Health & Saftey Notice

IMPORTANT HEALTH & SAFETY NOTICE: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Updated August 6, 2020

Masks Required

Our office has recently been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus. For the safety of our clients and staff, we are asking that you practice social distancing and wear a mask while visiting our office. Masks are not required for those with disabilities or special health needs.

As of March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus (known as COVID-19) a pandemic, which is defined as the worldwide spread of a new disease. The first community presumptive transmission of the coronavirus has also been identified in Northeast Nebraska, in addition to other areas of the state.

As such, federal and state health officials have provided recommendations to businesses aimed at preventing or reducing spread of disease, while avoiding unnecessary interference with operations. To help limit the risk of possible in-person transmissions of the virus, American Allied has implemented the following recommendations:


Quotes & New Policies

Easy online and over the phone quoting

You may start the quoting process online by visiting www.americanallied.com/quote or by calling our office at (402) 371-1177. We can collect your information and answer any questions you may have over the phone. Any required signatures can be obtained by electronic signature sent via email.


Policy Changes & Questions

Available when you need us

Policy changes or questions can be made at any time online or by phone, email, text, chat, or fax. As a reminder, no coverage or changes will be bound until confirmed by an agent. If you are unable to get a hold of an agent, you may contact the carrier service center directly.

Online: https://www.americanallied.com/account

Phone: (402) 371-1177

Email: [email protected]

Text: (402) 227-1977

Chat: https://www.americanallied.com

Fax: (402) 371-1166

Service Centers: https://www.americanallied.com/service


Payments

Convenient and hassle free options

Payments can be made at any time through automatic drafts, online, or by phone. If you are currently paying in-person with cash, we recommend you convert your cash to a certified bank check or prepaid credit card. Prepaid credit cards are available at most shopping centers including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Hy-Vee East, and Hy-Vee West.

Automatic: You may enroll any policy in automatic payments to be drafted directly from your bank account or credit/debit card. This will ensure on time payment and is a great hassle free option. Please call us at (402) 371-1177 if you have any questions or would like to enroll.

Online: You can make payments online by visiting https://www.americanallied.com/payment. Once you select your carrier in the drop down menu, click on the Pay Now link.

By Phone: You may make a payment by check or credit/debit card over the phone by calling us at (402) 371-1177. If you are unable to get a hold of us, you may contact the carrier service center directly by visiting https://www.americanallied.com/service.

Cash: If you are currently paying in-person with cash, we recommend you convert your cash to a certified bank check or prepaid credit card. Prepaid credit cards are available at most shopping centers including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Hy-Vee East, and Hy-Vee West. You may then use one of the above options to submit payment.


Coronavirus Testing & Insurance Coverage

Last updated March 12, 2020


BlueCross BlueShield

For all members, BlueCross and BlueShield of Nebraska will cover, with no cost share, the appropriate medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19, where it is not covered as part of the Public Health Service response, and ensure patient testing and any subsequently needed care are done in close coordination with federal, state and public health authorities.

Effective immediately, BCBS is increasing access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (according to the terms of the member’s plan). BCBS also encourages members to use their plan’s 90-day mail order benefit.

Patients will not be liable for additional charges that stem from obtaining a non-preferred medication if the preferred medication is not available due to shortage or access issues.

Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, BlueCross and BlueShield of Nebraska will cover, with no cost share to the member, the cost of all telehealth visits until further notice.

This expanded coverage applies to all types of health plans, including high deductible health plans, regardless of whether or not the member’s plan currently offers benefits for telehealth.

Additional information on how to enroll in telehealth through BlueCross and BlueShield of Nebraska’s preferred vendor, AmWell, will be posted on the website prior to Monday.

For more information visit NebraskaBlue.com/Coronavirus.

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Reinforces Actions Taken to Provide Members and Patients with COVID-19 Support and Resources:

- UnitedHealthcare has waived all diagnostic test cost-sharing for insured members
- OptumCare clinicians are trained, well-prepared and addressing patients’ needs
- Optum’s Emotional-Support Helpline is free of charge to help anyone dealing with stress and anxiety

For more information visit UnitedHealth Newsroom or view the UnitedHealth Coronavirus FAQ.

Aetna

As of March 12, 2020, for the next 90 days, Aetna will offer zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason. Aetna members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Cost-sharing will be waived for all video visits through the CVS MinuteClinic app, Aetna-covered Teladoc offerings, and in-network providers delivering synchronous virtual care (live video conferencing) for all Commercial plan designs. Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out of this program at their discretion.

Through Aetna's Healing Better program, members who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive a care package containing CVS over-the-counter medications to help relieve symptoms. The package will also include personal and household cleaning supplies to help keep others in the home protected from potential exposure.

Through existing care management programs, Aetna will proactively reach out to members most at-risk for COVID-19. Care managers will walk members through what they can do to protect themselves, where to get information on the virus, and where to go to get tested.

For more information view the Aetna Plan Sponsor Letter or view the Aetna Teledoc Letter.

Medica

Medica has announced a coverage change related to the diagnostic testing for COVID-19 that follow guidelines issued through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and state health departments. Medica will waive co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles related to COVID-19 testing for all individuals and Medicare members.

To help limit the spread of COVID-19, Medica provides coverage for virtual care or telehealth services, often a more convenient way to access health care services from home. When appropriate, members are encouraged to utilize virtual care benefits.

The health and well-being of members is a priority and Medica will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and its impact on our members.

Coverage Updates

Personal & Commercial Insurance Binding Authority has been suspended countrywide by several carriers for Wedding & Event Insurance. This suspension applies to new business, requests to reinstate cancelled policies and policy changes that request additional coverage or requests to lower deductibles.

We will communicate further when this suspension is lifted. When in doubt, or for more information, please contact us at
(402) 371-1177 or via email at [email protected].

Federal Updates

On March 11, 2020, the IRS issued Notice 2020-15, allowing High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment pre-deductible. In other words, if you have an HDHP and haven’t met your deductible, your HDHP will pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment at no cost to you.

Additionally, Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Donna Shalala (D-FL) introduced H.R. 6173. If passed, health insurers would be required to cover the full cost of COVID-19 tests for any American who has health insurance through their employer, or who purchased a health plan through the ACA exchange. It would also add COVID-19 testing to the ACA preventive care mandate list, meaning that HDHPs would have to cover it without cost-sharing.


Symptoms & Prevention

From the Wall Street Journal

March 10, 2020 -- As testing for COVID-19 expands, cases are being picked up across the U.S., confirming what disease experts have predicted: that the virus has been here for some time and is making people sick.

That can make the occasional cough or sneeze suspicious. Is this COVID-19? How would you know if you have it?

The most detailed breakdown of symptoms of the disease comes from a recent World Health Organization analysis of more than 55,000 confirmed cases in China. Here are the most common symptoms and the percentage of people who had them:

- Fever: 88%
- Dry cough: 68%
- Fatigue: 38%
- Coughing up sputum, or thick phlegm, from the lungs: 33%
- Shortness of breath: 19%
- Bone or joint pain: 15%
- Sore throat: 14%
- Headache: 14%
- Chills: 11%
- Nausea or vomiting: 5%
- Stuffy nose: 5%
- Diarrhea: 4%
- Coughing up blood: 1%
- Swollen eyes: 1%

COVID-19 is a lower respiratory tract infection, which means that most of the symptoms are felt in the chest and lungs. That’s different from colds that bring on an upper respiratory tract infection, where you get a runny nose and sinus congestion. Those symptoms seem to be mostly absent for people with COVID-19, though they’re not unheard of.

The good news is that in China, most people who have gotten sick -- about 80% -- have had mild to moderate symptoms. Most people will be able to manage their symptoms at home.

If you start to show symptoms, call your doctor's office. Don’t go there before calling -- that might spread the infection around the doctor’s office. They may want to talk to you on the phone in a telemedicine visit.

The average time it takes people to get sick after being exposed to the virus is about 5 days. Some people get sick faster, just a day after being exposed, while others don’t fall ill for about 2 weeks, which is why the U.S. has quarantined people for 14 days.

In a recent press briefing, Nancy Messonnier, MD, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the virus spreads easily from person to person and that no one has immunity against it because it is new.

“Based on this, it’s fair to say that as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the United States will at some point in time, either this year or next, be exposed to this virus and many will get sick. We do not expect most people to develop serious illness,” she said.

About 14% of people in China -- about 1 in 5 -- have had severe symptoms, which includes trouble catching their breath, rapid breathing (taking more than 30 breaths in a minute), and low oxygen in their blood. These patients need extra oxygen and sometimes specialized equipment to help them breathe. In China, these patients were hospitalized.

About 1 in 20 patients were in critical condition. These patients developed respiratory failure and organ failure.

People who seem to be at highest risk for serious illness from COVID-19 are adults over the age of 60, or people who have underlying medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or cancer. The highest number of deaths in China -- 22% -- has been in adults over age 80.

She advised taking everyday precautions:
- Avoid people who are sick.
- Wash your hands often.
- Avoid touching surfaces in public places (like elevator buttons and door handles).
- Avoid crowds.

The CDC and the State Department are also urging Americans to avoid cruise ships for the duration of the epidemic, especially if you are at high risk for serious illness. People at high risk should not fly unless it is necessary.

WebMD Health News Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD on March 10, 2020
Coronavirus WebMD

Contingency

At American Allied, the health and safety of our clients is our top priority. Therefore, we will continue to monitor public health concerns and keep you informed with necessary information. In the event of a mandatory quarantine and our office is closed, the above recommendations will be enforced. Agents will be available and continue to assist you remotely. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact us at (402) 371-1177 or via email at [email protected].