If you retired under the Wyeth benefit plans, please continue to contact the Legacy-Wyeth HR Service Center (now called the hrSource Center) at 1-866-699-9384 for benefit information and support. Information is also available by visiting www.MyWyethBenefits.com. |
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions we receive through the site.
- Call hrSource at 1-866-4
SOURCE (1-866-476-8723).
- When asked if you are an active colleague
or on leave of absence, reply “NO.”
- When asked if you
are a retiree, reply “YES.”
- Select the menu prompt for “Medical,
Dental, Life insurance or Billing” to continue with your request.
- Provide your Social Security number or Customer ID.
- Follow the
prompts to create or change your PIN.
- Exit the phone system.
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What will you need for Medical, Dental, Life Insurance or Billing Questions?
SS#
or Customer ID + Fidelity PIN
What will you need for Questions About Your Savings Plan or to Account
Access?
SS# or Customer ID + Fidelity PIN
What will you need for Requesting a Pension Estimate or a Distribution,
or for Payment Questions (for Legacy Pfizer and Legacy Warner-Lambert Retirees)?
SS#
+ hrSource PIN
What will you need for requesting a pension estimate or a distribution,
or for payment questions (for Legacy Pharmacia Retirees)?
SS# or Customer ID + Fidelity
PIN
What will you need for a Change of Address?
Retiree Medical and to Receive
Plus—If you are currently receiving a medical benefit, call hrSource to change your address. At the prompt, identify yourself as a retiree
and select the option for "Medical, Dental, Life Insurance or Billing." Follow
the prompts to change your mailing address. Completing this step will
change your address record for your Health and Welfare plans and will
change your address to receive a copy of Plus. Pension/Savings Plan—If
you are receiving a pension or participate in the savings plan, call
hrSource and asked to be transferred to the pension and savings plan
vendors to update your address in their systems.
What will you need to report a Death?
No PIN required
What will you need for
Stock Options?
No PIN required
What will you need for Forms?
No PIN required
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When did the prescription card go into effect?
The prescription card was introduced for Pfizer, Warner-Lambert and certain Nutra-Sweet
retirees on January 1, 2006. Pharmacia and Upjohn, Monsanto and the remaining
Nutra-Sweet retirees have been using a prescription drug card through Caremark
(formerly Advance PCS) for the last few years.
Who administers the Pfizer Prescription Drug Program?
Caremark is the
administrator for the Prescription Drug Program for Pfizer, Pharmacia
and Upjohn, Monsanto and Nutra-Sweet/Searle. The Warner-Lambert Drug
Program is administered by Aetna.
How do I use the prescription card?
You just need to present your prescription
card at a participating network pharmacy when you pick up your prescription.
The pharmacy will apply the appropriate benefit.
What is the co-pay/co-insurance for prescriptions?
The co-payment/co-insurance
will differ depending on the medical plan you are enrolled in. If your
plan has a copayment, it can range anywhere from $5.00 – $25.00
per prescription. If your plan has the coinsurance, it can range from
80% to 90%.
What pharmacies accept the card?
Participating network pharmacies
include national chains such as CVS, Rite Aid, Eckerd, Drug Fair, Walgreen's
and many others. For more information, refer to your pharmacy card
or contact your vendor directly.
Are there any pharmacies that will not accept the card?
Yes, there
may be pharmacies that do not participate in your prescription plan.
If you have a prescription filled at a non-participating pharmacy you
will need to pay the cost of the prescription at the pharmacy and file
a claim for reimbursement. Claim forms can be obtained at the individual
vendor's website or by calling the vendor directly.
Are Pfizer drug costs covered at 100%?
Yes, the cost for all Pfizer
manufactured prescription drugs is covered at 100%. However, if you
have coverage through Health America, Care Choices HMO or Priority
Health, you will be required to pay your co-payment at the pharmacy
for Pfizer drugs that are covered at 100% and then you will need to
submit a claim form to UHC for reimbursement of any co-pay required.
Can a pharmacy suggest that I accept a generic drug?
Sometimes the
pharmacy may offer a generic drug when the brand name is not readily
available. You may choose not to accept a generic by ensuring that
your doctor checks the "do not substitute" box at the bottom
of your written prescription. If the doctor does not make this indication,
you can advise the pharmacist that you do not want the generic version
of your prescription at the time they fill your prescription.
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I continue to hear a lot in the news about Medicare Part D, which
went into effect in 2006. Don't I get drug coverage through Pfizer?
Yes. The retirees enrolled in the Pfizer-sponsored retiree medical
coverage for 2006 have prescription drug coverage. You are covered
100% for Pfizer drugs and pay only your share of the cost (your "co-insurance" or
co-payment) for your non-Pfizer prescription drugs at the time of purchase.
*
Coverage differs for retirees enrolled in the BCBS of MI and BCBS of
Rochester Plans.
How does Pfizer's coverage compare to what is available through Medicare
Part D?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services consider the
drug coverage provided under the Pfizer-sponsored retiree medical coverage
to be "creditable." That means that Pfizer drug coverage
is considered to be at least as generous as the standard Medicare prescription
drug coverage.
Do the problems that some seniors are having getting drugs through
Medicare Part D coverage effect how I get my drugs?
No. Some of the
problems seniors are having are related primarily to enrollment in
Medicare Part D and the problems the program had experienced earlier
this year with benefits information and eligibility. Since the vast
majority of Pfizer retirees are enrolled in the Pfizer-sponsored retiree
medical coverage, they are not affected by these problems.
What should I do if I am having a problem getting my prescription
drugs or with my pharmacy card?
If you are having any problems getting
your prescription drugs, you should contact hrSource at 1-866-4-SOURCE
(1-866-476-8723) and select the prompt for your medical plan.
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When do I become eligible for Medicare?
You become eligible for Medicare
when you turn age 65. You may also become eligible for Medicare if
you become disabled before age 65. You can find additional information
on Medicare eligibility at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227). TTY users may call 1-877-486-2048.
I turn 65 later this year. How and when will I receive information
about Medicare?
You should contact your local Medicare office at least
90 days in advance of turning 65 in order to receive information on
Medicare and enrolling in Medicare benefits. You will receive information
regarding your Pfizer retiree medical coverage, and the impact of Medicare,
approximately 30 days before you turn 65. Please call hrSource at 1-866-4
SOURCE (1-866- 476-8723) if you do not receive this information.
I've been told that Medicare becomes my primary medical insurer when
I turn 65. What happens to my Pfizer-sponsored coverage?
Yes, you are
correct. When you turn 65, Medicare becomes your primary insurer. What
that means is that Medicare will be responsible for reimbursing you
first for any eligible medical expenses.
Your Pfizer-sponsored coverage
will reimburse you after Medicare, depending on the provisions and
coverage limits provided by the plan in which you are enrolled. Consult
your pre-enrollment brochures or call hrSource at 1-866-4 SOURCE (1-866-476-8723)
for more information.
What happens when my spouse is under age 65 and I'm 65 or over and
Medicare eligible?
It sometimes happens that one person is Medicare
eligible and one is not yet eligible. If you are age 65 or older, Medicare
will be your primary coverage and your Pfizer sponsored retiree medical
plan will be your secondary coverage. If your spouse is under age 65,
your Pfizer sponsored retiree medical plan will be his/her primary
coverage until they reach age 65.
Please note that the person under age 65 may be enrolled in a different
plan with different plan rules. For example, if a retiree is enrolled
in the Voluntary Additional coverage and they have a spouse who is
not yet 65, the under age 65 participant will be enrolled in the Aetna
Traditional Indemnity plan. For information on enrollment rules please
contact hrSource at 1-866-4 SOURCE (1-866-476-8723).
I am a surviving spouse and will be turning 65 in a few months. Will
my benefits continue?
As long as you continue to be eligible under
the rules of the Plan in which you are enrolled, your benefits will
continue. If you are required to enroll in a different plan due to
your turning age 65, information will be mailed to you approximately
30 days in advance of age 65. If you do not receive this information
or have any questions on your coverage after age 65 please contact
hrSource at 1-866-4 SOURCE (1-866-476-8723).
I won't turn 65 for a few years. How can I find out what my Pfizer-sponsored
coverage options are when I become Medicare eligible?
Because Pfizer
may change the provisions of its plans at anytime, it may not be a
good idea to look at current plan provisions if you will not become
Medicare eligible for a few years. However, it is a good idea to ask
for that information approximately 30 days before you turn 65 or when
you become Medicare eligible. You can contact hrSource at 1-866-4 SOURCE
(1-866-476-8723). You can ask for a Summary Plan Description (SPD)
on the plans you are eligible for. In addition, you can access them
online through the reference library at NetBenefits at www.hrsourcebenefits.pfizer.com.
I know I have very good prescription drug coverage through my Pfizer-sponsored
plan. Do I need to also enroll in Medicare Part D?
Only you can decide,
based on your personal circumstances, whether Part D coverage is right
for you. However, because Pfizer-sponsored plans provide excellent
prescription drug coverage and cover Pfizer drugs at 100%, most retirees
would not benefit from having additional drug coverage through Part
D. Also, keep in mind that if you enroll in Part D coverage, you will
be paying an additional cost for prescription drug coverage that you
already have through your Pfizer-sponsored plan.
Medicare EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) statements are now sent quarterly
instead of monthly, so it takes us much longer to get reimbursed for
expenses that Medicare does not cover or only covers partially. Is
there anything that can be done?
Yes. You can call Medicare directly
and request the EOB at any time. To do so, you'll need to call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227). TTY users may call 1-877-486-2048. You should also
be aware of Medicare crossover. Medicare crossover is the process for
determining the respective responsibilities of two or more health plans
that have some financial responsibility for a medical claim. This is
also called "coordination of benefits." With Medicare crossover,
claims are processed by both health plans without your direct intervention.
All retirees enrolled in United Healthcare coverage are automatically
eligible for Medicare Crossover. Retirees who are covered under Aetna
can call and request to be enrolled for Medicare Crossover. It does
not cost you anything to enroll.
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In the news every day you hear about the skyrocketing costs of healthcare
in the U.S. These escalating costs have a direct affect on healthcare
costs for both active employees and retirees in all types of plans.
Here are some of the factors that affect what you pay for health insurance.
Uninsured Americans — Society pays some portion of the cost
to treat uninsured citizens. The millions of Americans who do not have
health insurance typically don't get routine physical exams or take
advantage of preventative health screenings. Over time, chronic conditions
like heart disease, diabetes or asthma, if left undiagnosed or untreated,
will cost dramatically more to treat than if they were managed earlier
with better primary care.
Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices — Poor food choices, smoking and
little or no exercise can lead to chronic health conditions. As conditions
like these materialize, the costs to treat them are assumed by everyone.
A recent Emory University study concluded that a small number of illnesses—many
of them preventable—account for most of the health care spending
increase over the past 20 years. Conditions like heart disease, pulmonary
conditions, cancer and hypertension account for roughly one-third of
that increase. Helping to prevent them by choosing to live healthier
lifestyles would reduce healthcare costs overall and have a positive
impact on our economy.
Inappropriate Utilization — Many health insurers are experiencing
higher levels of usage of medical services and health care for the
people they insure. Of course, if there is a medical need, you should
take care of it. The issue is whether the patient is getting the appropriate
type of care—the right care at the right time. Preventive care
and early treatment may result in higher costs initially, but generally
results in lower costs over time.
Aging Population — With 76 million baby-boomers reaching age
60 in 2006, the largest wave of "older Americans" will enter
those years in their lives where they will have greater healthcare
needs. This demographic fact alone has a tremendous effect on overall
healthcare costs.
Medical/Technological Advances — Every day new tests, new technologies,
new equipment and new medical advances are available to us. With those
advancements, however, come more expensive treatments and services.
It's no surprise that businesses have growing concerns over how to
manage the rising costs of offering healthcare benefits to employees
and retirees. Pfizer reviews our healthcare plan costs and coverage
options annually. To help keep contribution rates manageable, we may
add a health care coverage option, for example, that has lower contributions,
but would require higher out-of-pocket costs at the time care is received.
While Pfizer doesn't have much control over rising healthcare costs,
by offering you more choices, we work hard to give you a little more
control over yours.
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