Health Insurance Tips for COVID-19!
This morning, I opened a local paper and there it was….an ad from a large and very well respected hospital system in New Jersey, directly marketing and targeting those who are “Worried About Coronavirus Exposure”. The ad is for a video visit, commonly known as “Telemedicine”. The ad further gaslights with “Reduce exposure to illness with a video visit…..Now only $20.”
Okay, I get it. We are all worried about this terrible Pandemic, but come on! I just cannot get on board with marketing in this way as a means to draw people to a health system with a sale on! The ad even offers a “promo code” and is “valid for New Jersey residents only”.
There is a better and more effective solution - - - -
Be Prepared and Advocate for Yourself and Your Family From the start…..
Hopefully, the majority of you reading this have insurance. Be smart here. Take out your insurance card – either call the “Member Services” number on the back or sign up/pull up their portal. We spent some time today doing this and were heartened at what we saw! So many of these plans offer Telemedicine – a few at zero cost (some for the “nurse line”), others at nominal costs ranging from $5 to $40.00. The beauty of using Telemedicine with your insurance is not only the cost but control of expenses, tracking care, follow-up, etc.
We have written about Telemedicine here at HealthLink Advocates before. For the most part, Telemedicine is a video contact so make sure that if using a phone or tablet, you are charged up or plugged in. When it comes to this Pandemic, Telemedicine may only be the starting point. Use the resources that are offered (and that you already pay for) by your insurance plan. This is just too important a time to be all over the place with your medical care and to not know what your resources are.
Suggestion
When you make your first contact with “Telemedicine” you are usually put in a “queue” and given a choice of doctors to choose from. There should be a small biography provided for each. Take note of who you connect with. If you are satisfied with your visit, be sure to keep the physician’s name handy. If you do have to call back for any reason, or feel that you need to check in again, it is helpful to keep up your visits using the same physician. Depending on the time of day you call and the physician’s schedules, this is not always possible, but try to keep a log of the name of the physician, date and notes at the ready for any visit you have concerning the same situation. It will save you from having to reinvent the wheel, as well as enable you to have a consistent follow-up if needed.
Of course, expenses are not the most important factor when it comes to health, especially with the now named Pandemic that we are all entering but things can get out of control. Take the time now and get organized.
Know Your Coverage Before You’re Sick
The individual plan that you carry may not have access to Telehealth, but most do....take out your card - check out the portal - call and ask!
Do you know which hospitals and urgent care centers near you are “in-network”? This is a good question to ask when connecting with your insurance company about Telehealth - just in case. Additionally, we noticed that several of the websites mention that coverage will be maximized when services are received “in-network”. If you call the member services number on your card, provide your zip code and ask the representative to tell you which hospitals and urgent care centers are within their system. Keep that handy just in case you feel that you need to be seen - you will not want to be doing this while not feeling well so do it now!
COVID-19 Insurance Coverage
Here is a sampling of what we found while visiting the various portals concerning Coronavirus:
Cigna
Cigna customers will have access to coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, as prescribed by health practitioners, and the company will waive all co-pays or cost-shares to help fight the rapid spread of the virus in the U.S. and for its globally mobile customers.
TELEHEALTH CIGNA……To mitigate exposure risks, customers are reminded that telehealth options are available for seeking on-demand medical attention, as appropriate. To access telehealth options, visit mycigna.com and select the "Connect Now" button on the home page to talk with a doctor or nurse any time day or night.
UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare will cover the cost of COVID-19 testing provided at approved locations in accordance with CDC guidelines by waiving your copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. This coverage applies to all of our commercial insured members as well as Medicaid and Medicare.
Aetna
Aetna will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19. This policy will cover the cost of physician-ordered testing for patients who meet CDC guidelines, which can be done in any approved laboratory location. Aetna will waive the member costs associated with diagnostic testing at any authorized location for all Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
Effective immediately for all fully insured members, including those covered through Medicaid, Medicare, Individual and Small Group policies, as well as members covered by the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), Horizon BCBSNJ is waiving member cost-sharing obligations for:
All services associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
All charges associated with a visit to an in-network primary care physician or urgent care center or an in-network or out-of-network Emergency Room (ER) for evaluation of symptoms identified by the CDC as possible indicators of COVID-19 infection (fever, cough, and shortness of breath).
All charges associated with a visit to an in-network primary care physician or urgent care center or an in-network or out-of-network ER for COVID-19 testing for members who know they have been exposed to an individual diagnosed with COVID-19.
Medicare & COVID-19
Medicare covers related needs
Medicare covers the lab tests for COVID-19. You pay no out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead, you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine.
At this time, there's no vaccine for COVID-19. However, if one becomes available, it will be covered by all Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D).
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have access to these same benefits. Medicare allows these plans to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 lab tests. Many plans offer additional telehealth benefits. Check with your plan about your coverage and costs.
NOTE: Original Medicare has expanded Telehealth coverage for all Medicare recipients. This expansion was just passed in the recent coronavirus spending bill.
As we write this, it is expected that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will receive authorization to waive costs to Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program requirements, thus covering all those without employer or personal insurance needing help with the cost of testing who are currently enrolled in these programs.