A number of Health Insurance Providers have instituted a number of policies to provide coverage are activating emergency plans to ensure that Americans have access to the prevention, testing, and treatment needed to handle the current covid-19 crises.

Aetna

Texas Health Aetna and MAP Health Management have collaborated to expand telehealth support services for individuals and families struggling with substance abuse. All of the more than 110,000 people insured by Texas Health Aetna are eligible for the telephone-based service, which connects members in recovery with peer specialists who know the challenges of addiction deeply because they have faced them personally as well. The support specialists all have been trained and certified to help guide others through recovery.

Aetna has launched Time for Care, a campaign that reinforces the importance of accessing primary health care. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have appropriately focused on staying home to keep themselves and others healthy. Although this kind of physical distancing is still an essential component of preventing the spread of COVID-19, it is critical for people to continue prioritizing health care needs.

Aflac

AFLAC is making a $1 million donation to Crisis Text Line, a global, not-for-profit organization that specializes in mental health intervention. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support to people in crisis via SMS texting. Aflac’s donation will help fund the organization’s new campaign, For the Frontlines, aimed at helping individuals battling the COVID-19 crisis in the U.S.

AFLAC has made a $5 million donation to two organizations that are providing assistance for health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s network of 36 independent and locally-operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® have committed nearly $3 billion to date in support of members, health care workers and local communities to aid in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. Independent and locally-operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies across the country and the BCBS Federal Employee Program® (FEP®) have decided to waive cost-sharing for treatment of COVID-19 through May 31. This includes coverage for testing and treatment administered, including for inpatient hospital stays.

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente and its employees will donate $500,000 to the Colorado COVID Relief Fund, $300,000 of which will be restricted to organizations applying to do contact tracing, specifically organizations focused on cultural competency within Colorado communities. The remaining $200,000 will come through Kaiser Permanente’s employee donation matching campaign, ending on September 30, 2020.

Kaiser Permanente is joining with nonprofit Civica Rx in its mission of assuring that health providers nationally have access to stable and affordable supplies of essential generic medications throughout the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. It has joined Civica as a governing member with a seat on the board of directors and as an integrated health system with 12.4 million members will provide an important voice in designing Civica’s future strategy. The addition of Kaiser Permanente comes at a time when Civica is already delivering 20 essential generic medications, 10 of which are currently being used to treat COVID-19 patients. Civica is also working to significantly boost generic drug production within the United States.

Kaiser Permanente will extend its waiver for most member out-of-pocket costs for inpatient and outpatient services related to the treatment of COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. This waiver, put into effect on April 1 and originally set to expire on May 31, is intended to alleviate the cost burden and stress of paying for care, allowing members to focus on recovery.