Introducing The Flex Card
When you become a member of VNS Health EasyCare Plus (HMO D-SNP) or VNS Health Total (HMO D-SNP), you get a Flex Card.* The Flex Card is a Prepaid MasterCard® that gives you extra money to help pay for utilities, or for dental, hearing, or vision expenses. You choose how you use it.
What Does My Flex Card Look Like?
| Plan Name | 2024 Credit |
|---|---|
| VNS Health EasyCare Plus | $350 per year |
| VNS Health Total | $760 per year |
When Can You Use Your Flex Card in 2024?
Dental: If you have used your full dental benefit ($3,000) for the year, and you need another procedure or item, like a cap or crown.
Vision: If you need contacts or eyeglasses (lenses and frames) that cost more than the $300 annual limit. Or if you need another pair of glasses or more contact lenses after you’ve reached the annual limit.
Hearing: If you need to replace a hearing aid after you’ve reached the limit of $750 per ear every 3 years.
Use It to Help Pay for Certain Utilities
Electric
Gas
Phone
Internet
How it works
Your Flex Card receives money over time, which means you won’t have access to the full amount right away.
The card balance does roll over after each quarter. This means you can collect money throughout the year to spend on a larger expense. However, be sure to use the money before the end of the year because it won’t roll over into the next year.
Use your Flex Card like a debit card to pay your bills directly, as long as you have the full amount of your bill available on your card when making payments. This includes any processing fee your provider or utility company may charge.
You can also use your card to pay for part of your bill, as long as the company allows for partial payments.
Example
Your electric bill is $50, and the electric company charges a $2.50 convenience fee to pay by card. Make sure that you have at least $52.50 available on your Flex Card to pay your bill in full.
Pay for your goods and services as you do now and then request reimbursem*nt for the cost up to the amount of your available balance.
Here are the steps to get reimbursed:
- Collect receipt of good or service
- Fill out reimbursem*nt form [link]
- Call your Care Team and say you are requesting reimbursem*nt for your Flex Card
- Wait for approval from Care Team
- Receive check up to full amount
Example
Your eyeglasses cost $50, and you paid for them with a check. Since the available balance on your Flex Card is $43, your reimbursem*nt will be $43.
For more information about whether an item or service will be covered, call 1-866-414-6715. (TTY: 711), weekdays, 8 am to 8 pm.
Your Flex Card gives you the flexibility to use it for any of these kinds of health care items and services. Be aware that the card can’t be used for other kinds of items or services. Call us if you have questions about whether an item or service will be covered.
Here are answers to other questions you might have about your Flex Card.
Frequently Asked Questions
To activate your card, call toll free 1-866-898-9795 (TTY: 711). You can call this number anytime, 24/7. You’ll need the following information when you call:
• The last four numbers on your member ID card
• The 16-digit number on your Flex Card
• Your zip code
Total members: In January, $193 will be loaded to the card. Then, starting in April, $63 will be added on the first day of each month through the end of the year, for a total of up to $760 for the year.
EasyCare Plus members: In January, $89 will be loaded to the card. Then, starting in April, $29 will be added on the first day of each month through the end of the year, for a total of up to $350 for the year.
Your Flex Card is a debit card. Just give it to your provider to pay for your services.
If you don’t use all of the funds on the card after it has been loaded, any unused amount will roll over to the next time the card is loaded. However, any remaining balance at the end of the year must be used by December 31. It will not roll over into the next year. You must be a current member of the plan to use the Flex Card.
If you’re saving your balance up for a large-ticket item or service — a dental procedure or a replacement hearing aid, for example — be sure to use your balance by December 31.
To check your card balance, call your Care Team at 1-866-783-1444 (TTY: 711), weekdays 8 am–8 pm.
Please call your Care Team at 1-866-783-1444 (TTY: 711), weekdays, 8 am–8pm, if you have any questions about your Flex Card, or any of your other benefits.
Please call your Care Team right away to report it at 1-866-783-1444 (TTY: 711), weekdays, 8 am–8 pm. We will cancel the lost or stolen card and send you a new one.
Note: The card may not be used for other types of goods and services.
*This benefit is part of special supplemental program for the chronically ill and not all members qualify. Other types of goods and services not eligible.
**Utility bill needs to be from 2024. Bills from 2023 are not valid to be paid for with the Flex Card.
