COVID-19 Benefits Update
NRECA is closely monitoring the impacts of the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and we are committed to providing the cooperative communities we serve the most current information on the impacts to our benefit plans. The following reflect the latest updates and resources available for you and your co-op’s employees. This information will also be added to the “Announcements” modules on both the administration and personal landing pages on the NRECA Employee Benefits website.
Long-term and Short-term Disability Claims Assistance
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many medical providers are not seeing patients or providing treatment for certain medical conditions. To avoid any potential disruption to scheduled short-term disability (STD) or long-term disability (LTD) benefit payments, Cooperative Benefit Administrators, Inc. (CBA) is relaxing the substantiation and documentation requirements from medical professionals in the event participants are unable to obtain the required treatment or follow-up visits.
The revised claim management standards will continue until the later of 90 days following March 18, 2020, or when the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services determines that the public health emergency has ended. These updated guidelines only apply to existing short- or long-term disability claims that were in place as of March 18.
Routine treatment and follow-up appointments should resume once providers are able to schedule appointments.
NRECA will send letters by April 15 directly to all participants currently on disability. Should you or your employees have any additional questions about these changes, call 866.673.2299 or email ltdmailbox@nreca.coop.
Teladoc Consultation Refunds Being Processed
As previously communicated, NRECA’s Medical Plan is temporarily waiving the $45 Teladoc consultation fee for high-deductible health plan participants who have not met their deductible. This waiver expands requirements set by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as all NRECA Medical Plan participants will temporarily have their consultation fees waived regardless of the reason for their consultation.
This temporary waiver took effect on March 18, 2020, when the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law and will be in effect through June 30, 2020. Teladoc implemented this change for NRECA participants on March 26. There were 88 participants who received a Teladoc consult between March 18 and March 26, resulting in the $45 fee. CBA will be adjusting the claims for these individuals to reflect a $0 patient responsibility. Additionally, CBA will be sending an updated explanation of benefits to each participant noting the reason for adjustment. Within 10 days of the adjustment, Teladoc will refund the $45 onto the card used by the participant for payment of the consultation fee.
If you or your participants have questions about this adjustment, please call NRECA’s Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, Central time.
Expanded VSP Medical Eye Care Services
If your co-op offers one of the VSP vision plans, your plan participants will have expanded access to medical eye care services through April 30, 2020. VSP providers can provide supplemental medical eye care for the detection, treatment, and management of ocular and visual conditions, including conjunctivitis, eye trauma, or sudden changes in vision. These consultations will help alleviate strains on medical and other urgent care facilities and are typically processed as part of the participant’s medical coverage. Consultations may be conducted in-person or remotely. A standard $20 copay may apply for some essential medical eye care.
Participants should continue to use their routine VSP coverage for lost or broken glasses or replacement contact lenses to meet immediate eyewear needs.
If a participant is unable to reach their VSP network doctor, they should call VSP Customer Care at 800.877.7195 for assistance in locating an alternative provider. To assist you in communicating this benefit to your participants, please use this flier.
COVID-19 Symptom Checker and Test Locator
Castlight, an NRECA vendor partner, has provided an interactive tool to assist participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first resource, a COVID-19 symptom checker, is a self-assessment designed to provide guidance based on input provided by the participant. The second resource, available on the same website, pulls information from a national COVID-19 test finder database. Users can enter their geographic details to obtain information on where they may locate a nearby testing site should they qualify for a COVID-19 test.
Active&Fit Direct® Program Waives Enrollment Fee Through June
From April through June 2020, Active&Fit Direct will waive the $25 enrollment fee to help people access their benefits, which include 800+ online fitness on-demand exercise classes. Use the enrollment link on the National Discounts Program page on NRECA’s Employee Benefits website, then use code ACTNOW25 at checkout.