Employer, Family & Individual Plan Members

Last Updated on April 11, 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 Health Plan

Yes, if you’re a commercial member and your provider offers this service. We’ll support telehealth visits with providers in our networks who offer this service for members who get their coverage through their employers or get it on their own for themselves and family. This includes visits with your primary care physician, specialists, behavioral health providers, 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. If you have this kind of visit with a provider out of your network, they may bill you for the difference between their visit charge and our payment to them.

We’ll cover FDA-approved or emergency-authorized COVID-19 antibody tests that a network provider orders during an appointment, including during a telehealth appointment, under your health plan’s standard benefits for lab testing. Your share of the costs will depend on the network status of the lab that performs the test and whether your plan includes a copay, deductible/coinsurance, or no out-of-pocket costs for lab testing or if you have a health plan without out-of-network benefits.

Yes. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19, we’ll cover medically necessary in-network provider treatment at your normal cost share. If you use a provider who’s not in our network, we’ll cover treatment under your out-of-network benefits. That means those providers may bill you for the balance owed after BlueCross pays its allowed amount and you pay your out-of-network deductible and cost share. Marketplace plans don’t include out-of-network coverage except for emergency care. In a true emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room.

Yes. If your provider gives you FDA-approved or emergency-authorized COVID-19 treatments in the hospital or while at their office to help with the symptoms of COVID-19, we’ll cover those at your normal cost share. Any covered prescription drugs your doctor recommends for at-home symptom treatment will have your normal copay or cost share. Over-the-counter medication isn’t covered by most plans. But you may be able to use funds from an FSA or HSA to cover costs of OTC medications.

COVID-19 tests don’t require prior authorization, but some treatments and hospital stays do. If you’re seeing an in-network provider, they usually ask for prior authorization on your behalf. But if you get care from an out-of-network provider, please contact us to see if prior authorization will be required, or to let us help you find care from in-network providers. Marketplace plans don’t include out-of-network coverage except for emergency care. In a true emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room.

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.

In many cases, yes. Until July 11, 2023, if you get your insurance through your employer, current rules give you more time to file claims and appeals due to the COVID-19 national emergency.

You usually have one year plus three months to file a claim from the date of service, and 180 days to file an appeal from the date of a benefit decision, like a claim denial. The new rule lets you “pause” the deadline during the outbreak period and start counting again when it’s over.

The outbreak period started on March 1, 2020, and will end 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, or one year from the date of the triggering event, whichever is earlier. The national emergency will end on May 11, 2023, and the outbreak period will end 60 days later, on July 10, 2023. This means that, beginning July 11, 2023, you’ll revert to the normal amount of time to file a claim or appeal if your one-year time limit has not expired.

If your insurance is from a state or local governmental plan, you may not be eligible for extra time. To check, please call us at the number on the back of your Member ID card.

COVID-19 and Fraud

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

COVID-19 testing is done only at approved testing sites. There is currently no cure for COVID-19, but getting vaccinated is the best way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you get a suspicious link, don’t click on it. These emails could have links that download malware to infect your computer when clicked on. Please do not click on any links or respond to or forward these emails.

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, NICU babies are at higher risk of getting sick because of their compromised immune systems. The NICU generally recommends that you not take babies in public for at least three months. This includes church and grocery stores. With 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.

COVID-19 and Enrolling in a Health Plan

In many cases, yes. Until July 11, 2023, if you get your insurance through your employer, current rules give you more time to elect COBRA and pay COBRA premiums during the COVID-19 national emergency.

You usually have 60 days to elect COBRA from the day you lose your insurance. Once you elect COBRA, you normally have 45 days to pay the initial premium and 30 days after that to pay the monthly premium. The new rule lets you “pause” these deadlines during the outbreak period and start counting again when it’s over. But it’s important to know that, if you get behind on premium payments at any point and lose your COBRA coverage, we won’t be able to pay any claims unless you pay premiums on time and your COBRA coverage is reinstated. We also won’t pay any claims until you have elected and paid for COBRA coverage.

The outbreak period started on March 1, 2020, and will end 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, or one year from the triggering event date, whichever is earlier. The national emergency will end on May 11, 2023, and the outbreak period will end 60 days later, on July 10, 2023. This means that, beginning July 11, 2023, you’ll revert to the normal amount of time to elect COBRA or pay COBRA premiums.

If your insurance is from a state or local governmental plan, you may not be eligible for extra time. If you have questions about this and we administer your COBRA benefits, please call us at 1-800-364-6121 to check. You can also ask your employer.

In many cases, yes. Until July 11, 2023, if you’re eligible for insurance through your employer, current rules give you more time to enroll if you have certain life events during the COVID-19 national emergency.

You usually have 30 days to request a special enrollment if you lose other coverage, get married, have a baby or adopt a child, including a child being placed for adoption. You usually have 60 days to request a special enrollment if you or an eligible dependent loses your Medicaid or CHIP coverage. The new rule lets you “pause” the deadline during the outbreak period and start counting again when it’s over.

Please contact your employer if you have questions. Your employer will be able to tell you more about the extra time you may have to enroll, what your effective date of coverage will be and any premiums you may be responsible for. If your employer’s plan is a state or local governmental plan, you may not be eligible for extra time.

COVID-19 and Health Accounts

If your employer allows qualifying event election changes, you can update your status if there is a change in the child-care provider. For example, if the provider is no longer providing the care, like when a summer day camp cancels or care is no longer needed, you can reduce or stop the election. Temporary regulations designed to provide COVID relief also allow employers the option to allow mid-year changes for any reason in 2021. Please check with your employer about specific rules about election changes for your plan.

Your Health

The CDC has a coronavirus self-checker on its 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 for 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.

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 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 and booster are 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.

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.