Will my health insurance plan pay for treatment if I test positive for the coronavirus?
- A typical comprehensive (fully-insured) health insurance plan covers medically necessary treatments. However, check with your insurance company to confirm how it is covered.
- If you do not have comprehensive health plan, be sure to check with your insurance provider to understand how your coverage and cost sharing will apply.
What if I have Medicare insurance coverage?
- Medicare Part B covers many preventive services, such as screenings, vaccines, and counseling.
- If you meet the eligibility requirements and guidelines for a preventive service, you must be allowed to receive the service. This is true for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. However, your plan’s coverage rules may apply.
- If you have questions or concerns about your Medicare insurance coverage, contact the Louisiana Senior Health Insurance Information Program for free information and assistance at 1-800-259-5300.
What should I do if I believe I have been in contact with someone who has the coronavirus?
- If you have cold or flu symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, cough, or trouble breathing, you may have the flu, COVID-19, or another infection. If you do not feel very sick, stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids.
- If you need to see a doctor, contact your health care provider. They will help you make a plan to be seen without exposing others to an infection.
- To enable access to services for individuals who may have difficulty making an office visit, many health insurance companies provide telemedicine options when doing so is safe and effective according to generally accepted health care practices and standards.
- Telemedicine is an effective way to communicate with a health care provider that does not put you or others at risk of exposure to an infection. If you need to see a doctor in person, they will help you make a plan to be seen without exposing others to an infection.
- Consumers with fully-insured individual and group health plans will not be charged co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles related to COVID-19 laboratory testing administered consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- If you are admitted into a hospital for monitoring and observation, your co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles would apply. Try to go to a hospital that is considered in-network by your health insurance plan. Many health plans do not provide coverage for out-of-network care.
- In-network simply means that the hospital or provider has a contract with your insurance company. Contact your insurance company or visit its website for a list of in-network hospitals and providers.
What should I do about my prescriptions?
- In many cases, you need your health care provider to write a prescription for more than a 30-day supply. Most prescription can be filled for up to 90 days.
- Your insurance company may require you to receive the requested 90-day supply of prescription drugs through a mail delivery system, rather than your neighborhood pharmacy.
- If you have questions about your insurance coverage, contact your insurance provider.
- If you have questions about an insurance company or agent or need to file a complaint, contact Consumer Services at 1-800-259-5300.