Fresno Unified Retirees Association

Bulletin: where is my Aetna card?

This is the question we are being asked most frequently right now! The cards were supposed to be in the mail by December 15^th but some people have not received them. While you are waiting,  please try these two tactics: 

1.     Go online to www.deltahealthsystems.com and your card may be available for download directly from the site.

2.     Call Delta Health Systems at 800-807-0820 and talk with their customer service reps and see if they can give you your member ID and group number to show to your healthcare providers until your card comes in the mail.

I know this is incredibly stressful at a time when no one needs more stress. Please check back for updates on the this website: as soon as I know more, I will post it.  Joanna

November Update:

I hope this season finds you well. It has been a most difficult year for so many people and with vaccines in place, I hope this winter will be an easier one for everyone. There are some changes that have been announced by FUSD for the health plans for 2022, and this newsletter is about those changes. 

It is November, and that means it is time to look at your medical coverage through FUSD! By now all of you should have received the packet describing the option for 2022. The enroll deadlines if you are going to change your plan are important to note:

Deadline for switches between Plan Option A and Plan Option B is November 30, 2021

Deadline for Kaiser Senior Advantage enrollment application submission is November 19, 2021

If you have questions about your benefits, please call the FUSD main switchboard at 559-457-3000 and ask for Benefits. Please do not contact FURA about benefits questions!

What are the changes in your health care coverage for 2022? There is a major change in the physicians’ network that can provide you with in-network (less expensive) coverage for Plan options A and B.

For many years JHMB has contracted with Anthem Blue Cross for retirees’ coverage. That meant that the in-network provider list you chose from was the one for Anthem Blue Cross. This is completely changing, effective January 1, 2022.

(Elixir will still continue to provide prescription drug services for the PPO plans).

Effective 1/1/2022, your provider must be contracted with Aetna (rather than Anthem) for you to receive in-network rates for the PPO plans. Here are some common questions you may be asking: 

How will I know if my provider is in-network with Aetna? This is an important question, and now is the time to sort this out before the new year starts! This will help you avoid surprises after January 1st.

The best way to figure out if your provider contracts as an in-network provider with Aetna is to do what I call a “cross-check” of each provider you see. There are two steps:

1.  Now:  Talk with your provider’s office manager or business office to see if they are an in-network provider for Aetna for 2022. Aetna has a large national provider network, so many of your current physicians may be in Aetna’s network. But contracts change yearly, so it is important to check for 2022. 
2. In December:  Cross-check to see if your provider shows up on Aetna’s own list of in-network providers. You will receive a new Member ID card in December; once you have that card, use the link provided by FUSD to access the provider listings and see if your provider is listed. That link will come with the Membership ID card.

Cross-checking is the best way to know if your provider is truly in-network with Aetna. 

Now, about the plans, Option A and B:  what changes?

In Plan A, the co-insurance rate that you pay has decreased with Aetna from 10% to 5%. With Plan B, the co-insurance rate has decreased from 30% to 25%. This is a 5% savings for members in each plan provided you use in-network providers! That’s why it’s so important to do the “cross-check” listed above. 

I want to change to Kaiser:  what do I need to do? You should fill out the Kaiser enrollment form in the packet you received from the district and submit no later than November 19, 2021. Some people like the idea of everything “all under one roof,” including prescriptions. If you would prefer that to a PPO, Kaiser can be an option under the FUSD district plan. 

Delta Health Systems will continue to handle member services questions and claims matters.

Another big change, effective January 1, 2022:  Currently Plush Care provides telehealth services to FURA members.  As of January 1, 2022, Teledoc will provide telehealth services for the PPO Plan Options A & B. That means you could have a “visit” with a Board-certified physician using either your phone or the internet.

What kind of help can I get from Teledoc? If you would prefer to talk with someone without going out of your home AND if your condition involves something that is not an emergency (colds, flu, allergies, and sore throat are some good examples) then Teledoc may be a good option. It does NOT replace having a primary care physician that manages all of your care, one you see face-to-face for chronic/complex conditions. Teledoc is $5 per appointment and there is no co-pay. You may be able to have a Teledoc appointment more quickly than a face-to-face appointment with your regular doctor.

What’s new with the Elixir drug plan?  The short answer is, it is too soon to know.  The District has not yet released the specifics on the Medicare Drug plan through Elixir for 2022. Please watch this space for updates. I expect they will come in late November. 

Again, please note:  if you have questions about your benefits, please call the FUSD main switchboard at

559-457-3000 and ask for Benefits. Please do not contact FURA about benefits questions.

Be well everyone and best wishes for a holiday season filled with family and friends!