides information on road closures, incidents, and conditions that may result from an emergency or disaster. According to the Web site, “Flooding continues throughout West and Middle Tennessee, however all interstates are currently opened to traffic.” Please visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/tdotsmartway/default.htm to view road closure information or call 5-1-1.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 500 C Street S.W., Washington, DC 20472; (800) 621-FEMA; http://www.fema.gov.