Let’s face it, if you are worried about getting infected by a virus, you might feel safer at home than at a doctor’s office. You can download the BlueCare app on your Android or Apple phone, or access it directly at BlueCareLA.com. I’ve used it myself, and it is very handy. The online docs can even call in a prescription for you. All without leaving the house.

Wait times for BlueCare can be long right now, as more people than ever access the service, so also check to see if your primary care physician or local health system has a telemedicine service. You may have to pay cost shares for non-BlueCare services.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, contact your regular healthcare provider, who can work with you to determine if you need to be tested. If you don’t have a regular healthcare provider, please call 211 to reach the Louisiana statewide information network or visit www.ldh.la.gov/coronavirus and click LA211 to see the most frequently asked questions..

Early prescription refills

Speaking of prescriptions, under normal circumstances you usually can’t refill a prescription for maintenance drugs – one you get over and over for an ongoing condition – until you near the end of your current supply. However, Blue Cross has lifted time restrictions on your prescription refills. So, no more worrying if it’s day 23 of 30, just go ahead and fill it when it’s good for you. It’s possible all pharmacies haven’t gotten the word yet, so we created a flier you can show your pharmacist as you need to. The link for it is here. You can also show your pharmacist our webpage on what we’re doing for our members, www.bcbsla.com/covid19.

Note that you can still only get 12 refills in a year for each monthly prescription you take.

Keep in the know with reliable sources

We’ve created a website to update our members on the latest coverage information and the programs and services we’re making available. We are updating this page several times a day right now, so you see the latest from us there. You have access to this COVID-19 information website just like I do at www.bcbsla.com/COVID19. Please check it often! You can find a really good overview of the whole situation at the CDC’s website and Louisiana-specific information at the state’s Dept. of Health’s website.

Help for stress, worry and anxiety

I have no doubt that many of you, just like me, are either at a higher risk of getting very sick from this virus or caring for people who are at higher risk because they are elderly or have immune-compromising health conditions. And, like me, I’m betting that many of you are working from home or finding your hours scaled back at work. This can lead to lots of worry, stress and anxiety, and we’ve been thinking about that as well.

Blue Cross works with New Directions as our counseling and behavioral health service for many of our members. New Directions has opened a crisis line for anyone who may need to discuss behavioral health issues related to COVID-19 – that includes people who are not our members. Just call 1-833-848-1764 and let them hear your fears and anxieties. These guys are pros and they are here for you. No one should have to live with all that anxiety alone. Let them help. They’ve also put together a few basic tips to help everyone.

We are in this for the long-term

Someone asked me very recently what Blue Cross would do in the face of a real disaster that cut off a sizable portion of our incoming revenue. How would we keep the healthcare system going, since the Louisiana healthcare system is highly dependent on the money Blue Cross puts into circulation on your behalf?

That’s an excellent question, and I want to assure you today that your Blue Cross plan has a very strong rainy day fund that we have cultivated and protected for years for just such an occasion. This will enable us to keep paying your claims so you can focus on COVID-19 and your family, instead of worrying about who will pay for your treatments and medications.

Healthcare.gov is open

Also worth remembering: Anyone who loses employer-based healthcare is automatically eligible to shop on healthcare.gov for 60 days after their employer coverage ends. You can use whatever your income is on the day  you shop to determine how much federal help you would get. If your income is suddenly $0 because of job loss, use that number. Also remember that, unlike most of the South, Louisiana has expanded Medicaid to any household with incomes below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. If things slow down at work and your insurance there is threatened, DO NOT PANIC. You have other options, and you can begin to check them out by looking at healthcare.gov or calling us at 1-800-821-2758 where we have licensed agents waiting for your call. You will have options.

#FlattenTheCurve

Finally, I want to say a Straight Talk word about the whole notion of “flattening the curve.”

It’s an odd-sounding phrase. But, it is vitally important to all of us right now, in a huge way.

First of all, I want to say a big “Thank You” to everyone who is sacrificing their personal freedom right now for the good of us all. I would imagine it is very tough to be a 25-year-old, perhaps at minimal risk of a serious COVID-19 illness, yet still playing by all these unusual rules like social distancing (keeping six feet or more from others), washing your hands all the time, not being able to go to your favorite hangout or health club. It’s a lot to sacrifice, and as an older person who is at risk from this virus, I just want to say a big “THANK YOU” to everyone who is playing ball.

Why is that so important? I struggled for a good analogy for a while, but then I saw Senator Bill Cassidy on Twitter use the PERFECT one. I hope he won’t mind if I borrow it.