Update Regarding COVID-19 Coverage

Did you know that many insurance companies are doing more to help you in these confusing times? Whether you are healthy as a horse, have some health conditions, or just worry about contracting the new corona virus, there may be tools available to help you cope – please feel free to call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance member ID card to find out what your plan is doing to help. Or you can give US a call! That is, after all, the beauty of having a LOCAL Medicare health insurance agent.

Some of the benefits we are seeing offered by top insurance carriers:

  • No-cost or low-cost virtual and telemedicine visits with physicians for any reason – this helps reduce your risk of contracting an illness or unknowingly spreading it in your normal doctor’s office!
  • Home delivery charges for many medications may be waived.
  • 90-day medication refills for many maintenance medications may be covered for individuals currently not offered this benefit (or as an alternative, some members may be able to refill certain medications early, fees waived)
  • Some companies are even sending care packages to members who are positive for COVID-19, containing things such as OTC items to treat symptoms and household cleaning supplies to help keep other members of the household safe.
  • Hotlines are being made available for members who may experience anxiety related to COVID-19 and nurse line access is being expanded.

Available benefits will vary by carrier and plan, but this is good news and signals that the wellbeing of our members is being taken seriously. We are constantly receiving new guidance so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. If we don’t have the answer, we will do our best to find it.

 

***Concerned about the cost of testing and treatment for COVID-19 under your high deductible health insurance plan? You may not need to break a sweat just yet – the IRS has just issued Notice 2020-15, which allows HDHPs (High Deductible Health Plans) to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment pre-deductible.***