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Please tell us how we’re doing.
We want to hear from you about how well we are doing as your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. You can call or write to us at any time – your comments are always welcome whether they are positive or negative. From time to time, we may conduct surveys that ask our members to tell about their experiences with our Plan. If you are contacted, we hope you will participate in a member satisfaction survey. Your answers to the survey questions will help us know what we are doing well and where we need to improve.
How to contact our Plan’s Customer Services
If you have any questions or concerns, please call or write to Customer Services. We will be happy to help you. Our Customer Services hours are 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
CALL 1-800-547-0421, this number is also on the cover of this Benefit Guide for easy reference. Calls to this number are free.
TTY/TDD Please use 711, the national access number
FAX 801-595-4399
WRITE UPREHS, PO Box 165090, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-5090
WEBSITE www.uphealth.com
For additional contact information please use the Customer Service Section of the website.
How to contact the Medicare program and the 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048) helpline
Medicare is the Federal health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older, some people under age 65 with disabilities, and people with End Stage Renal Disease, sometimes referred to as ESRD (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant). CMS is the Federal agency in charge of the Medicare program. CMS stands for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS contracts with and regulates Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (including our Plan).
Here are ways to get help and information about Medicare from CMS
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to ask questions or get free information booklets from Medicare. You can call this national Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048. Calls to these numbers are free.
Use a computer to look at www.medicare.gov, the official government Website for Medicare information. This Website gives you a lot of up-to-date information about Medicare and nursing homes. It includes Medicare publications you can print directly from your computer. It has tools to help you compare Medicare Health Plans and Prescription Drug Plans in your area. You can also search the “Helpful Contacts” section for the Medicare contacts in your State. If you do not have a computer, your local library or senior center may be able to help you visit this Website using their computer.
SHIP – an organization in your state that provides free Medicare help and information
SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. SHIPs are organizations paid by the Federal government to give free health insurance information and help to people with Medicare. SHIPs have different names depending on which State they are in. Your SHIP can explain your Medicare rights and protections, help you make complaints about care or treatment, and help straighten out problems with Medicare bills. Your SHIP has information about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Health Plans, and about Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policies.
You can find contact information for the SHIP in your State by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. You can also find the Website for your local SHIP at www.medicare.gov
Quality Improvement Organization – a group of doctors and health professionals in your State who review medical care and handle certain types of complaints from patients with Medicare
“QIO” stands for Quality Improvement Organization. The QIO is a group of doctors and other health care experts paid by the Federal government to check on and help improve the care given to Medicare patients. There is a QIO in each State. QIOs have different names, depending on which State they are in. In addition to other quality improvement and beneficiary protection activities, the doctors and other health experts in the QIO review written quality of care complaints made by Medicare patients. See Section 6 for more information about complaints.
You can find contact information for the QIO in your State by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
Other organizations
Medicaid agency – a State government agency that handles health care programs for people with low incomes
Medicaid is a joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Some people with Medicare are also eligible for Medicaid. Most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid also has programs that can help pay for your Medicare premiums and other costs, if you qualify. To find out more about Medicaid and its programs, contact your specific State Medicaid office. You can find your State Medicaid office by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration provides economic protection for Americans of all ages. Social Security programs include retirement benefits; disability; family benefits; survivors’ benefits; and benefits for the aged, blind, and disabled. If you have questions about any of these benefits you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY/TDD users should call 1-800-325-0778. Calls to these numbers are free. You can also visit www.ssa.gov.
Railroad Retirement Board
Most UPREHS members receive their Medicare benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board. You can call your local Railroad Retirement Board office or 1-800-808-0772 (calls to this number are free). TTY/TDD users should call 1-312-751-4701. You can also visit www.rrb.gov.
State Pharmacy Assistance Program
Some States have State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAP’s). SPAP’s are State-funded programs that provide financial assistance for prescription drugs to low-income and medically needy senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Some SPAP’s will help pay for the premiums, deductibles, and/or copayments for those who qualify. Please contact a SPAP in your State to determine what benefits may be available to you. You can find the SPAP in your area by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
Last Updated: 04/01/2008 |
UPREHS. Plan for Life.™ 
