Health Plan Announces Coverage for Coronavirus Testing and Related Doctor Visits (In-Network) with No Cost Sharing Through June 15, 2020

March 13, 2020

As reported in the news, the coronavirus continues to spread to populations worldwide. Given the importance of testing for the COVID-19 disease, the Board of Trustees has approved coverage of COVID-19-related testing and doctor visits for currently covered Health Plan participants.

Effective immediately, all patient cost-shares (co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles) will be waived for all COVID-19 related testing through June 15, 2020 as long as it is:

  • Medically necessary,
  • Ordered by a network provider and
  • Performed at a network lab/facility.

This includes patient cost-shares for office visits, urgent care centers and hospital emergency room visits for the purpose of COVID-19 testing. After June 15, 2020, the COVID-19 testing and associated visits will continue to be covered at the usual benefit level.

How to protect yourself and others

It is important to take appropriate preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your loved ones and those around you. To that end, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following recommendations:

  • Stay home when you are sick from any illness.
  • If you have personally suffered symptoms of acute respiratory illness, stay home until you are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants).
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Regularly use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. While sneezing in your elbow is certainly preferable to sneezing in your hand, the clothing on your elbow can contain infectious viruses that can be passed on for up to a week or more. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. All surfaces where infectious droplets land can remain infectious for about a week, on average.
  • To the extent possible, use knuckles to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc. and please avoid handshaking and other physical contact.

Where to find updated information

For updates on the coronavirus, the CDC and the World Health Organization have created special websites with a wealth of information regarding what the coronavirus is, how it is contracted, what countries are under a travel advisory, etc. This information is updated regularly as the situation evolves and can be found on the following websites:

Call your doctor if you develop a fever, have a cough, or have difficulty breathing. Let your doctor know if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area where the virus has spread.

For additional information, please call Participant Services Department at (323) 866-2200, Ext. 401.