COVID-19 Insurance Update

Good Day,

With continually evolving news surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus, we wanted to bring you up to date on how insurance companies are approaching medical care.  Please note, the situation is changing daily.  It’s recommended to follow the links provided below for the most up to date information.

Temporary Change in Benefits

Several Michigan-based and national health insurance companies operating in Michigan have issued statements: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN), McLaren Health Plan, Priority Health, and UnitedHealthcare (UHC).  They are instituting temporary changes in benefits specifically to cover medically necessary COVID-19 tests that are prescribed by a member’s physician who follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.  Members will not be responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, or copays.

How Your Medical Plan is Affected

Below you will find notices from BCBSM/BCN, Kaiser, Priority Health, and UHC with important information that you need to know and pass on to your insured health plan participants.  BCBSM/BCN, in particular, provides a comprehensive list of covered services.  Each carrier is posting the latest information on their website as well as member portals.

For self-funded customers, an automatic inclusion for the temporary benefit enhancements has been implemented. Please contact your Michigan Planners Client Relationship Manager if you have questions about this or if you want to opt out of this temporary benefit enhancement.

Take Advantage of Your Medical Care Services

Each carrier is encouraging plan participants to take advantage of on-line physician/telehealth services and/or the 24-hour nurse line which may be available in your benefit plan.  These trusted sources of care will provide your employees and their dependents with information and medical care they need without venturing out to a physician’s office, urgent care center or emergency room unless those locations are the appropriate place for their care.

Business Continuity Plan in Place

Michigan Planners will continue to monitor this situation and provide you with updates as they become available.  Please be assured that our offices in Washington Township, East Lansing, and Traverse City will continue operations to fully serve you in the event the virus spreads.  We have an action plan in place for our staff to work remotely, ensuring the safety of our employees without sacrificing service to you, our valued clients.

Links to information to keep you and your employees informed:

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Blue Care Network: https://bcbsm.com/; specifically for Coronavirus: https://www.mibluesperspectives.com/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Health Alliance Plan: https://www.hap.org/

Kaiser Permanente: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/ ;  specifically for Coronavirus: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/alerts/p1/2019-novel-coronavirus-feb-2020

McLaren Health Plan: https://www.mclarenhealthplan.org/mhp

Priority Health: www.priorityhealth.com; specifically for Coronavirus: https://thinkhealth.priorityhealth.com/important-information-about-the-coronavirus/?_ga=2.161443517.1421802116.1583850432-552255723.1581356117

UnitedHealthcare: – https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/covid-19

For the most current updates and further information please contact Laura Vanhoutte lvanhoutte@miplanners.com