We get information from FAIR Health, Inc., a not-for-profit company formed to create an independent database not owned by any health insurer.  Health plans send FAIR Health, Inc. copies of claims for services they received from providers. The claims include the date and place of the service, the procedure code, and the provider's charge. FAIR Health, Inc. combines this information into databases that show how much providers charge for just about any service in any zip code.

Example: Providers' charges for removing an appendix are grouped into percentiles from low to high. The higher charges are grouped into the higher percentiles. Charges that fall in the middle are grouped in the 50th percentile. Here is a simplifiied illustration of a percentile chart for an apendectomy for one zip code:

For most of our health plans, we use the 80th percentile to calculate how much to pay for out-of-network services. Payment at the 80th percentile means 80 percent of charges in the database are the same or less for that service in a particular zip code.

If there are not enough charges (less than 9) in the databases for a service in a particular zip code, we may use “derived charge data” instead. “Derived charge data” is based on the charges for comparable procedures, multiplied by a factor that takes into account the relative complexity of the procedure that was peformed.  We also use derived charge data for our student health plans and Aetna Affordable Health Choices^® plans.

We pay our portion of the prevailing charge as listed in your health plan. You pay your portion (called “coinsurance”) and any deductible.

Sometimes what we pay is less than what your doctor charges. In that case, your provider may require you to pay the difference. This is true even if you have reached your plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

Example: You use a doctor who is not in Aetna’s network. The doctor charges $120 for a service. The doctor sends the claim to Aetna. Your plan covers 70 percent of the "reasonable," "usual and customary" or “prevailing” charge. Let;s say the prevailing charge is $100.  And let's say you already met your deductible. Aetna would pay $70. You would pay the other $30. Your doctor may bill you for the $20 difference between the prevailing charge ($100) and the billed charge ($120).  In this case, your doctor could bill you for a total of $50.

We may consider other factors to determine what to pay if a service is unusual or not performed often in your area. These factors can include:

• The complexity of the service
• The degree of skill needed
• The provider’s specialty
• The prevailing charge in other areas
• Aetna’s own data