The following are not Covered Benefits except as described in the Covered Benefits section of this
Certificate or by amendment(s) attached to this Certificate:
Acupuncture, acupressure and acupuncture therapy, except as provided in the Covered Benefits
section of the Certificate.
Ambulance services, for routine transportation to receive outpatient or inpatient services.
Any non-emergency charges for Covered Benefits incurred outside of the United States.
Behavioral health services that are not primarily aimed at treatment of illness, injury, restoration of physiological functions or that do not have a physiological or organic basis.
Biofeedback, except as precertified by Aetna.
Any related services including processing, storage or replacement costs, and the services of blood donors, apheresis or plasmapheresis are not covered. For autologous blood donations, only administration and processing costs are covered.
Care for conditions that state or local laws require to be treated in a public facility, including but not limited to, mental illness commitments.
Care furnished to provide a safe surrounding, including the charges for providing a surrounding free from exposure that can worsen the disease or injury.
Clinical trial therapies
- Services and supplies related to data collection and record-keeping that is solely needed due to the clinical trial (i.e. protocol-induced costs)
- Services and supplies provided by the trial sponsor without charge to you
- The experimental intervention itself (except Medically Necessary Category B investigational devices and promising experimental and investigational interventions for terminal Illnesses in certain clinical trials in accordance with Aetna’s claim policies).
Contraception, except as specifically described in the Covered Benefit section including, but not limited to, over the counter contraceptive supplies such as condoms, contraceptive foams, jellies and ointments.
Cosmetic Surgery, or treatment relating to the consequences of, or as a result of, Cosmetic Surgery, other than Medically Necessary Services. This exclusion includes, but is not limited to, surgery to correct gynecomastia and breast augmentation procedures, and otoplasties. Reduction mammoplasty, except when determined to be Medically Necessary by an Aetna Medical Director, is not covered. This exclusion does not apply to surgery to correct the results of injuries causing the impairment, or as a continuation of a staged reconstruction procedure, or congenital defects necessary to restore normal bodily functions, including but not limited to, cleft lip and cleft palate or surgery required for post-mastectomy reconstruction.
Court ordered services, or those required by court order as a condition of parole or probation.
Custodial Care.
Dental services except as specifically covered in the Covered Benefits section including but not limited to, services related to the care, filling, removal or replacement of teeth and treatment of injuries to or diseases of the teeth, dental services related to the gums, apicoectomy (dental root resection), orthodontics, root canal treatment, soft tissue impactions, bony impacted teeth, alveolectomy, augmentation and vestibuloplasty treatment of periodontal disease, false teeth, prosthetic restoration of dental implants, and dental implants. This exclusion does not include bone fractures, removal of tumors, and odontogenic cysts.
Educational services except as specifically covered in the Covered Benefits section and treatment of behavioral disorders, together with services for remedial education including evaluation or treatment of learning disabilities, minimal brain dysfunction, developmental and learning disorders, behavioral training, and cognitive rehabilitation. This includes services, treatment or educational testing and training related to behavioral (conduct) problems, learning disabilities, or developmental delays. Special education, including lessons in sign language to instruct a Member, whose ability to speak has been lost or impaired, to function without that ability, are not covered.
Experimental or Investigational Procedures, or ineffective surgical, medical, psychiatric, or dental treatments or procedures, research studies, or other experimental or investigational health care procedures or pharmacological regimes as determined by Aetna, unless precertified by Aetna. This exclusion will not apply with respect to drugs:
- That have been granted treatment investigational new drug (IND) or Group c/treatment IND status;
- That are being studied at the Phase III level in a national clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute; or
- Aetna has determined that available scientific evidence demonstrates that the drug is effective or the drug shows promise of being effective for the disease.
E-Visits – Non-Participating Providers.
Any services that are given by Providers that are not contracted with Aetna as E-visit
Providers. Any services that are not provided during an internet-based consult or via telephone.
Foot orthotics unless required for the treatment of, or to prevent, complications of diabetes.
Habilitation Therapy Services -- Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services for the treatment of delays in development, including speech development, unless as a result of a gross anatomical defect present at birth, including:
Therapies to treat delays in development and/or chronic conditions. Examples of non- covered diagnoses that are considered both developmental and/or chronic in nature are:
- Down syndrome
Any service unless provided in accordance with a specific treatment plan
Services not given by a Physician (or under the direct supervision of a Physician), physical,occupational or speech therapist.
This exclusion does not apply to physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy provided for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Hair analysis.
Hearing aids. Related services and supplies, except as specifically described in this Certificate. Home births.
Home uterine activity monitoring.
Household equipment, including but not limited to, the purchase or rental of exercise cycles, water purifiers, hypo-allergenic pillows, mattresses or waterbeds, whirlpool or swimming pools, exercise and massage equipment, central or unit air conditioners, air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, escalators, elevators, ramps, stair glides, emergency alert equipment, handrails, heat appliances, improvements made to a Member’s house or place of business, and adjustments made to vehicles.
Hypnotherapy, except when precertified by Aetna.
Implantable drugs.
Infertility.Any services, treatments, procedures or supplies that are designed to enhance fertility or the likelihood of conception, such as:
- Drugs, and drugs related to the treatment of non-covered benefits.
- Injectable infertility medication, including but not limited to menotropins, hCG, and GnRH agonists.
- Reversal of voluntary sterilization including related procedures, services and supplies. - The purchase of donor sperm and any charges for the storage of sperm.
- All charges associated with surrogacy for you or the surrogate. A surrogate is a female carrying her own genetically related child where the child is conceived with the intention of turning the child over to be raised by others, including the biological father.
- Home ovulation prediction kits or home pregnancy tests.
- Medication that is experimental and investigational in relation to infertility. - The purchase of donor embryos, donor oocytes, or donor sperm.
- Charges associated with cryopreservation or storage of cryopreserved eggs and embryos (e.g., office, hospital, ultrasounds, laboratory tests, etc.), including thawing charges.
- All charges associated with the care of the donor in a donor egg cycle. This includes, but is not limited to, any payments to the donor, donor screening fees, fees for lab tests, and any charges associated with care of the donor required for donor egg retrievals or transfers. - All charges associated with the use of a gestational carrier for the female acting as the
gestational carrier. A gestational carrier is a female carrying an embryo to which she is not genetically related.
- Comprehensive infertility servicesand ART services.
- Any charges associated with obtaining sperm for ART services.
- Ovulation induction with menotropins, Intrauterine insemination and any related services, products or procedures.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF), Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), Gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT), Cryopreserved embryo transfers and any related services, products or procedures (such as Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or ovum microsurgery).
Mental health treatment
Mental health services for the following categories (or equivalent terms as listed in the most recent version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD):
- Dementias and amnesias without behavioral disturbances
- Sexual deviations and disorders except for gender identity disorders - Tobacco use disorders
- Specific disorders of sleep
- Antisocial or dissocial personality disorder - Pathological gambling, kleptomania, pyromania
- Specific delays in development (learning disorders, academic underachievement) - Intellectual disability
- Wilderness Treatment Programs or any such related or similar programs, school and/or education services.
Military service related diseases, disabilities or injuries for which the Member is legally entitled to receive treatment at government facilities and which facilities are reasonably available to the
Member.
Missed appointment charges.
Non-medicallynecessary services, including but not limited to, those services and supplies:
- Which are not Medically Necessary, as determined by Aetna, for the diagnosis and treatment of illness, injury, restoration of physiological functions, or covered preventive services;
- That do not require the technical skills of a medical, mental health or a dental professional;
- Furnished mainly for the personal comfort or convenience of the Member, or any person who cares for the Member, or any person who is part of the Member’s family, or any
Provider;
- Furnished solely because the Member is an inpatient on any day in which the Member’s disease or injury could safely and adequately be diagnosed or treated while not confined;
- Furnished solely because of the setting if the service or supply could safely and adequately be furnished in a Physician’s or a dentist’s office or other less costly setting.
Non-prescription drugs and medicines, except as provided on an inpatient basis or as specifically covered in the Covered Benefitssection.
Non-surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), including but not limited to, treatment performed by prosthesis placed directly on the teeth, surgical and non-surgical medical and dental services, and diagnostic or therapeutics services related to TMJ.
Nursing and aide services provided outside of the home (such as in conjunction with school, vacation, work or recreational activities).
Outpatient supplies, including but not limited to, medical consumable or disposable supplies such as syringes, incontinence pads, elastic stockings, and reagent strips except as described in the
Covered Benefits section.
Outpatient prescription contraceptive drugs and devices
- Oral drugs that are Brand-Name Prescription Drugs and Biosimilar Prescription Drugs.
- Injectable drugs that are Brand-Name Prescription Drugs and Biosimilar Prescription Drugs.
- Vaginal rings that are Generic Prescription Drugs, Brand-Name Prescription Drugs and
Biosimilar Prescription Drugs.
- Transdermal contraceptive patches that are Generic Prescription Drugs, Brand-Name Prescription Drugs and Biosimilar Prescription Drugs.
- Female contraceptive devices that are brand-name devices.
- FDA-approved female brand-name and biosimilar emergency contraceptives and brand- name over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraceptives.
- Other FDA-approved female and male brand-name over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives.
Payment for that portion of the benefit for which Medicare or another party is the primary payer.
Personal comfort or convenience items, including those services and supplies not directly related to medical care, such as guest meals and accommodations, barber services, telephone charges, radio and television rentals, homemaker services, travel expenses, take-home supplies, and other like items and services.
Private Duty Nursing except as described in Hospital and Other Facility Benefit (See the Home Health Benefits and Hospital and Other Facility Care section regarding coverage of nursing services).
Recreational, educational, and sleep therapy, including any related diagnostic testing.
Religious, marital and sex counseling, including services and treatment related to religious counseling, marital/relationship counseling, and sex therapy.
Reversal of voluntary sterilizations, including related follow-up care and treatment of complications of such procedures.
Routine foot/hand care, including routine reduction of nails, calluses and corns.
Services for which a Member is not legally obligated to pay in the absence of this coverage.
Services for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions or inadequacies, including therapy, supplies, or counseling for sexual dysfunctions or inadequacies that do not have a physiological or organic basis.
Services, including those related to pregnancy, rendered before the effective date or after the termination of the Member’s coverage, unless coverage is continued under the Continuation section of this Certificate.
Services performed by a relative of a Member for which, in the absence of any health benefits coverage, no charge would be made.
Services required by third parties, including but not limited to, physical examinations, diagnostic services and immunizations in connection with obtaining or continuing employment, obtaining or maintaining any license issued by a municipality, state, or federal government, securing insurance coverage, travel, school admissions or attendance, including examinations required to participate in athletics, except when such examinations are considered to be part of an appropriate schedule of wellness services.
Services which are not a Covered Benefit under this Certificate, even when a prior Referral has been issued by a PCP.
Short-Term Rehabilitation Services -- Outpatient Cognitive Rehabilitation, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
Services for the treatment of delays in development, including speech development, unless as a result of a gross anatomical defect present at birth, including:
Therapies to treat delays in development and/or chronic conditions. Examples of non-covered diagnoses that are considered both developmental and/or chronic in nature are:
- Down syndrome - Cerebral palsy
Any service unless provided in accordance with a specific treatment plan
Services you get from a Home Health Care Agency.
Services provided by a Physician,or treatment covered as part of the spinal manipulation benefit. This applies whether or not benefits have been paid under the spinal manipulation section.
Services not given by a Physician (or under the direct supervision of a Physician),physical, occupational or speech therapist.
This exclusion does not apply to physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy provided for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Specific non-standard allergy services and supplies, including but not limited to, skin titration (wrinkle method), cytotoxicity testing (Bryan's Test), treatment of non-specific candida sensitivity, and urine autoinjections.
Specific injectable drugs, except as provided in the Covered Benefits section of the Certificate, including:
- Experimental drugs or medications, or drugs or medications that have not been proven safe and effective for a specific disease or approved for a mode of treatment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH);
- Needles, syringes and other injectable aids;
- Drugs related to the treatment of non-coveredservices; and
- Drugs related to the treatment of Infertility, contraception, and performance enhancing steroids.
Special medical reports, including those not directly related to treatment of the Member, e.g., employment or insurance physicals, and reports prepared in connection with litigation.
Telemedicine: Any services that are given by providers that are not contracted with
Aetna as telemedicineproviders. Any services that are provided other than during an internet-based consult or via telephone.
Therapy or rehabilitation, including but not limited to, primal therapy, chelation therapy, rolfing, psychodrama, megavitamin therapy, purging, bioenergetic therapy, vision perception training, and carbon dioxide.
Thermograms and thermography.
Treatment in a federal, state, or governmental entity, including care and treatment provided in a non-participating Hospital owned or operated by any federal, state or other governmental entity, except to the extent required by applicable laws.
Treatment of mental retardation, defects, and deficiencies. This exclusion does not apply to mental health services or to medical treatment of mentally retarded Members in accordance with the benefits provided in the Covered Benefits section of this Certificate.
Treatment of occupational injuries and occupational diseases, including those injuries that arise out of (or in the course of) any work for pay or profit, or in any way results from a disease or injury which does. If a Member is covered under a Workers' Compensation law or similar law, and submits proof that the Member is not covered for a particular disease or injury under such law, that disease or injury will be considered "non-occupational" regardless of cause.
Unauthorized services, including any services obtained by, or on behalf of a, Member that require precertification by Aetna. Participating Providers are responsible for obtaining precertification of Covered Benefits from Aetna. This exclusion does not apply in a Medical Emergency, in an Urgent Care situation, or when it is a direct access benefit.
Vision: Vision-related services and supplies, except as described in the Covered Benefits section. In addition, the plan does not cover:
- Special supplies such as non-Prescription sunglasses;
- Vision service or supply which does not meet professionally accepted standards; - Special vision procedures, such as orthoptics or vision training;
- Eye exams during your stayin a Hospital or other facility for health care; - Eyeglasses or duplicate or spare eyeglasses or lenses or frames;
- Replacement of lenses or frames that are lost or stolen or broken; - Acuity tests;
- Eye Surgery for the correction of vision, including radial keratotomy, LASIK and similar procedures;
- Services to treat errors of refraction.
Weight control services including surgical procedures, medical treatments, weight control/loss programs, dietary regimens and supplements, food or food supplements, appetite suppressants and other medications; exercise programs, exercise or other equipment; and other services and supplies that are primarily intended to control weight or treat obesity, including Morbid Obesity, or for the purpose of weight reduction, regardless of the existence of comorbid conditions except as provided by this Certificate.
Limitations
In the event there are 2 or more alternative Medical Services which in the sole judgment of
Aetna are equivalent in quality of care, Aetna reserves the right to provide coverage only for the least costly MedicalService, as determined by Aetna, provided that Aetna pre-authorizes the
MedicalService or treatment.
Determinations regarding eligibility for benefits, coverage for services, benefit denials and all other terms of this Certificate are at the sole discretion of Aetna, subject to the terms of this
Certificate.
Wilderness treatment programs (whether or not the program is part of a licensed residential treatment facility, or otherwise licensed institution), educational services, schooling or any such related or similar program, including therapeutic programs within a school setting.
8. Outpatient Prescription Drugs
How the Pharmacy Plan Works
It is important that you have the information and useful resources to help you get the most out of your
AetnaPrescription Drug plan. This Certificate explains:
How to access Network Pharmacies and procedures you need to follow;
What Prescription Drug expenses are covered and what limits may apply;
What Prescription Drug expenses are not covered by the plan;
How you share the cost of your covered Prescription Drug benefit; and
Other important information such as eligibility, complaints and appeals, termination, and general administration of the plan.
A few important notes to consider before moving forward:
Unless otherwise indicated, “you” refers to you and your covered dependents.
Your Prescription Drug plan pays benefits only for Prescription Drug expenses described in this Certificate as Covered Benefits that are Medically Necessary.
This Certificate applies to coverage only and does not restrict your ability to receive
Prescription Drugs that are not or might not be covered benefits under this Prescription Drug