Appeals and grievances
As a Healthy Blue member, you have the right to ask us to reconsider decisions we have made and to make complaints, also called a Grievance. These are called appeals and grievances.
Appeals
If you disagree with our decision about your care or services you requested, you can file an appeal. An appeal is a formal way of asking us to review and change a coverage decision we made.
You have 60 calendar days after you get a written notice from us to file an appeal.
You can do this yourself or ask someone you trust (including an attorney) to file the appeal for you. You can call Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time if you need help filing an appeal or need assistance in completing forms or any other steps related to the appeal process.
The appeal can be made by phone or in writing. We will let you know in writing that we received your request for an appeal within 10 calendar days of receiving it.
If your appeal review needs to be expedited (reviewed more quickly than the standard time frame) because you have an immediate need for health services, you do not need to follow up in writing after you call us. We will let you know in writing that we received your request for an expedited appeal within 72 hours of receiving it.
We will not treat you any differently or act badly toward you because you file an appeal.
You can file an appeal by mail or phone:
Mail:
Healthy Blue — NE
P.O. Box 62429
Virginia Beach, VA 23466-2429
Phone:
Call Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.
You can also send us an appeal by filling out a Member Appeal Request Form and sending it to us. The Member Appeal Request Form can also be used if someone is submitting the appeal for you. The Member Appeal Request Form needs to be filled out and returned back to us so that we have your written consent for someone to represent you. Instructions on how to do this and who can represent you are in the form. We need your written consent to have someone submit an appeal for you.
Before and during the appeal, you or your representative can see your case file, including medical records and any other documents and records being used to make a decision on your case, free of charge.
You can ask questions and give any information (including new medical documents from your providers) that you think will help us to approve your request. You may do that in person, in writing or by phone using the address and/or phone number listed above.
If you need help with understanding the Appeals process, you can call Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time or you can visit a Community Welcome Room in person. Welcome Rooms provide support for medical and non-medical needs. Locations include:
Omaha RSO
2910 K. St.
Omaha, NE 68107
Lincoln
1625 N Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
Kearney
2714 Second Ave., Ste. A
Kearney, NE 68847
Scottsbluff
2621 Fifth Ave.
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Norfolk
500 S. 13th St.
Norfolk, NE 68701
To contact the Welcome Rooms, call 866-775-2192 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.
Standard appeals:
If we have all the information we need, we will tell you our decision in writing within 30 calendar days.
Expedited (fast track) appeals:
If we have all the information we need, we will call you and send you a written notice of our decision within 72 hours of receiving your request.
Appeals extensions
We can ask for 14 more calendar days if we need extra time. We will send you a letter within two calendar days telling you why more time is needed. You may file a grievance if you are unhappy with our request for 14 more days to complete our review.
Upon receipt of your appeal request, you can receive a copy of your appeal case file free of charge.
You may also ask for 14 more days if you need more time to gather your documents and information, just ask. You, your provider or someone you trust may ask us to delay your case until you are ready. We want to make the decision that supports your best health. This can be done by calling Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time or writing to:
Healthy Blue — NE
P.O. Box 62429
Virginia Beach, VA 23466-2429
Your care while you wait for a decision about your appeal
When our decision reduces or stops a service you are already receiving, you can ask to continue the services your provider had already ordered while we are making a decision on your appeal. You can also ask a trusted representative to make that request for you.
You must ask us to continue your services within 10 calendar days from the date of the notice that says your care will change or by the time the action takes effect. You or your approved representative may ask to continue services when you first request an appeal by calling or writing to us at the Member Services phone number or address above.
If you ask us to continue services you already receive during your appeal, we will pay for those services if your appeal is decided in your favor. Your appeal might not change the decision we made about your services. When your appeal doesn’t change our decision, we may require you to pay for the services you received while waiting for a decision.
If you are unhappy with the result of your appeal, you can ask for a State Fair Hearing.
If you do not agree with a decision we made that reduced, stopped or restricted your services after you receive our decision about your appeal, you can ask for a State Fair Hearing from the State of Nebraska. A State Fair Hearing is your opportunity to give more information and facts, and to ask questions about your decision before an administrative law judge. The judge in your State Fair Hearing is not a part of your health plan in any way.
You can ask for a State Fair Hearing within 120 calendar days from the day you hear from us about our decision about your appeal.
When you request a State Fair Hearing, you can also ask for an opportunity to mediate your disagreement. Mediation is an informal voluntary process to see if we can come to an agreement on your case. You do not have to ask for mediation to receive a State Fair Hearing. Mediation is guided by a professional mediator who does not take sides. If we do not reach an agreement, you can still have a State Fair Hearing. You can also decide not to go through mediation and just ask for a State Fair Hearing.
If you need help with understanding the State Fair Hearing or Mediation processes, you can contact Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.
If a State Fair Hearing is requested, the State will hear your case and give you a decision in writing within 90 days of the date you asked for a State Fair Hearing.
To ask for a State Fair Hearing, call Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. You can also ask for a State Fair Hearing and your benefits to continue by sending a letter to:
Department of Health and Human Services
MLTC Appeal Coordinator
P.O. Box 94967
Lincoln, NE 68509-4967
Your care while you wait for a decision about your State Fair Hearing
When our decision reduces or stops a service you are already receiving, you can ask to continue the services your provider had already ordered while we decide your case. You can also ask a trusted representative to make that request for you.
You may ask us to continue benefits at the same time the appeal request was made. You must ask us to continue your services within 10 calendar days from the date of the Adverse Benefit Determination Notice or the intended effective date of the adverse benefit determination. We must continue your benefits if you filed the request for an appeal within 60 calendar days from the date on the Adverse Benefit Determination Notice. You or your approved representative may ask to continue services when you first request an appeal by calling or writing to us at the Member Services phone number or address above.
If you ask us to continue services you already receive during your State Fair Hearing case, we will pay for those services if your case is decided in your favor. Your State Fair Hearing might not change the decision we made about your services. When your State Fair Hearing case doesn’t change our decision, we may require you to pay for the services you received while waiting for a decision.
Grievances
If you are unhappy with your health plan, provider, care, or your health services, you can file a Complaint (also called a Grievance). You can file a complaint by phone or in writing at any time.
To file by phone, call Member Services at 833-388-1405 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. We can help you with your grievance should you need assistance in completing forms or any other steps related to the grievance process.
To file in writing, you can send your complaint to:
Healthy Blue — NE
P.O. Box 62429
Virginia Beach, VA 23466-2429
You can also send us a complaint by filling out a Member Grievance Form and sending it to us.
What happens next:
We will let you know in writing that we got your complaint within 10 calendar days of receiving it.
We will review your complaint and tell you how we resolved it in writing within 90 calendar days from receiving your complaint.
If your complaint is about the denial of an expedited appeal, we will let you know in writing that we got it within 72 hours of receiving it. We will review your complaint about the denial of an expedited appeal and tell you how we resolved it in writing within 10 calendar days of receiving your complaint.
You can ask someone you trust (such as a legal representative, a family member or friend) to file the complaint for you. If you need our help because of a hearing or vision impairment, or if you need translation services, or help filling out the forms, we can help you. We will not make things hard for you or take any action against you for filing a complaint.