Carrier Resources
Pender & Associates is here to help you navigate the evolving legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic and make educated decisions on how to manage your staff during this time. Please review the below resources highlighting the coverage and procedural changes made by your specific insurance carriers. Contact our brokers or assistants with any questions.
Admin America
Dependent Care FSA Accounts: You may be eligible to change your Dependent Care FSA elections if you have had to pull your child out of daycare or been temporarily laid off. This change must be made between 30 days of the daycare change.
Aetna
- 2021 COVID-19 Deadline extensions
- Special COVID-19 General Questions Mailbox: COVID19_Aetna_Producer_Questions@AETNA.com
- Aetna COVID-19 FAQs
- Aetna’s Coronavirus Resource Center
- 2021 COVID-19 FAQ Update – Small Group Employers
Anthem BCBS
- Offering a Special Enrollment Period until April 15, 2020
- Out-of-pocket expenses – inclusive of copays, coinsurance, and deductibles – are waived for COVID-19 testing and related visits through May 31, 2020
- All member telehealth costs will be waived until June 14, 2020, regardless of reason for visit
Anthem’s Coronavirus Resource Center
Basic
- FSA, HRA, and HAS accounts can now reimburse or pay for over-the-counter drugs and medicines without a note of medical necessity or prescription from a physician
- Menstrual care products are now considered a qualified medical expense and are eligible for reimbursement. Any expense incurred after 12/31/2019 will qualify
- Any HDHP plan members with an HSA will be allowed to cover telehealth services prior to an individual reaching their deductible for plans beginning on or before December 31, 2021
- Dependent Care FSA Accounts: You may be eligible to change your Dependent Care FSA elections if you have had to pull your child out of daycare or been temporarily laid off. This change must be made between 30 days of the daycare change
Beam
- Although Dental and Vision benefits are not being directly affected by COVID-19, your dentist and eye doctor offices may be closed. Below you will find a link to Beam’s article on dental emergencies
- Continue to visit Beam’s news blog to find out more ways to adapt to life during the COVID-19 crisis
Cigna
Please review the below link if you have questions about how Cigna is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.
Guardian
- Employees diagnosed or quarantined due to COVID-19 may be eligible for STD benefits. Eligibility will be determined based on medical documentation
- Guardian will approve teledentistry services through May 21, 2020
Humana
- Member copays, deductibles, and coinsurance are all waived for COVID-19 related tests and treatments
- Waived out-of-pocket costs for all telemedicine visits until June 7, 2020
- Allowing early refills- extra 30- or 90-day supply- through April 30, 2020
- Special COVID-19 General Questions Mailbox: COVIDquestions@humana.com
Inland Bank
Per the IRS, savers now have until July 15 to make 2019 contributions to their HSA accounts. Please send in any 2019 contributions by early July to allow enough time for any updates to process in your account.
Kaiser
- Watch and share this video from Kaiser Permanente’s chief of infection disease, Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, DO: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety, Effectiveness, Side Effects, and What to Expect.
- Download and share this informational flyer that addresses why the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and answers a couple of common questions regarding the vaccine.
To learn more about the eligibility guidelines in Georgia, or to see if you are eligible, visit kp.org/covidvaccine.
Lincoln Financial Group
- Please review the attached document and below link if you have questions about how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting your benefits with Lincoln
- For Lincoln Financial EAP Customers: log into COMPSYCH and click on the “alerts” icon or search for Coronavirus for additional information
MetLife
Please check the below link to find out more information about how MetLife is working to help its customers during the COVID-19 crisis
National General
- Waiving all member cost sharing – deductibles, copays, and co-insurance – for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and testing-related services
- Waiving all prior authorization requirements as it relates to COVID-19 diagnostic testing
- Allowing early refills and up to a 90-day supply of members’ prescription drugs in the event of hardship related to COVID-19
- Any Teledoc consultation fees will be waived for members
Principal
- EAP Core has been opened up to all clients at this time, regardless of if you have disability products with Principal
- Employees must meet the definition of disability outlined in the policy to be considered disabled
- Employees required to stay home on or after March 1, 2020 may continue coverage until May 31, 2020 as long as premium payments continue
The Standard
- If an employee loses eligibility due to reduced hours or they are on an unpaid leave of absence, coverages can be continued on or from March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020
- Payment grace period extended to 90 days for all policyholders during the COVID-19 crisis
Sun Life
- STD Benefits will not be available to those who test negative for COVID-19, are not ill, and do not meet the applicable policy’s definition of disability (this includes self-isolation)
- Visit Sun Life’s COVID-19 resource center at the link below to see ongoing contractual updates and benefits information concerning this crisis
UMB Bank
- Any HDHP plan members with an HSA will be allowed to cover telehealth services. This will last until December 31, 2021
- Certain Over-the-Counter Drugs and Menstrual Care Products can be paid with HSA, FSA, and HRA accounts without a prescription from a physician. This is applied to amounts paid after and for reimbursements of expenses incurred after December 31, 2019
Unum
- Unum is offering a Work Life Balance and EAP Program: Personal, Professional, Legal, and Financial counseling services for employees and any member of their family, 3 in person sessions, per person, per issue / year.
- EAP Program also includes unlimited online video and phone counseling and the Medical Bill Saver which helps employees understand medical bills and may help reduce non-reimbursed medical expenses if over $400
United Healthcare
- Offering a Special Enrollment Period until April 13, 2020
- Waiving all member cost-sharing – deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance – for the testing and treatment of COVID-19 until May 31, 2020
- Waiving all cost-sharing for telehealth visits until June 18, 2020
- EAP Program only available on ACA fully insured plans
United Healthcare’s COVID-19 Resource Center
