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COVID-19 Resource Center

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Individual & Family
and Employer Group Plans

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

We know these are challenging times, and want you to know that we remain deeply committed to supporting you to get care and protect your overall health and wellbeing.

STAY INFORMED

Update your email address and choose the email option under Helpful Information to stay informed on COVID-19.

Information About Benefits and COVID-19

Anthem will cover 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 your local county’s COVID-19 website for more information and to sign up for county alerts.

Members won’t have to pay their share of the costs for COVID-19 testing. Anthem will cover COVID-19 testing for members who have symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or if the test is otherwise medically necessary.

Information for essential workers
Please follow this link to learn how Anthem covers COVID-19 testing for essential workers.

How can I find a COVID-19 testing location?
  • Visit a retail health clinic, such as CVS, Ralphs, and Walgreens locations in your plan’s network. Retail health clinics are a convenient way for you to have a COVID-19 test.
  • Community-based sites offer COVID-19 tests. Follow this link to find a testing location in your area.
  • Schedule a COVID-19 test with your doctor. If you decide to visit your doctor for a COVID-19 test, ask them to work with testing labs like Eurofins, Boston Heart Diagnostics, Fulgent Genetics, Invitae, Welltok, Gravity, and the California Department of Public Health Valencia Branch Laboratory. Labs such as these offer high-quality, low-cost testing services.
  • Use this tool or the Sydney Health mobile app to find a COVID-19 testing location near you.
  • If you are an asymptomatic essential worker, contact Anthem to schedule a testing appointment. 
If you have questions or would like help finding testing in your plan’s network, please call the Member Services number on your ID card.

People who are diagnosed with COVID-19 may have long-term symptoms. Anthem case management nurses are ready to help coordinate care for long-term symptoms of COVID-19. If you’d like additional support, please call the Member Services number on your member ID and ask for an Anthem Case Management Nurse.

Telehealth doctor visits give you access to care without leaving your home. Many plans include telehealth benefits.

Check your COVID-19 benefits by using the Sydney Health or Engage Wellbeing mobile app, logging into anthem.com/ca, or calling the Member Services number on your ID card.

The Virtual Care text feature on the Sydney Care mobile app allows Anthem members to chat with a doctor. Download the app here.

SEE A DOCTOR FROM HOME

Get personalized guidance about your health and connect with a doctor via text, chat or video with the Sydney Care mobile app. Sydney Care app features, benefits and costs vary from plan to plan.

Get the Sydney Care App
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You have more time to enroll in a COBRA plan, pay your past-due COBRA premiums, and file and appeal claims.
 
We have extended due dates from March 1, 2020, until 60 days after the federal government declares the end of the National Emergency or outbreak period in your area, whichever is later.
 
This means you have more time to:
 
  • Request special enrollment.
  • Elect to enroll in COBRA continuation coverage.
  • Make COBRA premium payments.
  • Notify the plan of a qualifying event (such as marriage, birth, adoption, placement for adoption, placement in foster care, or determination of disability).
  • File a benefit claim.
  • Appeal an adverse benefit determination.
  • If applicable, request an external review after an adverse benefit determination or final internal adverse benefit determination.
  • File information to perfect a request for external review after a finding that the request was not complete.
  • If you have questions or need more information about COBRA coverage, please call us at the number provided in the enclosed letter.
You can find additional information on the Department of Labor’s website at dol.gov, including "COVID-19 FAQs for Participants and Beneficiaries."

Many plans include telephone care benefits during this public health emergency.

Check your COVID-19 benefits by using the Sydney Health or Engage Wellbeing mobile app, logging into anthem.com/ca, or calling the Member Services number on your ID card.

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.

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. There are no delivery charges for members who use Anthem’s Home Delivery Pharmacy. Members can call the Pharmacy Member Services number on their health plan ID card to learn more.

Taking care of your emotional health is important during this stressful time. As an Anthem member, you have access to a wide range of online resources to help you and your family members address emotional health and life challenges.

Psych Hub offers resources to help with pandemic-related stress such as social isolation, coping with grief and loss, and other mental health issues.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Navigate COVID-19 challenges like social isolation and job loss with a free mental health resource hub, powered by Psych Hub and supported by Anthem.

Visit Psych Hub
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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 you’re traveling, you’ll want to visit the CDC travel page for their most current travel guidelines.

Good health habits can also help prevent and fight COVID-19. You should:
  • Wash your 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 your 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 your 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.

It’s best to follow the CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC information for household members and caregivers can be found here.

Call your doctor if you develop a fever, have a cough, or have difficulty breathing. And let them know if you’ve been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area where the virus has spread.

Some Anthem health plans include LiveHealth Online. It lets you see a doctor through live chat or video on your phone, tablet, or computer. If your plan offers LiveHealth Online, just log in at anthem.com/ca to use it. If you’re not sure whether your plan offers it, call us at the Member Services number on your ID. If it doesn’t, we can talk about your options.

No. Several recent media reports have focused on new and existing antiviral drugs being tested for use in treating COVID-19. None of these drugs is approved for use with COVID-19, and many are still being investigated. We’re monitoring developments in this area closely and will evaluate how benefits will cover treatments once treatments are approved.

We know how important it is to continue taking your prescriptions as directed by your doctor. You can get 90-day supplies of most prescription medicines, depending on your plan’s pharmacy benefits. This is a great time to think about changing any prescription medicines you take on a regular basis from a 30-day supply.

Talk to your doctor to see if a 90-day supply would work for you. You can even get them through home delivery pharmacy. If you have specific questions about the medicine you take, call the pharmacy services number on your member ID card.*

*Applies only for members with Anthem pharmacy benefits.

Anthem is committed to making sure you can get the care you need. We’re working closely with the doctors and other health care professionals in our plans to prepare for more calls and visits. If your doctor isn’t available for some reason, we’ll help you find alternate care. Go to the main page on anthem.com/ca to log in and search for a doctor, or call the Member Services number on your ID card.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (January 28, 2020): 
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary (March 3, 2020):
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html

Helpful Resources

Stay informed by checking these resources for up-to-date information about COVID-19, especially if you’re thinking about traveling.

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