Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Medical Plan Updates: 02/01/2021

 

Kaiser Permanente (Kaiser)

  • Kaiser will be contacting members ages 75 and older to provide instructions on how to schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Members can also visit, org/covidvaccine, or call the 24/7 recorded message hotline at      (855) 550-0951 for regular updates.
  • Members testing positive for COVID-19, who share their home with at least one other person, are eligible to receive a free household prevention kit, which includes: care instructions for members and their caregivers; information on how to isolate at home and monitor symptoms; and access to essential personal and household supplies.
  • Additional information about the household prevention kit will be included with the member’s results notification
  • Members exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are strongly encouraged to complete an e-visit and select “COVID-19, Cold, Flu, Cough: Advice or Testing”. Following the e-visit, members can visit Kaiser’s website for at-home care instructions on protecting and caring for themselves and others at home.
  • Members can find answers to common COVID-19 vaccine questions by accessing the latest “Ask a Doctor: COVID-19 vaccine” article on the Kaiser website.
  • Kaiser is offering a mindfulness webinar on coping with stress and building resiliency, as a part of their ongoing series available the third Thursday of the month. The next 60-minute class is scheduled for 5 p.m., February 18, 2021.

 

 Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem)

  • Anthem provided members with the following three things to know about the COVID-19 vaccine:
    • Members will receive the COVID-19 vaccination at no cost. During the national public health emergency period, members will have no out-of-pocket costs for the vaccine, regardless of the type of health plan or doctor/healthcare professional they choose to visit
    • The Food and Drug Administration has approved the vaccine, and along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will continuously monitor vaccine safety and quality
    • Vaccine distribution has begun and supplies should increase over time. Per the CDC, all adults should have access to the vaccine in 2021

 

UnitedHealthCare (UHC)

  • Effective February 1, 2021, COVID-19 treatment will be based on plan benefits for the following….
    • Medically necessary inpatient COVID-19 treatment at in-network facilities
    • Emergency room treatment, if admitted to the facility with a COVID-19 diagnosis
    • Ground emergency ambulance transportation, if admitted to the hospital for inpatient COVID-19 treatment
  • Through February 28, 2021, UHC has extended coverage at no cost share for network outpatient monoclonal antibody administration, for the treatment of COVID-19, in adult and pediatric patients.

 

Cigna

  • As a part of their ongoing COVID-19 podcast series, Cigna’s latest nine-minute podcast addition focuses on the latest developments related to COVID-19 mutations, vaccine rollout plans, and the cost of the vaccines.

 

 Helpful Links:

 

Archive Links:

 

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) works closely with the County-sponsored medical plans available to our employees, and receives regular updates concerning the COVID-19 crisis.  Watch this page for weekly news, as well as any urgent updates on how to get treatment and new recommendations concerning social distancing, self-quarantine, and more.