NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites (together, “cookies”) to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience, personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic. This information is shared with social media, sponsorship, analytics, and other vendors or service providers. See details.
You may click on “Your Choices” below to learn about and use cookie management tools to limit use of cookies when you visit NPR’s sites. You can adjust your cookie choices in those tools at any time. If you click “Agree and Continue” below, you acknowledge that your cookie choices in those tools will be respected and that you otherwise agree to the use of cookies on NPR’s sites.
Published April 2, 2020 Badlion store.
Aetna announced it would waive copays for telemedicine visits including for mental health until June 4, 2020. The insurer is also looking into ways to expand digital mental well-being methods. For in-network providers, UnitedHealthcare extended the cost share waiver for telehealth services through Sept. For out-of-network providers, the cost share waiver for telehealth services does not apply. 1, 2020, benefits are adjudicated in accordance with the member’s benefit plan.
Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries.
Aetna Waiving Telehealth Copays Coverage
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. Sap software.
For Individual Aetna Medicare Advantage members, copays are waived for in-network telehealth visits for primary care through the end of the Public Health Emergency. Cost share waivers for specialist telehealth visits expired on January 31, 2021 for all Medicare Advantage members. How to download music to imovie ipad.
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. 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.
Aetna Medicare Telehealth
“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.
Aetna Copay Information
“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.
Is Bcbs Waiving Telehealth Copays
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.
“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 Cost Share Waiver Telehealth
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.