Citi Benefits Handbook
Centers of Excellence (COEs)
Centers of Excellence (COE) are top-rated facilities that meet or exceed rigorous, evidence-based criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations. These facilities demonstrate a history of achieving faster recovery times and better expected outcomes. Because facilities must reapply for the designation on a regular basis, you can be sure they provide consistently high-quality care. And high-quality care is more cost-effective care, because you'll experience fewer complications from your treatment.
Centers of Excellence are equipped to deliver complex medical care in specialties such as bariatric, orthopedic and transplant services. Due to the recognition of the importance of having certain specialized procedures performed only at top-rated facilities with a history of achieving faster recovery times and better-than-expected outcomes, the Citigroup Choice Plan and High Deductible Plan with HSA include the following requirements:
- Bariatric procedures will only be covered when performed at a COE.
- Orthopedic and transplant procedures will be covered at the out-of-network level when received outside of a COE.
Note that if you are enrolled in the In-Network Only Plan, coverage is provided through network providers only. You are not required to receive bariatric, orthopedic and transplant procedures at COE.
If you enroll in a medical plan through Aetna or Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, you'll have access to Centers of Excellence for certain conditions, referred to as "Aetna Institutes™" by Aetna and as "Blue Distinction Centers" by Anthem BlueCross BlueShield as described below.
The plan will assist the patient and family with travel and lodging arrangements for the recipient and a companion as described under "Covered Services and Supplies"