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COVID-19 Resource Center

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

EMPLOYERS

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About Coronavirus and
COVID-19

Anthem will cover the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine. Anthem members won’t have out-of-pocket costs for the vaccine during this national public health emergency. This applies to all members, regardless of the type of health plan they have, or which doctor or healthcare professional they choose to visit for COVID-19 vaccination. Please visit VaccineFinder to find COVID-19 vaccines by ZIP Code, vaccine brand, and availability status.

Testing for all Anthem members is covered. If COVID-19 testing is medically necessary, the test and the visit where members receive the test are covered and member cost shares are waived. For members diagnosed as having COVID-19, cost share for treatment will be waived for fully-insured, Individual, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage members through January 31, 2021. Free, confidential COVID-19 testing is available to every Californian that needs it. Visit California’s COVID Testing site for more information.

Anthem encourages its members to use LiveHealth Online to virtually connect to a doctor through a live video chat on their phone, tablet, or computer. The LiveHealth Online doctors can screen for COVID-19 and make recommendations for care. Members can find more information on the LiveHealth Online website.

Members should consider using Anthem’s Sydney Care mobile app for a quick and easy way to evaluate symptoms and see a doctor, free of charge. Members can check their symptoms, and then the app will connect them to a doctor through a LiveHealth Online video session or a Virtual Care text session right from their phone. Download the Sydney Care app.

Members who have health questions can call the Anthem 24/7 NurseLine at the number listed on their Anthem ID card to speak with a registered nurse.

If doctors in a members’ plan don’t use LiveHealth Online, but have their own telemedicine technology to see patients, members can use that technology to see them. Telehealth visits are subject to the same cost sharing as in-person visits for the duration of this emergency or until further notice from the Department.

Anthem is relaxing early prescription refill limits, where permitted, for members who have Anthem pharmacy benefits and wish to refill a 30-day supply of most maintenance medications early.

Additionally, members who have a pharmacy plan that includes a 90-day mail-order benefit should talk to their doctor about whether changing from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply of their prescriptions is appropriate. Members filling 90-day prescriptions can get most of their medications through our home delivery pharmacy. Members can call the Pharmacy Member Services number on their health plan ID card to learn more.

Anthem is committed to making sure members can get the care they need. We’re working closely with the doctors and other health care professionals in our plans to prepare for more calls and visits. If doctors aren’t available for some reason, we’ll help them find alternate care. Members can go to anthem.com/ca or call the Member Services number on their ID card.

We are carefully monitoring the global drug supply for any disruptions related to COVID-19 and, at the present time we have not identified any disruptions that would affect members’ abilities to fill their prescriptions through either our mail order facility or our retail networks. In the event that we identify a shortage with a particular drug, we will take steps to allow members to access an appropriate therapeutic alternative.

Coronavirus is a type of virus that causes respiratory illness — an infection of the airways and lungs. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. It’s part of the same family of coronaviruses that includes the common cold.

The most common early symptoms appear between 2 and 14 days after being infected. Symptoms can be mild to severe. They include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Right now, medical experts think that COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person through a cough, sneeze or kiss. However, since COVID-19 is a new disease, scientists around the globe are racing to learn more about it.

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. Check the CDC website for up-to-date information. If traveling, visit the CDC travel page for most current travel guidelines.

Good health habits can also help prevent and fight COVID-19.

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when sick. This includes staying home from work, school, errands, and travel for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone.
  • Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like phones, keyboards, and doorknobs.
  • Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink lots of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Individuals exposed to COVID-19 who develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, should contact their doctor immediately. Anthem members can log in at anthem.com/ca to use LiveHealth Online and connect with a board-certified doctor via video at no cost through September 30, 2020, or chat with a doctor via text through the Sydney Care app. To help prevent the disease from spreading to people in the community, follow these CDC recommendations.

No. In recent days there have been several media reports concerning new and existing antiviral drugs that are being tested for their use in treating COVID-19. None of these drugs have been approved for use with COVID-19 and many are still being investigated. We are monitoring developments in this area closely and will evaluate coverage of any treatments once approved.

Anthem is monitoring COVID-19 developments and what they mean for our associates and those we serve. We are fielding questions about the outbreak from our customers, members, providers, and associates. Additionally, our clinical team is actively monitoring external queries and reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help us determine what, if any, action is necessary on our part to further support our stakeholders. Anthem has a business continuity plan for serious communicable disease outbreaks, inclusive of pandemics, and will be ready to deploy the plan if necessary.

Anthem maintains a comprehensive enterprise wide business continuity program that aligns business requirements of our operating units and related support areas to help us meet our commitments following an “unplanned event.” This plan includes strategies for a “People Unavailable” event, including a pandemic, to help us continue critical business processes to meet our customer commitments. Response to and mitigation of such an event can include leveraging our broad geographic footprint, work from home capability, increased personal hygiene and additional building hygiene measures and frequency, travel restrictions, isolation of personnel, and limiting access to and travel between our facilities. All of this is documented in established policies and procedures to support crisis response measures, such as during a pandemic threat.

We are recommending members use telehealth when they can, as it prevents them from spreading a virus and can help protect them from getting a virus while waiting with others at a physical facility. Members can use LiveHealth Online at no cost until June 14, 2020. They can visit anthem.com/ca secure portal to use LiveHealth Online and connect with a board-certified doctor via live chat or video. This includes visits with a mental health professional.

Thank You

During this unprecedented time, we've all faced unimaginable challenges. If we've learned anything, it's that together we're stronger.

Despite all the uncertainties, one thing has remained certain: your continued support. Please take a moment to view a heartfelt message from all of us to you.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (accessed March 2020):
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (accessed March 2020):
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (COVID-19) (accessed March 2020):
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-home-care.html

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