Several private Medicare plan providers, including Cigna, Humana and Aetna, are waiving certain cost-sharing requirements for beneficiaries receiving treatment for COVID-19. Published April 2, 2020 Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is waiving cost share (copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan members for all covered office-based professional services performed by both primary care physicians and specialists with dates of.
- Wellmed Waiving Copays
- Is Unitedhealthcare Medicare Still Waiving Copays
- United Healthcare Medicare Waiving Copays
UHC wanted to share more details with you concerning the over $1.5 billion of additional support for our customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 1-800-772-6881 support@pfsinsurance.com Facebook. As an organization, United Healthcare has moved swiftly to support member’s health care needs during this trying time. Between May 11, 2020 and until at least September 30, 2020 United Healthcare has waived copays for primary care doctor office visits and specialist visits for all Medicare. FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines are covered at $0 cost-share to you through Dec. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments are advising who can get the vaccines and when. Find resources about vaccine availability for your area.
Published April 2, 2020
Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated in early March that all testing for COVID-19 be covered in full by Medicare and private Medicare insurance carriers. A COVID-19 vaccine will also be covered if and when one becomes available.
Now, some private insurance carriers are going a step further by eliminating cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment protocols as well.
Cigna, Humana and Aetna have each taken measures to reduce out-of-pocket spending for their Medicare plan members who undergo treatment for the disease. A101 expansion tank. These out-of-pocket costs can include plan deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
COVID-19 treatment can potentially include inpatient hospital stays, doctor’s office appointments, inpatient skilled nursing facility stays, home health visits and emergency ambulance transportation.
These services can typically come with costs such as copays and deductibles.
With waived coinsurance and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment, savings can add up
Cigna and Humana both waived COVID-19-related cost-sharing for their Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans.
Medicare Advantage plans cover the same inpatient and outpatient services and items that are covered by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B).
While Original Medicare is provided by the federal government, private insurance companies administer Medicare Advantage plans.
Some of the out-of-pocket costs that a beneficiary who has Original Medicare may face if they receive covered COVID-19 treatment include:
- Beneficiaries who have Original Medicare and who receive inpatient hospital treatment for COVID-19 will typically have to pay the 2020 Medicare Part A deductible of $1,408 for each benefit period that they receive inpatient care.
There are also Part A daily coinsurance costs for lengthy hospital stays that last longer than 60 days. - Beneficiaries who have Original Medicare and who receive outpatient care must pay the 2020 Part B deductible of $198 per year before Medicare covers the costs of their outpatient care.
After meeting the Part B deductible, beneficiaries typically pay a 20 percent coinsurance or copay for covered services and items.
For members of Medicare Advantage plans from Cigna and Humana, however, those costs will be waived for covered COVID-19 treatment.
“Our customers with COVID-19 should focus on fighting this virus and preventing its spread,” David M. Cordani, President and CEO of Cigna1
“While our customers focus on regaining their health, we have their backs,” David Cordani, President and CEO of Cigna, said in a statement.
Cigna’s cost-sharing waiver expires May 31, 2020.
“We know we’re uniquely positioned to help our members during this unprecedented health crisis,” said Bruce Broussard, President and CEO of Humana. “It’s why we’re taking this significant action to help ease the burden on seniors and others who are struggling right now.”2
Humana’s waivers includes costs related to COVID-19 treatment by both in-network and out-of-network facilities or physicians.
Humana’s cost sharing waivers currently have no end date, as the company plans to readdress the situation as needed.
Aetna, a CVS Health company, is also dismissing COVID-19-related inpatient cost-sharing for its members.
Wellmed Waiving Copays
“The additional steps we’re announcing today are consistent with our commitment to delivering timely and seamless access to care as we navigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Karen S. Lynch, president of Aetna Business Unit. “We are doing everything we can to make sure our members have simple and affordable access to the treatment they need as we face the pandemic together.”3
Aetna’s cost-sharing waiver for inpatient admissions to any in-network facility for treatment of COVID-19 is currently in effect until June 1, 2020.
United Health Care (AARP) announced today they were waiving the cost share on Medicare Advantage plans. The following is the announcement:
Member’s health is our priority. Recently, we shared news that UnitedHealth Group is taking additional action to directly support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing over $1.5 billion of additional support for our customers. We wanted to share more details with you.
To help member’s get the care they need, we are waiving cost-share (copays, coinsurance and deductibles) for our Medicare Advantage plan members as follows. Members will have a $0 copay for primary care provider (PCP) and specialist physician services, as well as other covered services (listed below) between May 11, 2020 until at least September 30, 2020. By lowering our PCP and specialist copays to $0, along with our telehealth cost-share waiver, we hope to help make it easier for member’s to access care.
Services included
The following services, if covered by a member’s plan, are eligible for a $0 copay under the cost share waiver, but do not include diagnostic tests and certain other services.
Is Unitedhealthcare Medicare Still Waiving Copays
- Primary care provider (PCP) office visits
- Specialist physician office visits
- Physician assistant or nurse practitioner office visits
- Medicare-covered chiropractic and acupuncture services
- Podiatry services and routine eye and hearing exams
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services
- Outpatient mental health and substance abuse visits
- Opioid treatment services
The $0 copay applies to services from a network provider and out-of-network services covered by the plan.
Member cost share is not waived for the following services, unless they are related to COVID-19 testing or treatments:
- Lab and Diagnostic tests (radiological and non-radiological)
- Part B and Part D drugs
- Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies
- Renal Dialysis
- Other services not covered by your plan
Copays, Coinsurance and deductibles for services in the following settings are not waived. Members will be responsible for their share of the cost under their benefit:
- Inpatient hospital and Outpatient surgery or observation services
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Emergency, Urgent and Ambulance services
Eligible Members
The cost-share waiver applies to all UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members, including members of Special Needs Plans (SNP) and UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plans.
United Healthcare Medicare Waiving Copays
This information is posted on our UnitedHealthcare COVID-19 Health and Wellness page for members. Thank you for being a partner in care to our members during this time.