Privacy Statement and Terms of Use
Website Privacy Statement
Effective Date: October 1, 2023
Introduction
At Essence Healthcare, we know privacy is important to you. Privacy is one of your rights as a consumer
as well as an Essence Healthcare member. Please review the following statement, which explains what data
we collect, how we use the personal information you provide, and how we ensure that information is kept
secure. This Privacy Statement lets you know how we handle the information collected through your use of
this website. This statement does not apply to information collected through other means, although that
information may be protected by other privacy policies.
By using or accessing our website, regardless of whether you register or create a website account, you
acknowledge that you accept the practices outlined in this Privacy Statement, and you hereby consent that
we will collect, use, and share your information as described below.
Cookies
When you access Essence Healthcare’s website, we do not require you to register or otherwise provide any
personal information, such as your name, social security number, or email address. We may, however,
monitor and record your usage of our website during your visit. We collect this information and use it to
help make the website more consumer-friendly and efficient.
Essence Healthcare uses “cookie” technology to gather non-personal information. A “cookie” is a piece of
data that a website can send to your browser while you are using the website. A cookie is not a computer
program; it cannot read data from your computer, perform any action on your data, or embed commands in
your computer. Cookies can keep track of which pages are used, the frequency they are used, and enable
certain features on this website. You may disable these cookies at any time by adjusting your browser
preferences on your computer.
Personal Information
Essence Healthcare will receive and store information you knowingly provide to us. For example, when you
enroll in one of our plans, you provide us with some personal information about you, including your name,
address, social security number, telephone number, etc. When you create a website account, the personal
information that we collect will be used to associate your website account with your plan enrollment
information. If you provide us with personal information on this website, we may store and use your
personal information for a number of purposes, such as verifying your identity, responding to a request
from you, processing an application as requested by you, conducting our business, and complying with
applicable laws.
In addition, if you are an Essence member we may store and use your information to contact you for
treatment options or other health-related benefits and services by various mechanisms, including regular
mail, email, telephone, including voicemail, or Short Message Service (SMS/text messaging). Please see the
Notice of Privacy Practices below for more information on how we use member information.
Sharing Personal Information
Essence Healthcare will only share your personal information with third parties or Business Associates
(vendors who perform work on behalf of Essence Healthcare for the purpose of payment, treatment, or
healthcare operations) as outlined in this Statement and as otherwise permitted by law. Essence Healthcare
will not sell, license, transmit or disclose outside of Essence Healthcare the personal information you
provide to us unless it is expressly authorized by you, necessary to enable our Business Associates to
perform certain functions on our behalf, or required or permitted by law.
We may share personal information if all or part of our Company is sold, merged, dissolved, acquired or
in a similar transaction.
Security
Essence Healthcare maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal
standards. Additionally, Essence Healthcare takes reasonable precautions to protect personal information
from unauthorized use or alteration. To protect from unauthorized access, a secure infrastructure
utilizing a defense in-depth strategy is used to safeguard the data that you provide. Please note, we
cannot guarantee the security of our website or that your information will not be intercepted as there is
always a risk in sending information over the internet and data transmitted by email is vulnerable to
security breaches.
For registered users, your website account is protected by a password for your privacy and security. You
must prevent unauthorized access to your website account and Personal Information by selecting and
protecting your password and/or other sign-on mechanism appropriately and limiting access to your computer
or device and browser. We endeavor to protect the privacy of your website account and other Personal
Information we hold in our records, but unfortunately, we cannot guarantee complete security. Unauthorized
entry or use, hardware or software failure, and other factors, may compromise the security of user
information at any time.
Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information
If you are using this website to enroll in Essence Healthcare or to access information and services
related to your membership with Essence Healthcare, the Notice of Privacy Practices will give you specific
information and details about how we can use and disclose your protected health information when
administering your benefits. The Notice of Privacy Practices will also explain all the rights you have
concerning the privacy of your health information and how you can exercise those rights. The Notice of
Privacy Practices is available by clicking the link below.
California Residents
Essence Healthcare has determined that some of our business segments may be subject to obligations set by
the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). For further detail regarding our notice to California
consumers, please navigate to the California Consumer Privacy Policy of our covered businesses which is
available by clicking the link below.
Privacy
Notice for California Residents
Children’s Privacy
This website is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect
personal information from any user that is under the age of 13.
Terms of Use
By accessing and using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to be
bound by these terms and conditions of use, and that you will comply with all applicable laws and
regulations. Use of this website is at your own risk and discretion. As used herein, “Company,” “we,” or
“our” refers to Essence Healthcare and its affiliate entities.
Company reserves the right at its discretion to modify the Terms and Conditions and Website Privacy
Statement from time to time. Your continued use of the website after any such modifications shall
constitute your agreement to be bound by any such changes. Company may modify, suspend, or discontinue all
or any portion of its website without notice or liability.
Informational Purposes Only
Company provides the information contained within this website for informational purposes only. No
warranty is made that the information provided is error free. The information contained within the web
pages may be, at any time, outdated and may include inaccuracies and/or errors.
Visitors should not construe this information as an offer for medical services or as advice on medical
treatments. The information presented is general in nature and is not a substitute for professional
healthcare. Consult a physician or other qualified healthcare professional before making health-related
decisions.
The information presented by this website describes the products and services offered by Company. Some
specific information may be provided but, overall, the information presented may not contain all the
applicable terms, conditions, limitations, or exclusions necessary to fully describe the products and
services.
Claims, Benefits, and Medical Management
The information provided with our website does not represent a guarantee of coverage or specific payment.
All health plan benefits are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the specific policy
issued, including, but not limited to, eligibility, precertification, exclusions and limitations, and
medical necessity requirements. For further information on a health insurance benefit policy and its
limitations, please contact Customer Service at the telephone number on the back of your membership card.
Links to Other Sites
This website may provide links or references to other sites. These links are provided for your
convenience, and Company is not responsible for the content of these other sites, cannot be responsible
for the privacy practices used by other website owners, does not make any representations or give any
warranties with respect to any information contained in or at these other sites, and shall not be liable
for any damages or injury arising from the content of these other sites. Company reserves the right to
terminate any link at any time.
When leaving Company’s website to visit another website, we recommend that you review that third party’s
terms and conditions and privacy statement.
Notification of Changes
Company reserves the right to change the content within the website and within the Website Privacy
Statement and Terms of Use at any time—without notice.
No Warranty
The materials, information, and services provided on this website as provided “as is” without any
warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, an implied warranty of
merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or infringement. There is no warranty that use of this
website will be error free or that it will not interfere with your use and enjoyment of other information
or services.
Essence Healthcare is based in the United States and this Website is intended for use only by persons
located in the United States. We make no claims that the Website or any of its content is accessible or
appropriate outside of the United States.
Intellectual Property
The website and its entire contents (including but not limited to all information, software, text,
images, video, and audio) and other intellectual property (including trademarks, service marks and
copyrights) on this website are owned by Company, its licensors, or other providers of such material and
are protected by intellectual property laws. You may not use Company logos, trademarks, service marks or
copyrights without the prior written permission of Company. You may use the website and its contents
solely for your personal, non-commercial use and no ownership interest is transferred to you by virtue of
making the website or any intellectual property on the website available.
Contact Information
If you have any questions concerning the Privacy Statement or Terms of Use, please direct them
to:
Privacy Office
13900 Riverport Drive
Maryland Heights, MO 63043