Healthy First Steps®

Build a healthy future for you and your baby — and earn great rewards — through Healthy First Steps. This program helps keep you and your baby healthy during your pregnancy and your baby's first 15 months of life.

Healthy First Steps includes:

• Email appointment reminders.
• Fun program to keep track of appointments.
• Reward cards for clothing and more.

Once you sign up, you can choose either a $20 Old Navy gift card or a stylish diaper bag. The choice is yours.

Care Manager

Do you have a serious health problem? If so, our care managers are in your corner. They will:

• Explain medical terms in plain language.
• Coordinate your doctor appointments.
• Provide your care team with your medical records.

The care manager will stay close by throughout the medical journey. He or she will:

• Think beyond your immediate needs.
• Make sure you have support at home.

Chiropractor Services

Whether chiropractor services are your primary or alternative treatment method, you're covered. Members 21 and over are covered for chiropractic care visits.

This is a benefit provided by the State of Wisconsin.

Choice of Doctor

Each member can choose a primary care physician (PCP). Use the "Doctor Lookup" tool to see if your doctor is in our network.

The PCP is your main doctor for:

• Preventive care.
• Treatment if you are sick or injured.
• Referrals to specialists for certain conditions.

For members who don't have a doctor or whose doctor is not in our network, we can help find a new one close by.

Choice of Birth Center

Where a mother has her baby is an important choice. That's why women who are pregnant can pick from a large number of hospitals across Wisconsin.

We encourage mothers-to-be to tour the hospital's birthing center. This way they will be familiar with it. And be more relaxed when they have their baby.

Dental Care

Exams and cleanings every six months help keep teeth and gums strong and healthy. If there is a dental problem that needs to be fixed, that's covered as well. There is no copayment for exams and cleanings.

If you live in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington or Waukesha Counties, your dental benefits are provided by UnitedHealthcare Community Plan.

If you live outside of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington or Waukesha Counties, you may get dental services from any dentist who will accept your ForwardHealth ID card. Your dental services are provided by the State, not UnitedHealthcare.

Disease Management

If you have chronic or high-risk illnesses, our disease management services are designed to support you.

We have special programs for:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Diabetes
• High Risk Pregnancy and NICU
• Sickle Cell Disease

Equipment and Supplies

Some members may need extra support to live safely at home.

Our plan covers medical equipment ordered by member's doctor or case manager. This can include supplies like:

• Hospital beds.
• Oxygen tanks.
• Wheelchairs or walkers.

There is no copayment for medical equipment and supplies.

Foot Care

We provide the exams needed to help keep feet in great shape. And for those with diabetes, good foot care can help prevent much more serious problems.

Our podiatry coverage includes:

• Routine foot exams.
• Tips about foot care and choosing the right shoes.
• Information about nerve damage warning signs.

There is no copayment per visit.

Hearing Care

Trouble hearing can affect a person's life in many ways. Our plan includes services and support to help protect your hearing.

We cover:

• Exams, therapy and tests.
• Hearing aids and batteries.

There is no copayment per visit.

Healthy First Steps®

Mothers-to-be may receive help and advice from many people. Yet every pregnancy is different. This free program will support a mother-to-be through her pregnancy.

Healthy First Steps program is there to help keep you and your baby healthy during and after pregnancy. You'll get a personal care manager who will work closely with you. He or she can:

• Help you find a doctor.
• Learn resources for nutrition, fitness and safety.
• Get supplies, including breast pumps for nursing moms.

Home Health Care

After surgery or a serious illness, you may need extra help with day-to-day tasks. You may even need an in-home medical visit to check on how well you are healing. With approval from your doctor, our plan covers:

• In-home medical visits.
• Medical equipment like hospital beds, walkers or wheelchairs.
• Disposable medical supplies.
• Help with personal care.

Hospitalization

This plan pays for expenses related to a hospital stay. Our plan covers:

• Nursing care.
• Room and board.
• Supplies and equipment.
• Treatment and therapies.
• Diagnostic tests and exams.

And after you leave the hospital, you are not alone. We make sure you get follow-up care to continue healing at home.

Interpreters

UnitedHealthcare offers services to help you talk with your doctor or other health care workers. You can get this service if you do not speak English or have hearing and speech barriers. You do not need a referral from your doctor to get these services.

Interpreter services are offered free of charge.

Lab and X-ray Services

Knowing what's wrong and finding it early can make all the difference. Our plan covers:

• Labs and testing.
• X-rays, scans and other imaging.

We'll help you get the information needed to improve your health or be at your best.

Language Help

You can receive information in your preferred language. Just ask. We also have people at our member service centers who speak more than one language. Chances are, we have someone who speaks your language.

Medicines

Prescriptions and certain over-the-counter items are provided by the State of Wisconsin.

You may receive a prescription from a UnitedHealthcare doctor, specialist or dentist. You can fill your prescription at any pharmacy that is a provider for BadgerCare Plus. Just show your ForwardHealth ID card to the pharmacy when you get your prescriptions filled.

You may have copayments or have limits on covered medications.

Member Advocate

We're looking out for you. Our local member advocates can help solve problems, provide training and education, and work on issues that concern members.

They can:

• Answer your questions about your benefits.
• Help with doctor issues or complaints.
• Help you recertify your health care benefits.

Member Services

Sometimes you might need a little help understanding your health care options. With us, you have someone you can call 24/7. We'll answer your questions simply and completely.

We can also help you find:

• Home care providers.
• Dentists and vision providers.
• Adult day health centers.

Mental Health

Mental health is as important as physical health. That's why we have coverage for both.

Required care includes:

• Behavioral therapy.
• Substance abuse (alcohol and drugs) treatment.
• Medications.

There is a copayment per service.

NurseLine℠

Medical questions and situations sometimes happen at bad times. When you have questions about your health, you can call a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our nurses will:

• Listen to symptoms.
• Help with self-care.
• Advise you about getting care at a doctor visit or an urgent care center.
• Help you know when to go to the emergency room.

Personal Care

Sometimes the basics are hard to do yourself after an illness or injury. If needed, we provide someone to help with:

• Dressing.
• Bathing.
• Feeding.

Prenatal Visits

Your pregnancy is a journey you'll want to make with the help of friends, family and a pregnancy doctor, or OB-GYN.

All recommended prenatal clinical visits and tests are covered by our plan.

At these visits, the clinic will:

• Make sure both you and your baby are healthy.
• Explain what to expect at each stage of your pregnancy.
• Answer your questions.

Residential Care

After a serious illness, surgery or injury, you may need extra nursing and therapy. In these situations, our plan covers short stays in a rehabilitation center where you can heal.

Included are:

• Nursing home services.
• 24-hour nursing care.
• Help with activities of daily living.

Quitting Tobacco

Most people know the bad health effects of smoking. And they know they need to quit. We support our members to help them quit. The only thing they won't get from us is a lecture.

Therapy Services

Physical, occupational and speech therapy can help members recover from a serious injury or illness, or simply reach their full potential.

Our plan covers visits for:

• Occupational therapy.
• Physical therapy.
• Speech therapy.
• In-home therapy.

There is a copayment for these visits.

Transportation

We provide rides to and from medical visits.

Our plan provides non-emergency medical transportation to and from health care appointments.

That includes trips to:

• Doctor and therapy visits.  
• Urgent care centers.
• Diagnostic testing. 

Vision Care

• Regular exams.
• Up to two pairs of frames each year.
• Prescription lenses.

This benefit is offered by Vision Service Plan.

Well Visits

Well visits with your doctor can help keep you healthy. These visits can catch health problems early, so they can be treated. Preventive services include:

• Checkups for adults and children.
• Well-baby care.
• Care for women expecting a baby.
• Routine shots and tests.
• Mammograms.

There are no copayments for preventive care.