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 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 recommend calling your regular provider to see if they offer this service. Many are offering telehealth to help keep their patients at home as much as possible.

Yes. We’ll cover and waive member costs for the FDA-approved test, as well as those currently pending FDA approval, if your doctor recommends it. We’re also waiving member copays and deductibles for the visit to your provider, urgent care center or emergency room related to a COVID-19 test, as long as the provider is in your network. We’ll still cover the testing and visit if you see a provider out of your network, but they may bill you for the difference in their visit charge and our payment to them. Please call us at the Member Service number on the back of your Member ID card if you get a bill for COVID-19 testing that you weren’t expecting.

We’ll cover FDA-approved COVID-19 antibody tests that a network provider orders during an appointment, including during a telehealth appointment. Many of the antibody tests marketed have proved ineffective at this point, so we’ll cover just those the FDA has cleared, approved or given emergency use authorization for. If a network provider doesn’t order this test, you may have out-of-pocket costs.

We’ll cover at-home tests that diagnose a current infection if authorized by a network provider. Many at-home tests marketed have proved ineffective, so we’ll cover just those the FDA has approved or given emergency use authorization for. If you pay for a test up front without having approval from a network provider, you may have out-of-pocket costs.

Yes. We’ll cover testing and waive member costs for flu and strep tests your provider orders related to ruling out COVID-19. If these tests aren’t related to COVID-19, then we’d cover them under your usual benefit and cost-share.

Yes. We’ll cover vaccines developed and approved to treat COVID-19 when they’re available. The cost for our members will be based on their plan.

Yes. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19, we’ll cover any relevant provider treatment. We’ll also waive your costs for COVID-19 treatment at in-network facilities and with in-network providers until the end of the COVID-19 national emergency. That means you won’t pay anything for treatment from providers in our network. This applies to our members in fully insured groups and individual plans. If your employer pays your claims, also called a self-funded group, they’ve been extended the option to waive cost-sharing for their members. If you use a provider who’s not in our network, we’ll cover treatment under your usual benefits. That means those providers may bill you for the balance owed.

Yes. If your provider gives you treatments in the hospital or while at their office to help with the symptoms of COVID-19, we’ll cover those at no cost to you. Any prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs your doctor recommends for at-home symptom treatment will have your normal copay or cost-share.

No. Providers have certain claims codes for testing and treatment related to COVID-19.

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 ongoing 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.

No. We don’t cover these supplies under your health plan.

Yes. We encourage you to use your PhysicianNow Powered by MDLive^® telehealth benefit to stay home as much as possible. Your normal costs for a PhysicianNow appointment will apply.

Yes. If your pharmacy benefits are covered through BlueCross, we’re allowing early refills on most medications, and we’re encouraging 90-day fills for chronic medications. Your plan may also have mail-order benefits if you don’t want to go out to a pharmacy to get your medications. Some medications such as controlled substances and certain specialty drugs aren’t included in this.

In many cases, yes. If you get your insurance through your employer, new rules give you more time to file claims and appeals during 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. So you get the full filing time, plus however long the outbreak period lasts. The outbreak period started on March 1, 2020, and will end 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, or a date that will be decided by the Department of Labor. 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 ID card.

Yes. We will never call you to ask for your subscriber ID. Additionally, most financial companies will not ask you for your account numbers. The only way to potentially prevent coronavirus and COVID-19 is social distancing. There’s no medicine to prevent or cure it.

Yes. This is a scammer trying to take advantage of people. Testing is done at approved sites with doctor’s orders, and there’s no medicine to prevent or cure the virus and illness currently.

Yes. This is a scam where someone is trying to take advantage of people. These emails could have links that download malware to infect your computer when clicked on. Please do not click on any links, respond to or forward these emails.

Yes. There are currently no treatments to prevent or cure coronavirus or COVID-19. Any wellness products you see advertised for these purposes are fraudulent.

Yes. The FDA has not approved any COVID-19 test that’s available for purchase for testing yourself at home. Only tests available at designated testing sites are approved for COVID-19 testing.

There’s not a lot of data on this just yet, but 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.

There’s not enough data to confirm whether breast milk from an infected mother poses a direct threat. However, the CDC recommends caution when breastfeeding your newborn. Your delivery nurses will be the best resource for deciding how you’ll handle feeding and/or pumping breast milk.

Be prepared as the hospital may transfer your baby to another room and ask you to pump breast milk instead, if you have COVID-19. If you and your medical team decide breastfeeding directly is the best option for you, it’s extremely important that you wash your hands just before breastfeeding, and often throughout the day. You’ll need to wear a mask to protect your baby. Because we’re still learning about this situation, the recommendations of the CDC are subject to change.

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.

Unfortunately, finding bottled water may be difficult in several areas, since shopping centers have been hit with high demand in the past few weeks. Luckily, the CDC has instructions for how to make regular tap water safer to drink. Check out their detailed instructions here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/drinking/making-water-safe.html.

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.

We understand the shortage of hand sanitizer is concerning many people, but try not to worry. Washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is actually the best way to kill COVID-19 germs. Hand sanitizer should only be used when access to soap and water is limited, but it’s not a good replacement for handwashing.

In many cases, yes. If you get your insurance through your employer, new 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 monthly premium. The new rule lets you “pause” these deadlines during the outbreak period and start counting again when it’s over. So you get the full amount of time to elect COBRA and/or pay premiums, plus however long the outbreak period lasts. 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.

The outbreak period started on March 1, 2020, and will end 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, or a date that will be decided by the Department of Labor.

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. If you’re eligible for insurance through your employer, new 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 lose 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. So you get the full amount of time to request a special enrollment, plus however long the outbreak period lasts.

The outbreak period started on March 1, 2020, and will end 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency, or a date that will be decided by the Department of Labor.

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.

Yes. You can use your HSA for telehealth services. Many employers are covering telehealth with no member costs, and some could extend that through Dec. 31, 2021. Your plan will stay HSA-qualified even in those instances.

Yes. You can now use your HSA or FSA for over-the-counter drugs like allergy medicine, pain and fever reducers, and antibiotic creams. This applies to items you’ve purchased in 2020, so you can reimburse yourself if you have a receipt for these items you may have purchased prior to the COVID-19 health crisis. If you have an HRA from someone other than BlueCross, check with them to see if this applies to your HRA. HRAs through BlueCross cannot be used for these purchases.

Yes. These types of products are eligible for these types of accounts. If you have an HRA from someone other than BlueCross, check with them to see if this applies to your HRA. HRAs through BlueCross cannot be used for these purchases.

The 2019 HSA contribution deadline has also been extended. You should make any prior year HSA contribution with your HSA vendor with post-tax funds. Your tax professionals can help you properly report those amounts when you file.

If your employer allows qualifying event election changes, you can update your status if there is a change in the child-care provider. It just needs to be consistent with the reason for the change. 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.

Unfortunately, what you’ve contributed through payroll deductions can’t be refunded. However, you can use them for future dependent care expenses when children return to school in the fall. You can stop making contributions because the care is no longer needed. Please check with your employer about specific rules about election changes for your plan.

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, see if your city or county has a free testing site set up. If so, schedule with them to get a test. You can also call your provider’s office and tell them your symptoms. If they think you need to be tested, they can give you instructions on where to go and what to do if you’re unable to get tested through your health department.

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

Since you’re not having symptoms but you think you’ve been exposed, please isolate at home and call your doctor to see if they recommend testing. If they think you need to be tested, they can give you instructions where to go and what to do. Because symptoms can take so long to appear, you should quarantine at home for 14 days starting the day you learned of your exposure.

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, see if your city or county has a free testing site set up. If so, schedule with them to get a test. You can also call your provider’s office and tell them your symptoms. If they think you need to be tested, they can give you instructions on where to go and what to do if you’re unable to get tested through your health department.

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

Right now, testing varies in every community. Some testing requires a physician referral. And some walk-up and drive-through testing sites don’t need a referral. It’s best to call your local health department to find out how to best access testing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a list of some community testing sites, which you can find here.

Your provider is your best source for advice on whether you should be tested. The Tennessee Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization have recommendations on their websites; but they may change as more news becomes available.

The latest guidance from the CDC says if you’ve had a mild case, you may leave self-isolation if it’s been 10 days since your symptoms started, you’ve been without a fever for 24 hours and haven’t used a fever reducer, and your other symptoms are improving. If you’ve had a moderate or severe case of COVID-19 or are immune-compromised, you’ll need to isolate for 20 days. In these cases, you’ll need to talk with your doctor about when it’s OK for you to leave isolation.

The CDC has also released new guidance for household family members of someone who tests positive.

If you live with others, they’ll also need to quarantine during the time you’re in isolation. They should also quarantine for an additional 14 days starting the last day they had contact with you or the day you’re no longer in isolation. However, the CDC says that period could shorten if the person has no symptoms after 10 days. Additionally, if they’re tested five days after their last exposure and test negative, then their quarantine could end after seven days.

Yes. Many providers are slowly reopening their practices to see our members in person. They’ll be 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 cloth mask while in public and making sure you don’t have a fever or any signs of COVID-19 before going in person. 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.

Social distancing is the best way to protect yourself. That means staying home other than for necessary groceries or medicine.

Wear a face covering when going out in public. The CDC recommends everyone, except children under age 2 or people who have trouble breathing or are incapacitated and unable to remove a mask, wear a cloth face covering to help slow the spread of the virus. Your mask should cover your nose and mouth, be secured under your chin, and rest snugly against the sides of your face. Make sure you can breathe easily through it, and always wash your hands before putting on or taking off your mask. You can find expert guidance about face coverings 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.

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.

Yes. Our Foundation donated $5 million to food banks throughout Tennessee to help local organizations fight hunger. As this pandemic continues, more people are facing uncertainty about providing food for their families. This donation is our way of helping local organizations meet this need. These organizations can provide up to four meals for every dollar received.