COVID-19 101

• Tests: For UCare members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for doctor-ordered COVID-19 tests. To find a testing location near you, call your clinic or visit the Minnesota Testing Location website.
  
  At-Home Testing
  You can get at over-the-counter tests mailed to you:
  
  1. Go to the Minnesota at-home test request website - You can order four tests to be delivered to you at no cost from Minnesota state resources, while supplies last.
  
  Members of PMAP, Connect, MnCare, and MSC+ can get up to eight FDA-authorized over-the-counter tests every 30 days, with a prescription, The tests must be:
  
  1. Ordered by a doctor or licensed provider
  2. Picked up at a participating pharmacy
     1. You should not pay out of pocket for COVID-19 tests because UCare is not allowed to reimburse this payment. If asked to pay for a test, tell the testing provider to bill UCare.
  
  As of April 4, 2022, and until the public health emergency ends, Medicare members can get up to eight FDA-authorized over-the-counter tests every calendar month without a prescription.
  To get these at-home COVID-19 tests:
  
  1. Buy at a Pharmacy   – At participating pharmacies or health care providers, show your red, white, and blue Medicare card (not your UCare card) at the pharmacy counter. Pharmacies may be able to provide tests without this card. You can find a list of participating pharmacies here. If a pharmacy is not participating in this program offered by the federal government, you may be asked to pay for tests.
     1. If you purchase over-the-counter tests, reimbursement is not available. Medicare cannot process a claim for a COVID-19 over-the-counter test.
  
  As of January 15, 2022, Individual & Family Plan members can get up to eight FDA-authorized over-the-counter tests every 30 days without a prescription.
  To get your at-home COVID-19 tests, you have three options. Buy them at a:
  
  1. Pharmacy: Show your UCare ID card at the pharmacy counter (as you do when you pick up a prescription). You won’t have to pay anything.
     Note: If your pharmacy can’t process this request or you pay for the tests yourself, you can ask to be paid back using option 2.
  2. Retail outlet such as online, a gas station, etc.: Pay the full cost of the tests when you check out. Please download a Pharmacy Reimbursement Form, fill out member details, COVID test purchase information, sign, and mail or fax to Express Scripts using the contact information on the form. Be sure to include a copy of your receipt. UCare limits reimbursement to $12 for each test or the actual cost, if it is less than $12.
  3. Express Scripts Mail Order Pharmacy: Order COVID-19 tests online from Express Scripts Mail Order Pharmacy. You won’t have to pay anything. You can get to the Express Scripts Mail Order Pharmacy option through the UCare member portal or on the Express Scripts website. You’ll need to have or create an online account.

• Vaccines: For all members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine administration both in-network and out-of-network. Learn more.
• Test services: For all members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for in-network clinic, urgent care, emergency room visit and certain other related services when you receive a COVID-19 test.
• Treatments: If you are sick with COVID-19, UCare will cover prescribed treatments according to your benefit plan. UCare will follow State and Federal guidelines regarding the coverage, cost-share, availability and distribution of authorized COVID-19 treatments.
• Medications: UCare encourages members to take advantage of 90-day fills of your maintenance medications (Medical Assistance members, please consult your formulary to identify eligible drugs). To reduce exposure to the virus, home delivery is available for Medicare (including MSHO and Connect + Medicare) and Individual & Family Plan members using Express Scripts Mail Order Pharmacy services. Home delivery services may also be available through your retail pharmacy.
• Hospital services: For Medicare and Medical Assistance members, copays, coinsurance and deductibles are covered when you receive in-network observation and inpatient hospital services to treat COVID-19 through the public health emergency.
• Supplies: Medicare plan members can use their Healthy Savings over-the-counter benefit to purchase preventive care items such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizers at participating stores. All UCare members can call the Customer Service number on the back of your member ID card to request no-cost masks, thermometers, hand sanitizers and pill boxes.
• Wages and non-health care costs: UCare cannot cover lost wages or non-health care costs you may experience as a result of COVID-19.
• International coverage: Vaccines, tests and services provided outside of the country are not covered. (EXCEPTION: For UCare Medicare Advantage plans, COVID-19 testing is covered if done as part of emergency or urgently needed care.)

UCare members

Call the number on the back of your UCare member identification (ID) card if you have questions about your plan or coverage.

For questions about COVID-19 or to get help scheduling a vaccine appointment, call the UCare COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-833-951-3189 (TTY 1-800-688-2534).

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