If you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have the new coronavirus, COVID-19 or have recently visited an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of the coronavirus, call your doctor and follow their instructions.
This article was updated August 3, 2020, with information about costs when using Teladoc.
Patients with the coronavirus have mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have the coronavirus or have recently visited an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of the coronavirus, call your doctor and follow their instructions (they will be following the CDC’s guidelines for evaluating possible coronavirus patients).
Effective immediately, deductibles and copayments under the PPO and EPO medical options will be waived for inpatient treatment of COVID-19 at a network hospital. Members enrolled in Medicare Supplement also will not be responsible for paying a deductible or copayments for inpatient COVID-19 care at a Medicare-participating hospital. The plan will pay 100 percent of allowable charges after Medicare pays its portion. The Board will re-evaluate this decision every 30 days.
The PPO, EPO, and HDHP medical options will pay 100 percent of the cost — you pay no deductible, copay, or copayment — for coronavirus testing. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Supplement, Medicare pays 100 percent of the cost for lab testing for the coronavirus.
In addition, if you are enrolled in the PPO, EPO, or HDHP option, all copays, deductibles, and copayments when using Teladoc will be waived. The Board will re-evaluate this decision every 30 days.
If you have medical coverage* through the Board of Pensions and think you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus, you may want to consider using Teladoc. Teladoc doctors are available 24/7 by phone or video and can answer questions about the disease, evaluate your risk, and provide supportive care to help relieve symptoms. While Teladoc doctors cannot conduct diagnostic testing to confirm diagnoses, they will help guide you to the next step for care.
*Teladoc is not available to members enrolled in Triple-S, GeoBlue, or the Medicare Supplement Plan.
Learn how you can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at home and at work, and what to do if you think you’ve been exposed.
