On Feb. 21, 2024, the cyber event reported by Change Healthcare, a company that assists healthcare providers with claims submissions and payments, has created a significant impact to health care providers, including hospitals, individual practitioners, practice groups, diagnostic centers, laboratories, and pharmacies. We have determined Aflac’s primary operations are not impacted. Further, Aflac and its subsidiaries do not have any direct connection to Change Healthcare systems in any of Aflac’s systems or applications. At this time, we are not aware of any impact to customer data but we are monitoring for any communications from our critical third-party suppliers. While Change Healthcare’s cyber event was not directed at Aflac, we will provide flexibility with claims submissions related to this incident should it be needed. If you believe you have a claim impacted by Change Healthcare’s event, please contact Aflac at 800-992-3522.
To help provide relief for Arkansas policyholders residing in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Randolph, Sevier, and Sharp counties affected by severe storms, floods and tornadoes occurring May 24-26, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting May 24, 2024, and ending July 23, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
To help provide relief for California policyholders residing in the state of California affected by the winter storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Feb. 3, 2024, and ending Aug. 20, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder
To provide relief for New Mexico policy/certificate holders residing in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation and affected by the wildfires, Aflac will provide the following protections for policy/certificate holders:
In addition to the above, Aflac through Aflac Benefits Solutions will provide the following protections for Network Dental and Vision members and providers:
Affected members should contact Aflac Benefits Solutions at 855-819-1873, option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for Iowa policyholders residing in Iowa that have been affected by the severe storms, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting Apr. 16, 2024, and ending Aug. 26, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
To provide relief for Texas policy/certificate holders residing in Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kaufman, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, Lamar, LaSalle, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Zapata, and Zavala counties, and affected by Hurricane Beryl, Aflac will provide the following protections for policy/certificate holders:
In addition to the above, Aflac through Aflac Benefits Solutions will provide the following protections for Network Dental and Vision members and providers:
Affected members should contact Aflac Benefits Solutions at 855-819-1873, option 1, for assistance.
To help provide relief for Oregon policyholders residing in the state that have been affected by the wildfires, Aflac will provide a premium grace period starting July 9, 2024, and ending Oct. 1, 2024. This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims and leniency for any other action required under the policy. Aflac will provide a replacement copy of the policy upon request by the policyholder.
For Network Dental and Vision Members:
This grace period also provides an extension of filing deadlines for claims; relaxation of prior authorization, precertification, and referral requirements; access to appropriate out-of-network providers due to unavailability on in-network providers or the members’ displacement; and leniency for any other action required under the certificate. A replacement copy of the certificate will be provided upon request by the certificate holder. Affected members should contact Aflac Benefit Solutions (formerly Argus Dental and Vision) at 855-819-1873, Option 1, for assistance.
Giraffes can’t dance … or can they?
Eager pre-K through 2nd grade students from MLK Elementary School in Columbus skipped, hopped and meandered in lines from their big yellow school buses into the RiverCenter for Performing Arts recently, excited to find out just that. The morning field trip to see a stage musical adaptation of the popular children’s book, ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’ by Giles Andreae, was for most of the 290 students not only their first visit to a grand performing arts landmark, but also their very first time seeing a live stage production.
Aflac and the power of relationships made it happen.
When Aflac’s Lanita Lucas, whose job includes engagement with community schools in Columbus, Georgia, learned of the Title I school’s desire to expose more of their students to the arts, she set out to help make it possible.
“I knew that Aflac was a season sponsor of the RiverCenter, so I reached out to our Corporate Social Responsibility team to see if we could help the school receive a discount on tickets so they could afford to send such a big group of students,” said Lucas. The end result to her inquiry, she admitted, was far greater than she anticipated.
“The team offered to pay for tickets for all of the 290 students and teachers. There was absolutely no cost to the school or parents,” she said. “The power of relationships made this happen — community relationships and relationships between departments at Aflac. I am thankful to work for a company where a single question sparked a series of events that led to these kids being able to experience something new and exciting.”
The awe on students’ faces as they entered the grand RiverCenter lobby in the entertainment section of Columbus wasn’t anything that can be easily described, Lucas added. “One student looked around and said, ‘Wow! Is this New York?’ The whole experience made such a difference to so many of them.”
MLK Jr. Elementary Instructional Dean, Cassandra Hippolyte, agreed.
“The Giraffes Can't Dance show was truly a memorable experience for both the kids and teachers alike,” Hippolyte said. “Witnessing the joy and wonder on the children's faces as they immersed themselves in the musical was incredibly rewarding. It's moments like these that reaffirm the importance of providing enriching educational opportunities that spark creativity and imagination.”
The 60-minute production following Gerald the Giraffe and friends on a journey of self-discovery captivated the MLK students and nearly 1,000 other children and adults from throughout the community with positive messages. The moral: Courage and self-confidence can help you overcome obstacles and shine brightly in your own unique way.
Hippolyte thanked Aflac for the opportunity to expose their students to the experience. “I am proud to be associated with a company that prioritizes bringing cultural experiences to students and helping foster a love of learning,” she said. “It's evident that initiatives like these have a meaningful impact on their educational journey.”
So, can giraffes dance? Actually, they can. As Gerald the Giraffe learned, with a little help from friends, anything is possible.
Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and /or Continental American Life Insurance Company.
WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2400283 Exp. 3/25
