Get the most out of your plan

At Aetna®, we work hard to make it easier to take care of your health and use your health plan benefits. That’s why as a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP, member, you get an Extra Benefits Card, a Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card.

This card will arrive in the mail shortly after your plan starts. It comes pre-loaded with an allowance that can be used to pay for eligible products and services that help you stay well. Here’s how it works.

Your Extra Benefits Card will come with information on how and where you can use your card as well as your quarterly allowance amount. To use your allowance, you’ll need to activate your card. You can do that in three ways.

By phone.
Simply call 1-877-204-1817 (TTY: 711) to speak with a Member Experience Advisor. The number is also on your Extra Benefits Card.

QR code.
Simply scan the QR code in your Extra Benefits Card welcome kit.

Online.
Go to Aetna.NationsBenefits.com/Activate

Once your card is activated, your funds are available to spend. The allowance is quarterly, so it’s renewed every three months. It doesn’t roll over, so be sure to use it before it expires at the end of each quarter. You can spend it however you like on any approved products or services. So what can you pay for with your Extra Benefits Card allowance?

Groceries! With your Extra Benefits Card, you can purchase approved healthy foods that help you feel your best. That includes fruits and veggies, meat and seafood, healthy grains like bread and pasta, pantry staples like flour and spices and more.

Not sure if an item is approved for purchase? It’s easy to look up covered items using the NationsBenefits mobile app on your smartphone. You can download the app for free on the App Store and Google Play.

The Extra Benefits Card can be used at approved retail locations. At checkout, simply swipe your card and select credit when prompted for payment type. When you select credit, no PIN is required. Or you can shop for home delivery of healthy foods at Aetna.NationsBenefits.com, or over the phone by calling 1-877-204-1817 (TTY: 711).

If your Extra Benefits allowance covers your full purchase, you’re good to go. If any of your items or services aren’t approved — or if you’ve used up your allowance — you pay the remainder. You can check your balance at any time on the NationsBenefits app.

To learn all the ways you can use your quarterly allowance, check out your Extra Benefits Card welcome kit. Remember: It will arrive in the mail shortly after your plan begins. Or call 1-877-204-1817 (TTY: 711) to speak with a Nations OTC Member Experience Advisor about your account.

They can also send you a new card if you didn’t get one or need a replacement. These advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your Extra Benefits Card makes it easier and more affordable to put your health first and feel your best. To learn more, visit the Aetna D-SNP member website at AetnaMedicare.com/MyDSNP.

These days, you can get medical care at many different places. You could go to your doctor’s office, a walk-in clinic, an urgent care center or the emergency room. But how do you know which one to choose when you’re hurt or feeling sick, or when you need a vaccination? These tips can help you make the right care decision in the moment.

Your primary care provider, or PCP, should always be your first choice for any non-emergencies. Your PCP knows your medical history. They can help you manage common illnesses like the flu and chronic conditions like diabetes. They can also prescribe medications and refer you to a specialist if needed.

Can’t get an appointment with your PCP? In that case, a walk-in clinic like a CVS MinuteClinic is a good choice for convenient and affordable care. You'll likely see a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.

They can help treat rashes and minor injuries and diagnose common illnesses like colds and flu. They can also do routine tests like blood pressure, blood sugar, A1C and cholesterol checks. And they can give immunizations (like a COVID-19 or flu vaccine) and prescribe or refill medications.

While walk-in clinics don’t require appointments, they do operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So you may have to wait to be seen. Many walk-in clinics are also in or near a pharmacy. That makes picking up your medications easy. Can’t get to a clinic? You can make an appointment for a virtual visit at a MinuteClinic E-Clinic.

If your health issue is more serious, you may want to go to an urgent care center. They have doctors on staff who can treat you for issues such as broken bones, cuts that need stitches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and fever. Most urgent care centers can also do X-rays and get some test results while you wait.

Finally, head to the emergency room right away if you have a medical situation that needs immediate attention. This includes chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden changes in mental ability, slurred speech, uncontrollable bleeding, head injuries, sudden loss of vision or seizures.

If your situation is life-threatening or you’re alone and can't drive yourself to the ER, call 911. This is especially important if you’re having chest pain or symptoms of a stroke. A paramedic can begin treatment right away, which could save your life.

Still not sure where to go? As an Aetna Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, or D-SNP, member, you can call your care team for direction. They may also be able to arrange transportation to the right location. If your care team isn’t available, you can call the 24/7 nurse line for round-the-clock health guidance.

Knowing where to go for medical care can help you get the proper treatment, and possibly save you time and money too. Wherever you go, remember to bring your Aetna member ID card with you.

To learn more ways your Aetna D-SNP plan can help you get the care you need, visit AetnaMedicare.com/MyDSNP