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Services Provided through Arkansas Employee Benefits Division
The Annual Benefits Guide (7088 KB PDF)
includes information on the new 2008 plan, what changes can be made, how to enroll, who to call with
questions, benefit coverage, rates, retirement information and frequently asked questions.
Important information about pre-certification, appeals and case management. Read to avoid
denials for services not pre-certified.
Health Advantage
Arkansas State and Public School Employee Benefits Division (EBD) and Health Advantage partnered in 2005 to offer the ARHealth plan to retirees with Medicare.
All Medicare and non-Medicare Arkansas State and Public School Retirees are enrolled automatically in the ARHealth Plan upon retirement.
Health Advantage, a subsidiary company of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has offered
health insurance products to public school employees and their dependents for more than 10
years. We understand the importance of having local access to customer service for you and
your family. If you need to walk in and speak with someone, we are there to help you, with
local offices in Texarkana, Little
Rock, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Pine Bluff and Fayetteville. These local offices
provide services to all the counties within their region.
If Medicare is not your primary coverage, the 2008 ARHealth plan features as follows:
- You will be automatically enrolled in this plan upon retirement.
- You do not have to select a primary care physician (PCP).
- You will have many preventive services covered at 100 percent.
- Your copayment will be $25 for PCP visits and $35 for specialist visits.
- You can use any in-state provider in the Health Advantage network without a referral.
- If you elect to use an out-of-network provider within the state of Arkansas, your out-of-network coinsurance will be 40 percent and the out-of-network deductible amount will be $1000 per individual and $2,000 per family,
with a maximum out-of-pocket expense of $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per family.
- If you wish to obtain services from an out-of-state provider, you can use any provider in the BlueCard®
PPO network.
- Your prescription drug benefits and mental health benefits will remain the same.
If Medicare is your primary coverage, the 2008 ARHealth plan features remain as follows:
- If Medicare is your primary coverage, you will be enrolled in this plan upon retirement.
- If you become Medicare eligible during the year, your coverage will be supplemental to your Medicare A & B benefits.
Send EBD a copy of your Medicare card as soon as you receive it.
- You do not have to select a primary care physician (PCP).
- You can see any physician – anywhere in the United States.
- If you are a state retiree, the premium for the ARHealth plan covers your prescription drugs, unlike other Medicare supplemental policies.
- If you are a public school retiree, your ARHealth premium has been substantially reduced to enable you to purchase a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan of your choice.
- You will not have separate mental health coverage through CorpHealth. Your mental health benefits are covered by Medicare and ARHealth.
Refer to your Annual Enrollment Guide for specific
benefits and rates, or call Health Advantage Customer Service at 1-800-482-8416 or Employee Benefits
Customer Service at 1-877-815-8017 or 501-682-9656.
BlueCard®
As an ARHealth member through Health Advantage, you have more freedom to choose the doctors and
hospitals that best suit you and your family. Your coverage gives you a world of choices through
the BlueCard® Program.
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