The federal COVID-19 emergency is over.Use of Encryption to Safeguard Data
Protecting the privacy and security of sensitive information is one of our highest priorities. Accordingly, Texas Health Aetna encrypts all Internet e-mails that contain member-specific health and financial information -- examples include, but aren't limited to, personal and demographic information (e.g., name, SSN, address), employment information, information about payment of benefits, provider information, diagnostic or treatment information, claims status information and information related to behavioral health and/or sexually transmitted disease services.
Use of encrypted e-mail enables us to send quick, reliable communications while maintaining our commitment to protecting the confidentiality of member-specific information.
What is encrypted e-mail?
Encrypted e-mail is scrambled by the sender's e-mail program, which renders it unreadable until it is descrambled or "decrypted" by the recipient. Unencrypted e-mail is similar to a postcard - the message can be viewed by anyone who picks it up. Encrypted e-mail is similar to a sealed letter -- the content cannot be viewed until the envelope is opened - except, in this case, the envelope has a lock on it to which only the recipient has a key!
How does Texas Health Aetna's use of encrypted e-mail impact recipients?
- Whenever Texas Health Aetna transmits member-specific health or financial information via Internet e-mail, the e-mail includes a message indicating that the content has been secured via encryption.
- Encrypted e-mails from Texas Health Aetna include instructions on how to decrypt the message for viewing - this requires the recipient to perform a few simple clicks.
- Anyone who receives an encrypted e-mail from Texas Health Aetna is able to send an encrypted reply.
- Third party messages that are sent to Texas Health Aetna via the "Contact Us" feature on texashealthaetna.com are also encrypted.
Who can receive member-specific health and financial information?
Texas Health Aetna has strict procedures in place for determining if a third party can receive member health and financial information i.e., Texas Health Aetna employees are required to verify whether a requestor is authorized to receive the information before it is released.
Who can the recipient of a Texas Health Aetna encrypted e-mail call with questions?
Each encrypted e-mail from Texas Health Aetna includes instructions on how to open the message and view the secure content. In the event a recipient receives an error message while in the process of trying to open a Texas Health Aetna-generated encrypted e-mail, the error message provides guidance for troubleshooting the problem.
What's New
Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered and/or underwritten by Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc. and Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company (Texas Health Aetna). Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Texas Health Aetna are affiliates of Texas Health Resources and of Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). Aetna provides certain management services to Texas Health Aetna.
Self-funded plans are administered by Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company.
This material is for information only and is not an offer or invitation to contract. An application must be completed to obtain coverage. Health benefits and health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations. Providers are independent contractors and not our agents. Provider participation may change without notice. We do not provide care or guarantee access to health services. Not all health services are covered. See plan documents for a complete description of benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability are subject to change and may vary by location. If you are in a plan that requires the selection of a primary care physician and your primary care physician is part of an integrated delivery system or physician group, your primary care physician will generally refer you to specialists and hospitals that are part of the delivery system or physician group. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change.
Aetna, CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic, LLC (which either operates or provides certain management support services to MinuteClinic-branded walk-in clinics) are part of the CVS Health® family of companies. For a complete list of other participating pharmacies, log in to texashealthaetna.com
Physicians on the medical staff practice independently and are not agents or employees of the hospital or Texas Health Resources.
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