Updated January 5, 2022
Today, we have access to more tools that help us safely navigate COVID-19 in our daily lives to reduce risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. If we all stay diligent, we can keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe.
- Keeping your COVID-19 vaccinations up to date continues to be the most effective way to prevent severe illness from COVID-19 and lasting consequences from the virus. Every person who is eligible to be vaccinated and boosted is highly encouraged to do so.
- Testing is a critical component of public health and safety. We now have more access to testing to help slow the spread of the virus including self-testing with over-the-counter (OTC) at-home tests that provide results in minutes. Learn more about how to access OTC at-home tests with your health plan benefits in our FAQ section.
Wearing a mask indoors in public areas or on public transportation, regardless of vaccination status may reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared that people who reported always wearing a mask lowered the odds of testing positive by more than half.
The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available.
The best protection from COVID-19 and its variants is to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinatons. Speak with your health care provider, such as your doctor or pharmacist, to make sure your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date and you and have the latest information to protect yourself and others. Asuris members can also call our Customer Service team with questions using the number on the back of their ID card.
As the pandemic evolves, public health guidance will continue to change by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Visit the CDC’s website or your state’s health department website for the most current information for your area.
Visit your state’s health department website or the CDC’s Vaccine Finder site to find out where all eligible people can get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Here’s what Asuris is doing to support you:
- Covering COVID-19 vaccinations and testing
- Expanding virtual care (telehealth) services
- Allowing early medication refills
Contacting members hospitalized with COVID-19 to provide extra support
We’ve made these changes in our Individual and family policies, as well as our fully insured group policies. If your coverage is through a self-funded group plan, you should consult your plan administrator for details.
In addition, we’ve extended grace periods for premium payments (as required by state law). Extensions end when those mandates end.
For group plans governed by ERISA*, we’ve extended the deadlines by which you must file any claims, appeals and make special enrollment changes. The period from March 1, 2020, until 60 days after the federal public health emergency ends won’t count in determining these deadlines.
*As a general rule, a plan is governed by ERISA if it is a plan for employees of an employer that is not a government (including a tribe) or church.