Please see below regarding important changes to certain health insurance benefits as a result of COVID-19. We will continue to provide updated information as it is released.
Florida Blue
To help members get needed care and treatment as a result of COVID-19, Florida College System Risk Management Consortium is:
1. Waiving all copays and deductibles related to medical testing for the virus for members who are part of the FCSRMC Health Insurance Plan through the college. This includes members in our Health Savings Account plans.
• All copays and deductibles are waived for COVID-19 testing.
2. Waiving member cost-sharing for all COVID-19 treatment services – including inpatient hospital admissions.
3. Waiving prior authorization requirements for patients being transferred from inpatient acute hospital settings to post-acute care facilities (Long Term Acute Care Facilities, Skilled Nursing Facilities and Inpatient Rehabilitation and home with home healthcare).
4. Florida Blue also will work closely with hospitals and physicians to ensure members are not balanced billed (surprise billed) for any services related to COVID-19 treatment.
5. Increasing access to necessary medications.
• Florida Blue will increase access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (consistent with member’s benefit plan) and/or encouraging members to use 90-day mail order benefit.
• Florida Blue will also ensure formulary flexibility if there are shortages or access issues. In the event of shortages or access issues, members will not be liable for the additional charges that stem from obtaining a non-preferred medication. These forms can be located at www.floridablue.com under Member Forms.
6. Offering counseling for members feeling stress related to coronavirus. In partnership with New Directions Behavioral Health, members can talk to specially trained behavioral health counselors at no cost via a 24/7 toll-free help line at 833-848-1762. Click here for EAP information provided on the Inside CF Employee Benefits website.
7. Strongly encouraging members to take advantage of virtual care options in their plans for less serious medical issues. Seeking in-person care may lead to further spreading of the coronavirus. Those with conditions, such as common colds or other mild illnesses, can visit floridablue.com (or Inside CF > Employee Benefits) to learn more about virtual care options or reach out to TELADOC.
Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Account
The House and Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Friday, March 27, 2020, which was promptly signed by President Trump. The CARES Act includes three areas that immediately and retroactively as of January 1, 2020, expand the usage of
Flexible Spending Accounts
1. Flexible Spending Account
• The CARES Act allows over the counter drugs to be offered on a pre-tax basis for employees that have an FSA. Some examples of allowed OTC items are:
o Cough medicines
o Cold medicines
o Allergy medicines
o Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen
o Menstrual products
• An RX or a doctor’s Letter of Medical Necessity is no longer required for the reimbursement of over the counter medications and drugs.
• The changes are permanent and will remain after the coronavirus has been contained. *Please note: no updates are available yet as to when these items may be purchased with the debit card. Therefore, debit cards may or may not work with these newly covered expenses. In the meantime, employees may pay out of pocket and submit for reimbursement. Custom Benefits Services will provide more updates as they are available.
2. Dependent Care
• Unlike Health FSAs, the provisions of the IRS regulations about Dependent Care Assistance are competitively more permissible, enabling participants to make changes in their payroll contribution amounts as the daycare services utilized may change during the plan year. Please note, it is the responsibility of the DCA participant to inform the employer, or plan sponsor, about any permissible change occurrences and to request modification of their annual election, resulting in a payroll contribution change.