Frequently Asked Questions

We want to make sure you have all the resources and information you need to make the most of your benefits and your health. Following are some answers to commonly asked questions about Intel Connected Care, and what Connected Care with Providence can mean for you and your family.

Providence is the largest health system in the Portland-metro area. We have a comprehensive, high-value network of highly respected providers, facilities and services. Providence clinicians use one medical record to provide a seamless care experience. This means wherever you receive care from a Providence provider, every caregiver can access up-to-date information about your health through the same electronic file. This helps prevent duplication or gaps in your care, and you don’t have to re-share your story at each visit – unless you want to. Plus, you can count on convenient access to care in the way you want – from a traditional office visit to an on-demand video visit with Providence ExpressCare Virtual. And, know that with Providence we deliver compassionate and genuine care that’s focused on you.

Connected Care with Providence is a new approach to health care designed to provide you and your family a higher-quality, better-coordinated and more collaborative health care experience that places you at the center.

As a benefit-eligible employee with Intel, you can choose one of two Connected Care plans with Providence: a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) option or a Primary Care Plus option. They both are based on a patient-centered medical home care model, offer in-network and out-of-network benefits, cover select preventive care visits and preventive care medications in full, and cover a broad range of health care services.

Yet, they differ in how much you pay annually for your health benefits and how much you pay when you get care before the Connected Care plans pay benefits. For instance, in the High Deductible Health Plan option, there is no annual paycheck deduction. However, there is a higher annual deductible before the plan pays benefits. You can offset the high deductible by making pre-tax contributions to a Health Savings Account and use those funds to pay for eligible health care expenses. On the other hand, the Primary Care Plus option does require an annual paycheck deduction but has a lower annual deductible. You don’t need to meet this deductible before the plan pays for in-network primary care office visits and prescription drugs.

If you’re a current Providence Medical Group patient, your provider is part of the Connected Care network. Providence has extended its network to include a wide range of high-quality providers and specialists to ensure you get the care you need. To find a provider or facility, search the Intel Connected Care provider directory.

Simply select one of the Intel Connected Care Plans with Providence during annual enrollment. In late December, Providence will send you a new ID card and information on how to make the most of your Providence patient centered medical home experience.

Yes. But, you will not benefit fully from the Connected Care experience and you’ll pay for services at the out-of-network level – usually a higher out-of-pocket cost to you.

Both Providence Connected Care plans offer prescription drug benefits that include up to a 90-day supply from a retail pharmacy. Depending on your plan, there may also be a special benefit when you receive up to a 90-day supply from a preferred retail pharmacy or from our mail-order service. View your plan’s benefit summary to see your specific prescription drug benefits.

Yes. The Connected Care plans provide national coverage, meaning you’re covered when you need care outside of Oregon. If you need to access services in Oregon, but are outside the medical neighborhood, your service will be paid at the out-of-network level. You also are covered for emergency and immediate care needs. See your plan’s benefit summary for details.

Intel’s Connected Care Plans are an innovative, new way to provide you access to high-quality health care services focused on your needs. Unlike other health plans, the success of Connected Care is based on the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model – an evidence-based approach to delivering high-quality, coordinated care that focuses on your well-being, prevention and care management.

Intel also feels that Connected Care is a better approach to health care. Like many Intel practices, Connected Care is built on several leading principles: innovation, measuring outcomes, a great user experience and continuous improvement. Connected Care is right there – aligned with Intel’s practices – by delivering an experience that based on experts working together to provide high-quality care, timely, convenient and easy access to the right providers, and lower costs with incentives to get and stay engaged.

A patient-centered medical home is the foundation of Connected Care. Think of a patient centered medical home as your health care center. It consists of a team of health care professionals, led by your Providence personal physician, who get to know you and your unique needs. If you’re healthy, they’ll help you stay that way. If you could use some lifestyle changes, they’ll work with you to develop a manageable plan to make them. If you live with a chronic condition, they’ll provide support to help you manage it. It’s convenient, coordinated and personal – taking care of you and your health. Your medical home team also will help you navigate specialty care, sometimes referred to as your medical neighborhood, when you have a more complex need.

A medical neighborhood is a local network of specialists, facilities and caregivers that collaborate with your medical home to provide the care you need and ease your way. For example, if you are diagnosed with a complex medical condition, your primary care provider will refer you to a specialist in the medical neighborhood. They’ll work closely with each other – and with you – to address your health issue and develop an appropriate care plan. If your care plan includes testing and/or services in a hospital or outpatient care facility, your care team will help you find one that best fits your needs within the medical neighborhood and ensure that necessary information is shared with members of your care team, including your primary care provider.

Depending on what you are being treated for, you may be able to continue seeing your current provider at the in-network benefit level. Your dedicated customer service team can get to know your unique situation to help determine if you’re eligible to continue your treatment or to help transition your care to Providence, if that’s what you decide. Contact a member of your dedicated customer service team at 503-574-5100 or 855-210-1590 to see if transitioning your care is right for your situation.

There are a number of free, easy-to-use online tools to help you understand and make the most of the Intel Connected Care Plan.

Yes. Intel’s Health for Life Centers provide convenient on-site services for Intel employees and enrolled family members (age five and older) regardless of health plan selection. If you are a Connected Care plan member with Providence, the Health for Life Center will coordinate with Providence to avoid duplication of services and help close any gaps in care. They will also refer you to a Providence medical home or medical neighborhood provider when needed to address more complex or specialized health needs. Additionally, your dedicated Intel Connected Care team is alerted after your Health for Life Center visits through your electronic medical record and can help to coordinate any additional care. Learn more about Health for Life Centers at Intel.