Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Individual & Family and Employer Group Plans

 
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Continue to check this page as Anthem Blue Cross/Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company (Anthem) will be updating this information as it becomes available.

It’s normal to have some questions about what COVID-19 is and to think about protecting yourself and the people you care about the most. After all, there’s a lot of information going around about it right now.

Let’s take a look at what COVID-19 is, how it affects us, and what we can do to look after ourselves and each other.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking everyone to help reduce the risk of infections spreading. Check the CDC website for up-to-date information, especially if traveling.

Find Out How Anthem Has You Covered

All Anthem plans will cover medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 and will waive all cost shares (co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles). This includes screenings and/or tests that take place at in-person office visits, drive-through sites, virtual on-line visits and telephone calls. 
If you’re diagnosed as having COVID-19, you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs to pay if you get treatment for COVID-19 from doctors, hospitals, and other health-care professionals in your plan’s network through May 31, 2020. This benefit is available to Anthem members in Fully Insured, Individual, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans.
As of March 17, 2020 and until further notice, Anthem and its care providers will waive cost sharing for members using Anthem’s telemedicine service, LiveHealth Online, as well as care received from other in-network providers delivering virtual care through internet video + audio services. Member cost shares for telehealth services will not be waived for out of network providers, except for COVID-19 screening. Self-insured plan sponsors have the choice to participate and may opt out of this program. Members enrolled in self-insured plans can call the Member Services number on the back of their ID card.
As of March 19, 2020, Anthem and its care providers will cover telephone-only medical and behavioral health services from in-network providers. Exceptions include chiropractic services, physical, occupational, and speech therapies. These services require face-to-face interaction and therefore are not appropriate for telephone-only consultations. Out-of-network providers will only be covered for plans with out-of-network benefits. Self-insured plan sponsors have the choice to participate and may opt out of this program. Members enrolled in self-insured plans can call the Member Services number on the back of their ID card.
Anthem is encouraging its members to use LiveHealth Online to virtually connect to a doctor through a live video chat on their phone, tablet, or computer. The LiveHealth Online doctors can screen for COVID-19 and make recommendations for care. Members can find more information on Live Health Online here.

Members can also use Anthem’s Sydney Care mobile app today for a quick and easy way to evaluate your symptoms and see a doctor, again free of charge. Members can check their symptoms, and then the app will connect them to a doctor through a LiveHealth Online video session or a Virtual Care text session right from your phone. Members can download the Sydney Care mobile app here.

Members can also call the Anthem 24/7 NurseLine at the number listed on their Anthem ID card to speak with a registered nurse about health questions.
Anthem is relaxing early prescription refill limits, where permitted, for members who have Anthem pharmacy benefits and wish to refill a 30-day supply of most maintenance medications early. Additionally, members who have a pharmacy plan that includes a 90-day mail-order benefit should talk to their doctor about whether changing from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply of their prescriptions is appropriate. There are no delivery charges for members who use Anthem’s Home Delivery Pharmacy. Members can call the Pharmacy Member Services number on their health plan ID card to learn more.
It's also important to take care of your emotional and mental health needs. That's why we’ve added benefits that provide you resources for dealing with the challenges you may be facing right now.
 
COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub: Anthem's affiliated health plans and Beacon Health Options have joined with Psych Hub, mental health advocates, and other national health insurers to develop a free web-based resource to support members' mental health needs. Psych Hub offers a range of resources to help you and your family deal with pandemic-related stress such as social isolation, job loss and other mental health issues.
 
Additional Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources: Anthem is providing access to a wide range of resources that address members' emotional health issues and life challenges — from parenting and child care to financial planning, legal issues, addiction, prevention, and much more. These resources are available at no cost through June 30, 2020. Members can access anthemEAP.com website for helpful resources, including online seminars, practical tips and links to news outlets and health organization web sites. Use the company code EAP Can Help to log in.

About Coronavirus and COVID-19

Coronavirus is a type of virus that causes respiratory illness — an infection of the airways and lungs. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. It’s part of the same family of coronaviruses that includes the common cold.
The most common early symptoms appear between 2 and 14 days after being infected. Symptoms can be mild to severe. They include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Right now, medical experts think that COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person through a cough, sneeze or kiss. However, since COVID-19 is a new disease, scientists around the globe are racing to learn more about it.

Prevention and Treatment

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Check the CDC website for up-to-date information. If you’re traveling, you’ll want to visit the CDC travel page for their most current travel guidelines.
 
Good health habits can also help prevent and fight COVID-19. You should:
 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when sick. This includes staying home from work, school, errands, and travel for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone.
  • Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like phones, keyboards, and doorknobs.
  • Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink lots of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
It’s best to follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC information for household members and caregivers can be found here.
Call your doctor if you develop a fever, have a cough, or have difficulty breathing. And let them know if you’ve 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.
 
Some Anthem health plans include LiveHealth Online. It lets you see a doctor through live chat or video on your phone, tablet, or computer. If your plan offers LiveHealth Online, just log in at anthem.com/ca to use it. If you’re not sure whether your plan offers it, call us at the Member Services number on your ID. If it doesn’t, we can talk about your options. 
No. Several recent media reports have focused on new and existing antiviral drugs being tested for use in treating COVID-19. None of these drugs is approved for use with COVID-19, and many are still being investigated. We’re monitoring developments in this area closely and will evaluate how benefits will cover treatments once treatments are approved.
Not yet. Several vaccines are being tested, but they’re still in the very early stages of development. After that, they’ll need to go through clinical trials to be sure they are both safe and effective before they’d be ready for the public.
We know how important it is to continue taking your prescriptions as directed by your doctor. You can get 90-day supplies of most prescription medicines, depending on your plan’s pharmacy benefits. This is a great time to think about changing any prescription medicines you take on a regular basis from a 30-day supply.

Talk to your doctor to see if a 90-day supply would work for you. You can even get them through home delivery pharmacy. If you have specific questions about the medicine you take, call the pharmacy services number on your member ID card.*
 
*Applies only for members with Anthem pharmacy benefits.
Anthem is committed to making sure you can get the care you need. We’re working closely with the doctors and other health care professionals in our plans to prepare for more calls and visits. If your doctor isn’t available for some reason, we’ll help you find alternate care. Go to the main page on anthem.com/ca to log in and search for a doctor, or call the Member Services number on your ID card.

Other Resources

California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Updates

State of California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

(CDC) - People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19

U.S. Department of State China Travel Advisory

World Health Organization, Coronavirus

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