BlueCare Tennessee Members

Last Updated on April 12, 2023

We’ve created a guide to answer questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s what you need to know.

Member benefits changed with the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 and your benefits.

Your Benefits

Yes, if your provider offers this service. We’ll cover telehealth visits with providers in our networks who offer this service until further notice. This includes visits with your primary care provider, specialists, behavioral health providers and ABA providers, and physical, speech and occupational therapists. This visit will cost you the same as a face-to-face visit with your provider, so any copay or cost-share you would normally have will still apply.

Through new federal government rules, we’ll reimburse you for up to eight rapid over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests per month that you pay for out of pocket. These tests must be for personal use, and they can’t be used for any return-to-work testing or work-related testing required by your employer. The eight-test limit is per person on your plan. A package of two tests counts as two toward the limit of eight, and taxes and shipping costs are ineligible for reimbursement.

Any test you take at home that must be sent to a lab for results isn’t currently eligible for reimbursement. However, this type of test when ordered by a provider is covered under your BlueCross medical benefits.

Here’s a list of FDA-approved, -authorized or -cleared tests eligible for reimbursement if purchased on or after Jan. 15, 2022.

Please follow these steps for your reimbursement.

Download and fill out the COVID-19 OTC At-Home Testing Reimbursement Form here
Cut out the UPC label (the bar code) from your test box
Mail the completed form, UPC label and original receipt from the test kit purchase to us at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Claims Service Center, 1 Cameron Hill Circle, Suite 0002, Chattanooga, TN 37402-0002.

Each item above must be the original. Reimbursement requests without all items or with copies or photos of the items won’t be accepted.

Reimbursement for eligible tests will continue throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency.

No. We understand that, as businesses reopen and adapt their health and safety practices, many require routine COVID-19 testing as part of their return-to-work or -school safety procedures. Employment-based COVID testing is not part of our health plan benefits, similar to pre-employment and periodic drug testing, and coverage for it isn’t included under the CARES Act. We’ll continue to cover the full cost of COVID-19 testing that’s recommended by your provider based on your symptoms, risk or exposure.

Throughout much of the pandemic, we’ve allowed early refills on many prescriptions. On Sept. 1, 2021, we reverted to our standard refill timeline if your pharmacy benefits are covered through BlueCross. However, you can get 90-day fills for many medications to treat chronic conditions. Your plan may also have mail-order benefits if you don’t want to go out to a pharmacy to get your medications.

COVID-19 and Fraud

Unfortunately, some people are using the threat of coronavirus to defraud others, especially our senior population.

Moms and Babies

Pregnant women are considered to have an increased risk for COVID-19 complications. Women with higher-risk pregnancies may be more at risk. Continue your prenatal appointments so your provider can manage any symptoms you may have.

However, looking at past viruses, like the flu and SARS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 could be more likely to have severe respiratory problems, like pneumonia. This is because pregnant women already have increased heart rates and diminished lung capacity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may have a higher risk of miscarriage or premature delivery if you contract COVID-19.

It’s not clear yet whether cases of newborns with COVID-19 are born infected, or are becoming infected after birth. It’s likely that if you’re infected with COVID-19, your baby will be placed in isolation after birth to prevent the disease from passing from you to them.

Some BlueCross members may have benefits for a home birth with a certified nurse midwife. Home births are recommended only for low-risk pregnancies, and you must have a detailed birthing plan that includes a hospital and doctor, in case of complications. If you’re unsure if your plan covers home births, call us at the Member Services number on the back of your Member ID card.

It’s important to note that licensed and accredited hospitals and birth centers are still safe places to deliver your baby. If you’ve already chosen your delivery provider, talk with them about your concerns to ensure you’re making the right birth choice for you and your family.

No. Even under normal circumstances, babies born prematurely or sick are at higher risk of getting sick because of their compromised immune systems. The general recommendation for these babies is that you not take them in public for at least three months. This includes church and grocery stores. With the COVID-19 health risk, taking your baby out in public is even more risky. The best advice is to keep your baby at home and protect them from exposure to all possible viruses, including COVID-19.

In a newborn, a fever of 100.4° F is considered high enough to seek medical treatment in the first two months of your child’s life. As always, double-check the environment to make sure your baby’s temperature is accurate. Wearing extra warm clothes or being bundled in blankets, as well as being in a very warm room or in a hot car, could make their temperature reading higher.

If you’re worried about your baby’s temperature, your safest bet is always to call your pediatrician for advice on next steps.

Your Health

The CDC has a coronavirus self checker on their website that helps you quickly understand which symptoms to watch out for and how to get help. The virus has a wide range of symptoms that include fever, cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose, and new loss of taste or smell.

The first step is to stay home and separate yourself from other people or animals as much as possible. That’ll help keep germs from spreading until you can get tested and advice from a doctor.

Next, check with your county health department to schedule at a free testing site or call your primary care provider. If your doctor thinks you need to be tested, they can give you instructions on where to go for testing if their office doesn’t offer it. Many pharmacies and urgent care centers offer testing.

Other than for testing, please stay at home, wear a mask and isolate yourself from others in your home, if possible.

If you’re up to date with vaccination or had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days:

Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) as soon as you find out you were exposed and any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public . You don’t need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.
Get tested five days after exposure, even if you don’t get symptoms. Start counting from Day 1:
- Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
Watch for symptoms for 10 days following your exposure.
If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately, get tested, stay home until you know your results, and wear a mask around others.

If you’re unvaccinated:

Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) as soon as you find out you were exposed and any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public . You don’t need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.
Get tested five days after exposure, even if you don’t get symptoms. Start counting from Day 1:
- Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
Watch for symptoms for 10 days following exposure.
If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately, get tested, stay home until you know your results, and wear a mask around others.

The first step is to stay home and separate yourself from other people or animals as much as possible. That’ll help keep germs from spreading until you can get advice from a doctor.

Other than for testing, please stay at home, wear a mask and isolate yourself from others in your home, if possible.

If you test positive, stay home for five days, and wear a mask if you have to be around others in your home. Day 1 of five is the first full day after you got symptoms or when you tested. Wear a mask around others until Day 10.

If you have symptoms:

You can end isolation after Day 5 if you haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours – without using a fever-reducing medicine – and your symptoms are improving.

If you didn’t have symptoms:

You may end your isolation after Day 5 of a positive test.

If you had severe symptoms:

Isolate for 10 days. Talk to your doctor before ending isolation.

Yes. Providers are following some safety social distancing guidelines, so be sure to call their office before your appointment to know what extra safety steps they’ll want you to follow when you get there. You also should take some personal safety measures, including wearing a mask if you’re not fully vaccinated and making sure you don’t have a fever or any signs of COVID-19 before going in person. If you are vaccinated and do not have any symptoms, be sure to consult the level of risk in your area to see the CDC’s guidelines for mask-wearing. If you have any symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you’ll need to reschedule your appointment.

If you have health issues that put you at higher risk of COVID-19 complications or simply don’t feel comfortable going out in person, many providers are still offering telehealth appointments.

Protecting Yourself and Others

Getting a vaccine is your best protection against COVID-19. Until you’re fully vaccinated, social distancing and wearing a mask are the best ways to protect yourself. Even if you’re vaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing a mask in many situations, depending on the level of risk in your area. Stay up to date on the latest mask guidelines here.

Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially if you’re out of your home. Hand sanitizer can help when soap and water are unavailable.

Clean all frequently touched surfaces in your home, car and workspace, if you’re still going in to work.

Cover your coughs and sneezes, and immediately throw away the used tissues.

If someone in your house is sick or has symptoms, have them self-isolate away from others in the house. Call their provider for instructions on what to do next.

BlueCross Working for You

No. We’re considered essential, so we’ll remain open. However, we have taken steps to help keep our employees well while ensuring our members see no lapse in service. In early 2020, we transitioned many of our customer service, care management, claims and billing employees to work from home. Since March 16, 2020, the majority of our workforce has been working full time from their homes to allow them to practice social distancing. We’ve not experienced any reduction in service to you, nor do we expect any.