We are updating our plan coverage and procedures as needed to ensure our members have access to care, medications and necessary supplies. During this time, we are:

• Waiving primary care and urgent care copays for COVID-19-related visits, including those done virtually or by phone 
• Promoting telehealth-type visits with primary care doctors and current specialists, enabling members to receive important follow-up care while remaining safer at home 
• Allowing medication refills sooner, or in greater quantities, so that members aren’t in danger of running out 
• Covering medication delivery from local pharmacies
• Following all other guidance from Medicare

• $0 coverage for lab work, including COVID-19 tests
• $0 telehealth benefit for urgent care-type needs
• Mail-order pharmacy coverage with $0 copays for many drugs, plus free shipping
• Discounts on 90-day prescription drug refills

In addition, we are committed to supporting those members who may be at greater risk given the current shelter-in-place mandates. If there’s a need (for meals, for example) we’ll tap into their benefits, if applicable, or arrange for community services.

• We are calling our high-risk members – such as those on oxygen or who are homebound – and those who we know live alone to make sure they have what they need to stay healthy at home.
• Our Senior Advocates (SCAN members who are also employees) are on the job – safely, from home – and continue to make birthday and welcome calls to their fellow members. More than “just” a friendly call these days, the Advocates also listen for unmet needs.

• Our Member Services team is prepped with additional information to help members who call get the care they need, including prescription refills and help signing up for 90-day refills and home delivery, or resources for meals and needed supplies.

• While most in-home visits have stopped, all our clinical programs continue with visits done by phone and needed services still being arranged for and provided.
• The resource and referral line remains fully staffed and is a go-to source of information for seniors and their caregivers: 1-866-563-7380.

• In addition to our quarterly grant cycle, we are evaluating and funding additional requests on an ongoing basis. To-date, giving an additional $719,000 to the organizations below so they can respond immediately to the increased demand for their services.

• We’ve mobilized almost 1200 SCAN employees to work from home; leaving fewer than 100 at SCAN headquarters, following social distancing protocols in a sanitized workspace with provided masks and gloves

We are paying the employee share of medical premiums for the month of April. In addition,

• For employees whose work hours are impacted negatively by the COVID-19 situation, we’re offering two ways to gain additional hours:
• Our member outreach program, enabling us to connect with even more members during this socially isolating time, and
• Through VTO. We have greatly expanded our Volunteer Time Off (VTO), now paying employees for up to 8 hours of volunteer time per week via opportunities vetted by our own Volunteer Action for Aging team