Help for Members Impacted by Hurricane Florence
September 13, 2018
We’re taking steps to help our members and emergency personnel impacted by Hurricane Florence in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Maryland. Here’s what you should know:
Help for Members in North Carolina
All members who live in North Carolina should know:
- Members on one of our prescription drug plans can get up to a 30-day emergency refill of their maintenance medications at any pharmacy now. This also applies to emergency personnel who have been activated by their state and local agency but who do not reside in North Carolina.
- Members who use a mail-order pharmacy can update address information by calling Member Services.
These relaxed guidelines are in effect for members who live anywhere in North Carolina from September 9 through October 9, 2018.
In addition, there are new relaxed benefits for members who are affected and live in one of the following North Carolina counties: Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Jones, Lenoir, Robeson, Sampson, and Wayne — here’s what they should know:
- Members can get early refills on prescriptions, if they need to replace a lost or destroyed prescription.
- Members and their doctors have a 30-day extension on the time limit for medical necessity reviews (also known as prior authorization and pre-certification).
- We've extended the newborn filing deadline for 30 days.
- We've extended the claims filing and appeals filing deadlines for 30 days.
- We've extended the grace period for members to make premium payments.
For the 18 North Carolina counties listed above, these updated relaxed guidelines are effective September 15, 2018 through October 13, 2018.
Help for Members in South Carolina
All members who live in South Carolina should know:
- Members on one of our prescription drug plans can get up to a 30-day emergency refill of their maintenance medications at any pharmacy now. This also applies to emergency personnel who have been activated by their state and local agency but who do not reside in South Carolina.
- Members who use a mail-order pharmacy can update address information by calling Member Services.
These relaxed guidelines are in effect for members who live anywhere in South Carolina from September 8 through October 8, 2018.
In addition, there are new relaxed benefits for members who are affected and live anywhere in South Carolina – here’s what they should know:
- Members can get early refills on prescriptions, if they need to replace a lost or destroyed prescription.
- Members and their doctors have a 30-day extension on the time limit for medical necessity reviews (also known as prior authorization and pre-certification).
- We've extended the newborn filing deadline for 30 days.
- We've extended the claims filing and appeals filing deadlines for 30 days.
- We've extended the grace period for members to make premium payments.
For the entire state of South Carolina, these updated relaxed guidelines are effective September 17, 2018 through October 13, 2018.
Help for Members in Virginia
All members who live in Virginia should know:
- If you’re on an Anthem prescription drug plan you can refill lost or damaged prescriptions at any pharmacy now. This also applies to members who are emergency personnel activated by their state and local agency who do not reside in Virginia.
- If you use a mail order pharmacy you can update your address information by calling Member Services.
For the entire state of Virginia, these updated relaxed guidelines are effective September 10, 2018 through October 10, 2018.
Help for Members in Georgia
All members who live in Georgia should know:
- If you’re on a BCBSGa prescription drug plan, you can refill lost or damaged prescriptions at any pharmacy now. This also applies to members who are emergency personnel activated by their state and local agency who do not reside in Georgia.
- If you use a mail order pharmacy you can update your address information by calling Member Services.
For the entire state of Georgia, these updated relaxed guidelines are effective September 12, 2018 through October 12, 2018.
Help for Members in Maryland
All members who live in Maryland should know:
- If you’re on an Anthem prescription drug plan you can refill lost or damaged prescriptions at any pharmacy now. This also applies to members who are emergency personnel activated by their state and local agency who do not reside in Maryland.
- If you use a mail order pharmacy you can update your address information by calling Member Services.
- You can get replacement medical equipment (also called Durable Medical Equipment or DME) if yours was lost or damaged.
For the entire state of Maryland, these relaxed guidelines are effective September 10, 2018 through October 10, 2018.
All of the above relaxed guidelines apply to members with Anthem group health plans. They do not apply to Medicare, Medicaid or Federal Employees Health Benefits Program members. These programs have specific guidelines.
If you need additional support, call the Member Services number on your ID card or select Customer Support on this website.
Free EAP Services from Anthem for Affected Members
Anthem’s EAP provides resources to support residents in dealing with the emotionally stressful situation as well as with financial and legal concerns. Anthem’s EAP tools will be offered at no cost and will be available 24/7 through the EAP crisis line at 877-208-8240 or by visiting anthemeap.com and using the login code “Hurricane Florence.”
Free, Unlimited Online Medical and Psychology Visits Through December 12, 2018
LiveHealth Online will provide access to board-certified doctors and licensed therapists to people affected by Hurricane Florence in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Maryland at no charge. Residents of these states can visit with a board-certified doctor 24/7 or schedule a 45-minute counseling session with a licensed therapist by registering for LiveHealth Online and selecting one of the practices listed below:
- Help for Florence Medical for on-demand medical visits 24/7
- Help for Florence Psychology to schedule 45-minute counseling sessions
The free, unlimited visit offer will be available through December 12, 2018.
We hope you and your loved ones stay safe.
