ALLtech Helps Members Stay Healthy with Virtual Care at $0 Co-Pay

When you’re enrolled in ALLtech, accessing health care is easy whether you’re in the office, at home or on the go with virtual care at $0 co-pay on most plans.

Through MDLIVE, members enrolled in medical through Regence BlueShield or Asuris Northwest Health have 24/7 access to a broad range of services that include:

Primary Care

Consult with a board-certified doctor who will diagnose and treat non-emergency medical conditions, prescribe medications and send prescriptions to your pharmacy. Some common ailments that can be treated include cold/flu, allergies and headaches. For a detailed list, view our Welcome to MDLIVE flyer.

Behavioral Health Care

Through ALLtech, members can talk to a licensed counselor or psychiatrist from their home, office or on the go, to treat issues such as stress, depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, and more. The confidential, convenient online therapy is available 24/7 via the MDLIVE app. To learn more, download the MDLIVE Behavioral Health flyer.

Dermatology

ALLtech members have 24/7 access to a network of leading, board-certified dermatologists who can diagnose and treat more than 3,000 skin, hair and nail conditions online. A visit takes less than 10 minutes to complete, compared to waiting days, weeks or even months to visit with a dermatologist in-person. See our post Virtual Dermatology Visits Now Available Through ALLtech to learn more, or visit the MDLIVE Dermatology page.

Substance Use Disorder

MDLIVE partners with Boulder Care to offer a unique virtual care model that provides access 24/7 to substance use disorder treatment. Learn more in our article ALLtech Addresses Substance Use Disorder with Unique Virtual Care Model or visit Boulder.Care/Regence.

Learn More

To login or learn more, go to MDLIVE.com/Regence-WA or MDLIVE.com/Asuris

8 Ways to Improve Your Health in the New Year

From ALLtech medical partner Regence BlueShield

If your New Year’s resolutions include a goal to improve your health in 2024, here are eight things you can do this year with a little help from ALLtech Benefits’ medical partner Regence:

  1. Select a primary care provider if you haven’t yet. Having a doctor established now makes it easy to get care when you need it. It can take a while to get in for an initial appointment, so schedule it right away. If you need help finding an in-network primary care provider, try Regence’s find a doctor tool or call the number on the back of your member ID card.
  2. Get an annual wellness visit with your primary care provider, which is covered by most ALLtech medical plans with no out-of-pocket costs. Your doctor can assess your overall health and give you guidance on how to improve. This baseline can be very helpful as you plan health, fitness and weight loss goals for the year.
  3. Take care of your mental health. Make self-care a priority. If you’re struggling and need help, ALLtech covers a variety of mental health care services and resources, such as one-on-one counseling, group therapy, medication, as well as self-guided well-being tools and virtual care options. Learn more about ALLtech’s Employee Assistance Program, Wellspring EAP, and virtual behavioral health resources available through MDLIVE.
  4. Get all your age-appropriate recommended health screenings, such as screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers. Most screenings are covered through ALLtech with no out-of-pocket costs if you meet criteria. Talk to your doctor about which screenings you should get this year and sign in to your account on regence.com to learn more about your coverage. It may take a few months to get in for some screenings, so get them scheduled early.
  5. Get vaccinated. Getting all your age-appropriate recommended vaccinations will help you avoid illness so you can focus on improving your health. Most vaccinations are covered through ALLtech with no out-of-pocket costs if you meet criteria. Some vaccinations, like the flu shot, are covered annually. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for help deciding which vaccinations you should get.
  6. Participate in a wellness program. The Regence Empower app is a wellness program available to ALLtech members, but you can use it even if you’re not part of an employer plan. The app can help you track your progress on things like sleep, stress, food and exercise. You can also use it to participate in health challenges and find links to podcasts and helpful health-related information. Download the Regence Empower flyer for more information.
  7. Familiarize yourself with all the care options covered by your health plan. Make sure you know when you should head to the emergency room versus an urgent care or your doctor’s office, versus the virtual care and telehealth options available with your ALLtech plan. Knowing the difference could save you time and money, and it’s better to figure it out now instead of when you’re sick.
  8. Consider nutrition counseling. Most Regence plans cover one-on-one nutrition counseling with a dietitian to help you improve your diet. The counseling can be especially helpful if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or renal kidney disease. Benefits vary by plan and can depend on applicable state or federal mandates. To learn what’s available for you, sign in to your account to chat online or call us at the number on the back of your member ID card.

Log in to your account at regence.com or call the number on the back of your insurance card to learn more about all your insurance coverage.

Preventive Care Resources for ALLtech Members

2024 is right around the corner, and with it comes a new allocation of preventive care benefits for groups enrolled in ALLtech medical coverage. As an ALLtech member, comprehensive preventive care benefits are included — such as annual wellness exams, immunizations, age-appropriate screenings, and services for pregnant members and children — with no out-of-pocket cost when received from in-network providers.

Check out the online Regence preventive care list to gain insights about the importance of preventive care and a detailed listing of all no-cost preventive care that’s included with groups’ plans.

Get more by creating an account

To learn more about your ALLtech medical plan benefits, consider creating an account on regence.com or downloading the Regence app. Creating an account unlocks valuable features that enable members to have a personalized experience with their health plan. When signed in to their account, members can access the following resources:

  • Find care: This enables members to search and schedule appointments with in-network doctors and specialists locally — and nationwide when they’re away from home.
  • Estimate costs: Members can save money by comparing costs for tests, treatments and common procedures from multiple providers. They can also get personalized real-time out-of-pocket cost estimates based on their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
  • Telehealth: Members can access convenient, cost-effective high-quality care through MDLIVE for nonurgent needs and behavioral health.
  • Nurse advice: Members rely on Advice24 for guidance and support for everyday health concerns. It’s a convenient and quick way to get support from a registered nurse for nonemergency health issues and questions that might otherwise lead to unnecessary doctor and ER visits. Advice24 is embedded in most fully insured group plans and available as a buy-up to ASO groups.
  • Wellness: Regence Empower™ provides personalized tools and resources designed to guide each member to improved health. Program enhancements effective Jan. 1, 2024, include wellness incentive rewards for participating employees’ eligible spouses or domestic partners.
  • Medication cost savings: Members can research the efficacy and costs of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and compare brand-names vs. generics before buying.
  • Regence Advantages: This comprehensive discount program provides savings on over-the-counter health and wellness products, fertility services, hearing aids and more. Regence Advantages partner Active&Fit Direct offers access to 12,500+ fitness centers (including participating 24 Hour Fitness locations) nationwide for just $28 per month and has a $0 enrollment fee when members join by Feb. 29, 2024.

For more resources available to ALLtech members, visit the Wellness Resources page on the ALLtech Employer portal.

It’s National Influenza Vaccination Week: 5 Reasons to Get a Flu Shot

To help recognize National Influenza Vaccination Week, taking place December 4-8, 2023, ALLtech Benefits would like to remind you that there’s still time to get a flu shot to help you celebrate the holidays safely. Members enrolled in ALLtech received full coverage for the cost of most vaccinations at 100 percent when members see an in-network provider.

Why get a flu shot?

Flu shots benefit you, your family and your community 

The most important action to protect yourself against flu is getting a flu vaccine each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine to reduce your risk of getting flu and lessen its symptoms if you do get sick.

Getting vaccinated against flu can also help protect loved ones, like adults 65 years and older and people living with chronic conditions, both groups of people who are at higher risk of having serious flu complications. Bottom line? Getting an annual flu vaccine is important to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community against flu.

Flu shots benefit pregnant people and babies 

Flu can be especially serious for pregnant people because of changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy that can make them more vulnerable to flu and its potentially severe complications. The good news? Getting a flu vaccine can reduce your risk of getting flu and lessen flu symptoms if you do get sick both during and after pregnancy. A flu shot during pregnancy also can help protect your baby from flu for several months after birth, when they’re too young to be vaccinated themselves.

Flu vaccines have safely protected millions of pregnant people and their babies from flu for decades. One study showed fewer cases of infants with flu in mothers who got a flu vaccine compared to mothers who were not vaccinated. This is because, when vaccinated while pregnant, you pass antibodies on to your developing baby.

Flu shots benefit young children 

Did you know flu can be more serious for children than a cold? That’s why it’s also important to get your children vaccinated against flu this year. Children younger than 5 years old – especially those younger than 2 – and children of any age with certain chronic health conditions, like asthma and diabetes, are at a higher risk of developing potentially serious flu complications. Because these groups of children are at higher risk, it is especially important they get a flu vaccine to reduce their risk of getting sick or being hospitalized or dying from flu if they do get sick.

Flu vaccines are safe and effective – and there’s still time to get vaccinated

Every year, experts update flu vaccines as needed to best protect against the viruses expected to spread during the upcoming season. During seasons when the vaccine viruses are well-matched to the viruses that are spreading, flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness by 40 percent to 60 percent. And if someone who is vaccinated gets sick, vaccination has been shown to reduce severity of illness, reducing the risk of serious flu outcomes.

The best time to get vaccinated is before flu has begun spreading widely in your community but vaccination can still be protective later. Flu most commonly peaks in February, and significant flu activity can continue into May.

You have options on which flu vaccine to get and where to get it, including at a health care provider’s office, at work, a pharmacy, some stores, or even supermarkets. Speak with a health care provider today about getting a flu vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated against flu at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm.

Find Balance with November Webinars from Wellspring EAP

ALLtech is proud to partner with Wellspring EAP to provide members enrolled in medical coverage with three free visits with a counselor each year. But support from the locally based employee assistance program (EAP) also includes resources available 24/7 through its robust online platform at wellspringeap.org.

Each month, Wellspring EAP also offers webinars that highlight its diverse services. For November, please consider registering for the following webinars that are free and open to anyone. Recordings will be sent to those who register after the live webinar and will be available online:

  • The Financial Wellness Playbook
    November 3, noon to 1 p.m. (PT)

    This class shares the habits commonly practiced by people who have little financial stress in their lives: the coaching staff of my Secure Advantage® (MSA) – the financial benefit provided through Wellspring EAP, which has has conducted over a million financial consultations. Presented by Tiffany Willis, the goal of this class is for attendees to take pride in the processes they are practicing well and develop an action plan to address the habits they would like to improve.

  • How to Be the Calm in the Storm During Emotionally Escalated Conversations (for Managers, HR Partners)
    November 8, 11 a.m. to noon (PT)

    We’ve all had that moment when we realize it’s about to get uncomfortable; we know we are in or about to get into a difficult conversation – maybe even a conflict. Each one of us has default and/or predictable and patterned ways of being in those moments and beyond. In this webinar presented by Carol Bowser, JD, you’ll learn to recognize your individual stress response style and cues so you can create a strategy that works for you rather than falling into your default behavior. You’ll learn to manage yourself under pressure as well as hold space for others who are also under pressure. Carol will share some of the common pitfalls many of us experience when situations are intense, and we will explore tools that can help avoid or mitigate the pitfalls and/or the consequences. We will discuss strategies that help you remain neutral. Get ready to have tools, language, and a framework to help you more elegantly navigate important conversations.

  • Sleep Skills for Travel
    November 9, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (PT)

    Travel is coming back in a big way, so it’s time to refresh your travel sleep skills so you can have a fabulous trip. Shifting our body clock doesn’t happen automatically, and can cause symptoms including digestive upset, daytime fatigue along with night time sleepiness, and irritability. Adding skills to help shift your body clock to the new time zone can make all the difference. Come learn from Dr. Catherine Darley, ND, how to prepare in advance of your trip, and what to do when you arrive. We’ll talk about strategies from light and dark exposure, timing of melatonin supplements, mealtimes and more.

In-Network Urgent Health Care at Home Now Available Through ALLtech

ALLtech members enrolled in medical coverage now have access to same-day medical care in the comfort of your home through DispatchHealth. As an in-network provider, out-of-pocket costs are the same as an urgent care center visit and a fraction of an ER visit.

Care teams are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 365 days a year to treat complex medical issues that are commonly addressed in the emergency room, with access to IVs, EKGs, blood tests and more.

To learn more, download our DispatchHealth flyers for ALLtech members enrolled in Regence BlueShield or Asuris Northwest Health.

Vacation with Confidence with Travel Assistance for ALLtech Members

For ALLtech members enrolled in Group Life insurance through The Standard, you can breathe a little easier when planning your next vacation knowing you have access to Travel Assistance.

A single phone call helps employees and their families with emergencies that may arise while traveling, including a wide range of medical, legal and travel-related issues. Take a break from stress on your next vacation and let ALLtech support your overall wellness with access to Travel Assistance, which is available when you’re experiencing a medical or non-medical travel emergency while traveling:

  • More than 100 miles from home or in another country
  • For less than 180 days

During a medical emergency, Travel Assistance is there to ensure you get the care you need. If appropriate medical care isn’t available at the facility where you’re being treated, Travel Assistance will arrange and pay for your transportation to the closest, most appropriate medical facility able to provide the necessary treatment.

Throughout your hospitalization, Travel Assistance will monitor your care and medical condition. Travel Assistance will also coordinate with your health insurance, employers and family members, as requested and applicable. Once you’re clear for travel and discharged from the hospital, Travel Assistance will arrange and pay for your return home via the most appropriate mode of transport with medical escort, as necessary.

Travel Assistance can also help with non-emergencies, such as trip planning. Key services of Travel Assistance include:

  • Pre-Trip Assistance including visa, weather and currency exchange information, inoculation recommendations, country-specific details and security and travel advisories
  • Trip Assistance including help with replacing credit cards and passports, locating missing baggage and emergency cash coordination
  • Medical Assistance including locating medical and dental providers and translation services, replacement of prescription medical and corrective lenses and advancement of funds for hospital admission
  • Legal Referral including locating a local attorney, consular officer or bail bond coordination
  • Emergency Transportation Services including arranging and paying for emergency evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility and medically necessary repatriation to the employee’s home, including repatriation of remains
  • Companion Transportation Services including returning travel companion if return travel is disrupted due to emergency transportation services or returning dependent children if left unattended due to prolonged hospitalization
  • Evacuation Arrangements in the event of a natural disaster, political unrest and social instability
  • Vehicle Return if emergency transportation services are required and the participant’s personal vehicle is stranded

For more information, download the Travel Assistance Flyer for Employees, or the Travel Assistance FAQ.

To learn more about enrolling in ALLtech or to get a quote, fill out our Request a Quote form, email [email protected], or call 206.602.3558.

Virtual Care in Just 3 Easy Steps for ALLtech Members

Have you signed up for virtual care so it’s available for you when you need it most? At just $0 co-pay on most medical plans through ALLtech, it’s a choice that can save you money and time, offering access to doctors, counselors, psychiatrists or dermatologists at your convenience by phone, video or mobile app.

Watch the above video to find out just how easy it is to for ALLtech members to access their MDLIVE virtual care benefit, which includes:

Primary Care

Consult with a board-certified doctor who will diagnose and treat non-emergency medical conditions, prescribe medications and send prescriptions to your pharmacy. Some common ailments that can be treated include cold/flu, allergies and headaches. For a detailed list, view our Welcome to MDLIVE flyer.

Behavioral Health Care

Through ALLtech, members can talk to a licensed counselor or psychiatrist from their home, office or on the go, to treat issues such as stress, depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, and more. The confidential, convenient online therapy is available 24/7 via the MDLIVE app. To learn more, download the MDLIVE Behavioral Health flyer.

Dermatology

ALLtech members have 24/7 access to a network of leading, board-certified dermatologists who can diagnose and treat more than 3,000 skin, hair and nail conditions online. A visit takes less than 10 minutes to complete, compared to waiting days, weeks or even months to visit with a dermatologist in-person. See our post Virtual Dermatology Visits Now Available Through ALLtech to learn more, or visit the MDLIVE Dermatology page.

Substance Use Disorder

MDLIVE partners with Boulder Care to offer a unique virtual care model that provides access 24/7 to substance use disorder treatment. Learn more in our article ALLtech Addresses Substance Use Disorder with Unique Virtual Care Model or visit Boulder.Care/Regence.

Learn More

To login or learn more, go to MDLIVE.com/Regence-WA or MDLIVE.com/Asuris

Washington Announces End of State COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

From ALLtech medical provider Regence BlueShield

As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the three-year milestone, it’s become hard to remember what life was like before we were all living under a public health emergency (PHE). For residents of Washington state, that is changing.

According to Covid Act Now, community risk for COVID-19 throughout most of Washington is low. The state’s vaccination rates are among the highest in the United States, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports Washington as having the fifth-lowest death rate among all states.

Washington state’s public health leaders still emphasize the importance of staying up to date on vaccinations and continued mask wearing. And with full confidence in those and other tools proven to mitigate COVID-19’s impact, Gov. Jay Inslee officially called an end to the PHE, effective Oct. 31, 2022.

What Washington state ending the PHE means for access to health care

With Washington’s PHE ending, some state-specific PHE provisions have expired. Here’s a summary of what’s changed in Washington.

  • Out-of-network treatment may cost patients more. The Washington PHE temporarily required private health insurers like Regence to cover many members’ COVID-19 treatment at in-network (INN) cost shares. That meant many Washingtonians with employer-sponsored or Individual/family health insurance could access treatment at any provider in the state and pay the typically lower in-network rate, regardless of whether the provider was in the insurer’s network. With the rule’s expiration, these health plan members will want to be careful to seek COVID-19 treatment from in-network (INN) providers to avoid paying higher OON cost shares. For Medicare members, federal PHE considerations may be different.
  • Vaccination counseling may cost more. To encourage vaccination uptake, the Washington PHE temporarily required private health insurers to cover vaccination counseling, in which patients review and discuss the risks and benefits of specific vaccines with their provider, at no cost to the patient. Beginning Nov. 1, insurers are allowed to cover vaccination counseling for most patients at regular health plan cost shares. Check with your health plan to see whether vaccine counseling services will cost you anything out-of-pocket.

What’s not changing in Washington state

The following rules included in the Washington PHE will remain in effect as long as the federal PHE is in place:

  • COVID-19 testing and related provider visits are still covered with $0 out-of-pocket cost to patients when the testing is conducted at an FDA-approved lab.
  • Patients are protected from receiving “surprise bills” for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19.

Some self-funded employers added customized benefit enhancements to their health plans that may supersede the expiring Washington state and remaining federal PHE rules. In most of these cases, benefit enhancements will remain in place for employees (and their covered dependents) through the end of their employer’s health plan year.

Regence members – including those enrolled in ALLtech – looking to better understand their COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment coverage can sign in to their account on regence.com to learn more or call the Customer Service phone number on the back of their member ID card. Members who don’t have an account can create one by visiting regence.com/member/registration.

Get More From Your Vision Insurance in Tough Economic Times

From our vision provider VSP Vision Care Inc.

Don’t let vision take a back seat in these difficult economic times. For ALLtech members enrolled in vision, VSP Vision Care Inc. has you and your family covered with access to a nationwide network of eye doctors and low out-of-pocket costs for the savings you deserve. To find out what your vision plan includes, simply create an account at vsp.com and log in for detailed benefit information.

Make your plan work for you:

    1. Find a conveniently located VSP network doctor 
      As a VSP member, you’ll get the most out of your benefits when you visit a Premier Program location. Don’t have an eye doctor? No problem! Visit vsp.com to find a Premier Program location near you. At your appointment, just let them know you have VSP. Here are more tips to finding a Premier Program location.
    2. Eyecare is healthcare — Get your annual eye exam!
      An eye exam can help detect serious eye diseases and health conditions. Even if you don’t need glasses, everyone in your family can benefit from an annual eye exam — including young children and teens — and summer is a great time to squeeze in appointments and get a jump on the next school year.
    3. Choose from a wide selection of stylish frames and lenses 
      Using your VSP benefits makes finding the right eyewear for your look and your pocketbook easy when you see a VSP network doctor. Get the most out of your benefits with an extra $40 to spend on select frame brands.* Plus, you’ll get an extra $20 to spend when you choose a featured frame brand.*
    4. Take advantage of your second-pair eyewear discount 
      You’ll save up to 20% on a second pair of glasses including lens enhancements — like anti-glare coating, progressives, and light-reactive lenses — when you purchase from your VSP network doctor within 12 months of your last exam. With these savings, why not get a second pair?
    5. Shop Eyeconic — The only online eyewear store to partner with the VSP Doctor Network.
      Most VSP members can use their benefit to buy eyewear online at Eyeconic® — including stylish frames, lens enhancements, and contacts. It’s the only online store where qualifying VSP members can apply their vision benefit to their order and enjoy in-network savings. You can also save up to 40% on lens enhancements.** Like to plan ahead? Take advantage of the Virtual Try-On Tool at Eyeconic® and come face-to-face with the perfect frames for you. Visit Eyeconic® and see how seamlessly you can connect your eyewear insurance coverage with your doctor’s expertise.

    Want to learn more about the vision insurance benefits available to ALLtech members? Take a look at VSP Vision Coverage through ALLtech.

    *Available only to VSP members with applicable plan benefits, which includes ALLtech members enrolled in vision. Frame brands subject to change.
    **Savings based on doctor’s retail price and vary by plan and purchase selection; average savings determined after benefits are applied. Available only through VSP network doctors to VSP members with applicable plan benefits. Ask your VSP network doctor for details.