At the May 20, 2021 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the NY44 Health Benefits Plan Trust the trustees voted to not renew the contract for virtual care services with WellNow Virtual Care. The contract will expire on June 30, 2021. After this date, any consultations a NY44 member receives from WellNow Virtual Care will no longer be fully covered by the NY44 Health Benefits Plan.

Please see below for some of the questions you may have about this change.

Why was this decision made?

The WellNow Virtual Care program experienced very low usage. The decision was made that NY44 resources would be better used elsewhere.

What does that mean to me?

Starting on July 1, 2021, if you contact WellNow Virtual Care any services provided will not be fully covered by NY44 and whatever out of pocket expenses would normally be incurred by a member will apply.

What other options are there for virtual care?

Many physicians now offer some form of virtual care services or telehealth services. We encourage you to contact your physician to learn more about what is available. In addition, the following services are available.

• MVP Members – MVP’s Gia! has been added as a no-cost option for members enrolled in the MVP service areas. For the best Gia experience, download the app. You can also visit GoAskGia.com or call 1-877-GoAskGia (462-7544). Click HERE for more information.
• Independent Health Members – Members enrolled in the Independent Health service area may receive telemedicine services with no cost-sharing from eligible providers. Please be sure you contact Customer Service (716-631-2661 or 1-800- 257-2753) to verify specific benefits which are covered. Also contact your individual provider to confirm they are able to accommodate the services you need. For help with non-emergency conditions consider calling the Independent Health 24-Hour Medical Help Line Call at 888-878-9174. You will have access to experienced registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After dialing, ask for the 24-Hour Medical Help Line.

Can I still use WellNow Virtual Care?

You may continue to use WellNow Virtual Care but keep in mind that you will incur out-of-pocket expenses not covered by the NY44 Health Benefits Plan Trust. You may also be required to pay for services at the time they are rendered. Therefore, the recommendation is to use other available options to members.

NOTE: There are many WellNow Urgent Care centers in New York state. There is no change in how benefits are payable for in-person visits to these “bricks and mortar” locations.