Insurers responding to Coronavirus

[simpsontruckdriver]

As a licensed health insurance agent, insurers (like my companies Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare) are doing what they can. No, CMS ("Medicare") is not creating a new Special Enrollment Period, but insurers are giving tele-doc services for $0, allowing you to get refills before the 30-day mark (except narcotics, they are still 30-day), and CVS is allowing free medication delivery if you don't have their mail-order pharmacy. If your MAPD is not doing any of those things, you have until the end of March to change, no one else can change. Yes, Supplements can change, but you're subject to a premium hike and/or having pre-existing conditions denied for the rest of the year (talk to your insurance agent to find out).

TS

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

UPDATE: Cigna, Humana, and Aetna are waiving ALL copays (testing and hospitalization) for a Coronavirus diagnosis. That is for BOTH Group (employer) and Medicare plans. United Healthcare has not announced any changes (only $0 copay for tele-health). The other benefits I mentioned above have not changed. If you heard from your insurer that CMS ("Medicare") has a Special-Enrollment Period due to the Coronavirus, they should have retracted that, Coronavirus is not a valid reason to change your Medicare Advantage Plan. I have a friend whose company in New England uses Tufts, their Group plan will cover testing and treatments for Coronavirus.

TS

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

American Health Insurance Providers (AHIP) has a comprehensive list of what insurers are doing for Coronavirus patients.

TS