Engineers News - December 2015

Health News
'Tis the season ... for saving!
It is better to give than to receive. That’s true in regards to the
holidays, but not when it comes to the costs of your health care.
Are you receiving the most “bang for your buck” for your
medical benefits? Below are some ways to use your medical
benefits wisely.
You’ve got a Watchdog
Many health care decisions can be confusing and costly. The
Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Trust Fund and the
Pensioned Trust Fund have partnered with Anthem Blue Cross
to create the Watchdog Service, which can help you locate the
best doctors and facilities in your area and track the precise costs
they charge.
Anthem Blue Cross representatives will provide you with
the quality measures and costs of over 400 different medical and
surgical procedures. They will also help determine your basic
benefits and estimate any out-of-pocket costs, and you’ll have all
of this important information before you decide which steps to
take next. All you have to do is call the toll-free numbers below.
• Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Trust Fund –
(855) 279-2128
• Pensioned Operating Engineers Trust Fund
(Non-Medicare members only) – (855) 229-7822
Having surgery? Being referred to a specialist?
When you make an appointment to see a surgeon or
specialist, ask if he or she participates in the Anthem Preferred
Provider Organization (PPO) network. You can also call the
Trust Fund Office at (800) 251-5013 or (510) 433-4422 to confirm
that any provider is in the network, or visit Anthem’s website at
www.anthem.com/ca to locate a participating network provider.
Click on “Find a Doctor” and select the provider and location
you’re looking for.
If your doctor recommends care that requires the services of
several different providers, specialists or facilities, make sure
they’re all in the Anthem PPO network.
Need more convincing? A participant went to an Anthem
Blue Cross surgeon for carpal tunnel and the surgeon referred
the participant to an out-of-network surgery center. The total
charge from the facility was $28,695, but since the Plan only
pays $500 for an out-of-network facility, the participant’s out-ofpocket
expense was $28,195!
The moral of the story: Always make sure you ask your
Anthem Blue Cross doctor/surgeon if the facility you’re being
referred to is an in-network PPO.
Before any surgery, find out if an assistant surgeon,
anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist will be
involved. If so, call the Trust Fund Office to see if the assistant
surgeon’s involvement is necessary and if any additional out-ofpocket
expenses may result.
Need lab work?
When you need laboratory or pathology tests performed, ask
your doctor if you can use a Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (Quest) or
Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) facility. These are
two of the nation’s largest laboratories, and they participate in
the Anthem PPO network.
Services at these labs can cost 70-75 percent less than the
same services provided by hospital-based facilities and nonnetwork
labs. This means you can save the Fund $75 for every
$100 worth of lab tests your doctor orders just by asking for
Quest or LabCorp. For help finding the nearest facility, visit
www.anthem.com/ca. You can contact Quest or LabCorp
directly by phone or visit their website at:
• Quest: (800) 377-7220, www.questdiagnostics.com
• LabCorp: (888) 522-2677, www.labcorp.com
Generic medications – what a great idea!
Using generic medications instead of brand-name drugs will
not only save you money, but will also help the Fund control the
cost of prescription drug coverage. By law, generic medications
must meet the same standards for safety, purity and effectiveness
as brand-name medications, and on average, they can cost up to
50 percent less than their brand-name equivalent.
If you are taking a brand-name medication, find out if it has
a generic equivalent. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of
switching. You’ll be glad you did!
Happy holidays, everyone. Be safe. Be healthy. See you in
2016!
OE3 Trust Funds
Health. Security. Service.
30 | Engineers News