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Frequently asked questions

We know Medicare can feel confusing. These answers can help. Learn about getting care, managing costs and more.

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Managing my costs

  • Did you pay out of pocket for a service or medicine your plan covers? You can ask us to pay you back. The form you need depends on the service.

     

    Get the form you need and learn how to send it in

  • You’ll need to follow a few steps. Coverage rules are different for medical services and drugs. 


    Learn about coverage decisions 

  • An appeal means you ask us to look at our decision again.  


    What you need to do: 

    • Choose the right appeal form (each type of service has its own form). 
    • Fill it out and mail it to us. 

    Learn about appeals and how to file one  

  • Medicare has a program called Extra Help for people with lower incomes. It can help you pay for your prescription drugs. Find out if you qualify. 

     

    Learn more about Extra Help

Using your Allina Health | Aetna Medicare member ID card 

  • Your Allina Health | Aetna Medicare member ID card is an important part of your health plan. It shows that you have coverage. It also helps doctors and pharmacies confirm your benefits. 

  • You should get your card in the mail within 7-10 days of the date your plan started. 

  • Your card has: 
     

    • Your member ID number 
    • Important phone numbers 
    • Your primary care provider (PCP) name (if you have one) 
  • No, you can use your Allina Health | Aetna Medicare member ID card as soon as your coverage starts.

  • Check the Member Services page to find the phone number for your plan. You can also log in to your secure member website and print your card. 

  • It’s important to bring your card to all doctor appointments and the pharmacy. It helps providers confirm your coverage and benefits. 

  • Use your card to register for your secure member website, where you can:
     

    • See and print your Allina Health | Aetna Medicare member ID card
    • Check and manage your claims
    • Find discounts
    • Look for doctors and specialists in your plan 
  • Yes, some cards have a QR code. This makes it easy to get to your plan web page. 

  • Log in to your secure member website. There, you can view or print a new ID card. A printed or online ID card works just like a plastic ID card. 
     

  • Allina Health | Aetna Medicare has teamed up with BeneLynk. BeneLynk can help you apply for programs that can help save you money. The service is at no added cost to you, and members have saved thousands of dollars with their help.

     

    BeneLynk may help you sign up for:
     

    • Medicaid — This helps cover medical costs for some people with less resources. It may also include other benefits such as vision, dental and transportation. You may be able to receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits at the same time.
    • Medicare Savings Programs — This helps pay for Medicare costs. One benefit may be a rebate of your Part B premium. If you qualify, your state will help cover some or all of these costs.
    • Medicare Extra Help — This helps people with less income lower the cost of some of their medicines.

     

    BeneLynk may reach out to you by phone, text or by mail.


    Want to learn more?

    Call 1-888-715-0225 ${tty}, Monday–Saturday, 8 AM – 8 PM. Get answers to common question here — Explore BeneLynk’s FAQ

Managing my plan

  • Did you move or get a new phone number? Let us know right away. Call the Allina Health | Aetna Member Services number on your member ID card. You may need to switch plans if you moved to a new area.

     

    If you get Allina Health | Aetna Medicare coverage through:
     

    • An employer 
    • A union 
    • A retiree plan 

    you may need to contact your benefits administrator to update your info.   

  • Log in to your secure member website. There, you can view or print a new ID card. A printed or online ID card works just like a plastic ID card. 

  • There are times you can change your Medicare plan. Here is when you can change or leave your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or prescription drug plan (Part D): 

      

    During Medicare's annual enrollment period: 10/15–12/7 

     

    • You can keep your plan or pick a new one each year during this time. 
    • Your new coverage starts January 1 of the new year. 

    Have Medicare? You can also enroll in a Medicare plan through Medicare’s Online Enrollment Center at Medicare.gov.  

     

    During special situations:    


    You can change your Medicare plan at other times if you: 

     

    • Move outside of your plan’s area
    • Lose your drug coverage (coverage that pays out, on average, at least as much as a Medicare Part D plan)
    • Live in a long-term care facility (like a nursing home)
    • Have Medicaid

    If your coverage is through an employer or group, ask them about your options. 

     

    Your old plan ends on the last day of the month when you pick a new plan.   

  • We’re so sorry for your loss. We’re here to help you.
      

    First, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).  
     

    • This will close your loved one’s account.   

    • You may still get bills until you do. 
        

    Then, give us a call. 


    Do you have a Medicare Advantage plan? Call 1-833-874-8527 ${tty}. We're here 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM. 

Managing my care

  • Some Allina Health | Aetna Medicare plans let you get your prescription drugs/medicines by mail. 

     

    Learn more about mail order delivery 

     

    Please note: Not all benefits and services are available in all plans.    

    To enroll in mail order service, you can fill out one of these forms: 

     

    Mail Service Order Form

    Mail Service Order Form (Spanish) 

     

    Then, mail the form to:  
      

    CVS Caremark 

    PO BOX 659541 

    SAN ANTONIO, TX 78265-9541 

     
    Learn more about your options

  • Need one-time help? You can call us and give us your OK over the phone.  

    Need long-term help? You can fill out a PHI form (Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information). 
     

    • This form lets someone else talk to us about your care.
    • It lasts one year. You’ll need to fill out a new form each year to appoint them again. 
    • It does not replace a Medicare Power of Attorney (POA). If you have a POA, you don’t need the PHI.  

      

    Open and print the PHI form

     

    How can I let someone make requests for me: 

     

    You can give a caregiver or someone else permission to act on your behalf. They will be able to:

     

    • File a complaint (grievance)
    • Ask for coverage
    • Make an appeal for you

    First, download and fill out this Appointment of Representative form. Then, have this person sign your form and send it to us. This person is then someone who can act on your behalf. They are known as your “appointed representative.” 

    This will last for one year from the date that you both sign the form. 

     

    Appointment of Representative CMS Form

    Appointment of Representative CMS Form (Spanish)

  • Concerned with the quality of care that you got? You have a few options. You can:

     

     

    We’ll get back to you within 30 days (or 24 hours if you ask us for a faster response). 

    To file a complaint with Medicare online: 


    Fill out the Medicare Electronic Complaint form.

  • Here’s how you can do it:

     

      
    Please note: You may need to choose your PCP from your plan’s network. 

  • Do you have an Allina Health | Aetna Medicare PPO plan? 

     

    You can get covered services from network providers or those who aren’t in the network. But providers who aren’t in the network don’t have to treat Allina Health | Aetna members, unless it’s an emergency. 

      

    Before you get a service from a provider who isn’t in the network, you can ask us if we’ll cover it. We call this a pre-service determination. You can call us or check your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more details, like how much you’ll pay for out-of-network care. 

       
    If you see a provider who isn’t in the network, make sure they: 
     

    • Accept your PPO plan
    • Can get paid by Medicare
  • You can get a provider directory in Spanish.  
      

    Find providers in our Spanish directory

  • Sometimes you need approval before you can get care. There are two types of approval: 

    Referral: 

     

    • This is when you need an approval from your PCP to see a specialist. 

    Prior authorization (approval in advance):

     

    • This is when your doctor must get approval from Allina Health | Aetna before we cover a service or item. 
    • Your doctor will ask us for approval. 

    Each Allina Health | Aetna Medicare plan has rules about what needs approval. You can check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to see if or how these rules apply.

    To check your plan’s rules:

     

    • Look at your Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
    • Check the list of services that need approval. 

    Helpful tip:

     

    • If you view your EOC online, press Ctrl + F to quickly search for your service.
    • You can find these rules in Chapter 4 (Benefits Chart) of the EOC. 

     

    View list of services and drugs that need approval

    Learn how Allina Health | Aetna decides coverage

  • Medicare Part B: 

    There are some diabetic supplies and equipment that are offered through your Part B plan. Part B plans are Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans. Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more info. 

     

    We have plans that cover diabetic supplies and equipment like:

     

    • Insulin pumps and most insulins used in the pump
    • Therapeutic shoes and inserts* for diabetics
    • For 2026, we exclusively cover Accu-Chek®/Roche and TRUE™/Trividia blood sugar meters and test strips. 

    Blood glucose monitors (BGMs) and supplies 


    For 2026 plans  

    HMO and PPO plan members: Allina Health | Aetna plan members can get certain BGM and testing supplies directly from a network pharmacy (like Accu-Chek/Roche or TRUE/Trividia). Get supplies like lancing devices, lancets and test strips. 


    Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and supplies 

    For a CGM to be covered, you must have approval from your Allina Health | Aetna plan first (prior authorization). 

    Where to get your CGM:

     

    • From a Medicare-certified DME provider
    • Or a network pharmacy for certain CGM models (like Dexcom or FreeStyle Libre)

    If you need a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) from a network pharmacy, you will need a history of insulin use in the last six months to make sure it’ll be covered. Prior authorization for monitors and sensors may apply as well as exception requests if exceeding quantity limits. 

      

    Medicare Part D: 

    Your Medicare Part D coverage may be a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug benefits (MAPD). Part D plans will cover these diabetic supplies:
     

    • Alcohol swabs and 2x2 gauze
    • Insulin needles, pens and syringes (when used for injecting insulin)
  • Yes, you can still use your benefits during emergencies. 

    We want to make sure you can always get care. Even in situations like a disaster or public health emergency. 

       

    Finding care during a disaster or emergency

  • MTM programs help you safely manage your medicines. These programs help you and your doctor make sure your medicines are working well.

     

    More about Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs

  • Yes, Medicare sometimes changes what care or medicines they cover. These changes are called “National Coverage Determinations.”  

    Medicare tells you when these rules change for a service or a drug. 

      

    View a list of coverage determinations

Still have questions?

Talk to an Allina Health | Aetna Medicare representative at ${membersPhone} ${tty}, ${membersHours}.