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COVID-19 Resources
For Medica Employer Groups
The health and safety of you, your employees and their families is our top priority. We are continuously monitoring the status of COVID-19 and will keep you informed of new developments.
The number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 continues to rise and we are monitoring the changing status of COVID-19 daily. Cost should not be a barrier for members that need treatment for COVID-19. Medica has implemented the following coverage changes related to care for COVID-19. These changes are retroactive to March 1, 2020 and will extend through the dates listed below.
- Member cost-sharing for in-network COVID-19 hospital care will be waived through June 30, 2021. This includes copays, co-insurance and deductibles and applies to fully insured group, Max Liability group, individual, Medicare and Medicaid members. Self-insured employers that previously adopted this change will again have an opportunity to waive member cost sharing for inpatient hospital services.
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Member cost-sharing for in-network COVID-19 testing will be waived through April 30, 2021. This includes copays, co-insurance and deductibles for office visits, drive-through test sites, urgent care and emergency room visits associated with COVID-19 testing. This change applies to all fully insured groups, self-funded groups, individual, Medicare and Medicaid members. Tests must be FDA-issued, medically necessary and ordered by an in-network medical professional.
If COVID-19 testing takes place at an out-of-network provider, all other services associated with the out-of- network provider will be covered at the out-of-network benefit, including, but not limited to influenza tests, blood draws, strep test, chest x-ray, etc.
COVID-19 tests are not covered as part of a return to work requirement, public surveillance program or travel requirement.
- Expansion of telehealth services through April 30, 2021. Medica has expanded the availability of telemedicine visits to include visits from a member's home, utilization of additional technologies such as FaceTime or Skype, and audio only, for most visits, when video is not available.This change applies to all fully insured groups, self-funded groups, individual, Medicare and Medicaid members. Telehealth services are covered under the member’s benefit plans. (For employers based in North Dakota, telehealth services are covered at 100%.)
- Prior authorization requirements have been waived through April 30, 2021. This applies to admissions to long-term care facilities, acute inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities and home health care. This change applies to all fully insured groups, self-funded groups, individual, Medicare and Medicaid members.
We will continue to monitor the CDC recommended guidelines and the changing status of COVID-19 and will keep you informed during these challenging times.
We have prepared answers to a series of questions on COVID-19, as well as the vaccine, and we encourage you to review this site regularly for any updates to content.
COVID-19 employer FAQs (PDF)
COVID-19 vaccine FAQs (PDF)
Medica's COVID-19 Response:
We're trying to help our communities as much as possible during this difficult time. See how.
Resources
Medica offers a variety of resources to support you, your employees and their families. Review the resources below for the programs and services that are offered with your specific benefit plan.
Social Media
Access our social media campaign for helpful tools to help with your own messaging.
COVID-19 social posts for employers and brokers (PDF)
Live and Work Well
The Live and Work Well site is available 24/7 for confidential access to professional care, self-help programs and a variety of helpful COVID-19 related resources including a crisis line, webinars, mindfulness techniques for anxiety and more.
COVID-19 resources on LiveandWorkWell.com
To access the full Live and Work Well site, select the link below and enter access code MEDICA.
LiveandWorkWell.com
Available to all fully insured and self-funded plans.
COVID-19 Tip Sheets
Share the following member tip sheets to help support employees and their families during these challenging times.
Behavioral Health Virtual Visits flier (PDF)
Mental Health Tips During a Quarantine (PDF)
Reigniting Your Health When Working From Home (PDF)
Tips for Helping Children During a Quarantine (PDF)
Tips for Helping Older Adults During a Quarantine (PDF)
Medica CallLink®
Medica CallLink advisors and nurses are available 24/7 to help members with health concerns, including identifying members' risk and providing recommendations for next steps for COVID-19 concerns.
Call 800-962-9497 (TTY users: 711).
Available to all fully insured plans and a standard offering for self-funded employers.
Medica® Optum® Employee Assistance Program
Members can get 24/7 support with the Medica Optum Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP provides access to:
- Five counseling sessions per issue per year covered at 100 percent.
- Help coping with stressful situations, work issues and mental and physical well-being concerns.
- Legal and mediation services. You receive a 30-minute legal consultation at no cost (in person or over the phone). If you decide to hire an attorney, you'll get a 25% discount.
- Child care or elder care support, education and career resources, financial advisor support and more.
This service is available at no additional cost to members, as part of their benefit plan. Calls and conversations with EAP specialists are kept confidential, in accordance with the law.
The EAP also offers help to employers, including management consultation and crisis response services.
Call 800-626-7944 (TTY users: 711).
View Optum COVID-19 Supplemental Training Catalog (PDF)
Available to all fully insured plans and a buy-up option for self-funded employers.
My Health Rewards by Medica®
Members can stay on top of the facts with a Next-Steps Consult through My Health Rewards. Members can schedule a 15-minute call with a health guide to ask questions about COVID-19, get tips on how to keep healthy and learn about additional resources. Members can log into their My Health Rewards account or app to schedule a call and get additional tips and resources.
Coronavirus Toolkit for Employee Wellbeing
Available to all fully insured plans and a standard offering for self-funded employers.
Ovia Health Fertility, Pregnancy and Parenting Support
Ovia Health provides personalized support for women and their families during COVID-19:
- Interactive COVID-19 symptom tool to improve self-perception of risk — in a private setting — and reduce anxiety.
- Evidence-based education to improve knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and answer health questions.
- Timely and appropriate navigation to care, including how to access testing and care, virtual or onsite. Using the results of the symptom tool, Ovia navigates members to the right resource based on their risk profile.
- Mental health & social support from Ovia's coaching team of medical professionals and moms.
To get started, Medica members can download one, or all three Ovia Health apps from the App Store or Google Play: Ovia Fertility, Ovia Pregnancy or Ovia Parenting. Members should choose "I have Ovia Health as a benefit" before tapping "Sign up."
Available to all fully insured and self-funded plans.
Virtual Care
Virtual care is a convenient way for members to get care for many common medical conditions by connecting with a provider from their computer or mobile device from home, work or wherever they are. Although confirmation and testing of COVID-19 cannot be done via virtual care, members experiencing symptoms can get help assessing risk and receive recommendations on next steps.
How members can access virtual care:
- Check with their clinic to see if virtual care is available and learn how to connect with their provider online.
- Access virtual care through Amwell, a 24/7 online clinic available in all states – Amwell.com
- Check other virtual care options that may be available through their plan's network (such as virtuwell):
- Go to our Find Care page and select your plan, then click on Virtual Care Providers – Find Care
Available to all fully insured and self-funded plans.
About the Coronavirus
"Coronavirus is the name of a family of viruses that we've known about for a long time. In fact, a form of it causes about 30% of cases of the common cold. But this strain is new and there is still much to learn about it," explained John Piatkowski, M.D., Medica's Senior Medical Director.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
"The best defense against any type of viral illness is to avoid being exposed to it. The infectious disease experts who are tracking coronavirus recommend the same everyday precautions you already use to avoid catching a cold or the flu," said Dr. Piatkowski. These include:
- Wash your hands thoroughly – and often – with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth and fits securely under your chin.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay at home when you are sick.
Learn More
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers helpful information on COVID-19:
CDC coronavirus website
CDC travel health notices