COVID-19 Updates - Individual Members

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The disease that results from the most recently discovered coronavirus is called COVID-19.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), common signs of COVID-19 include:

• Fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
• These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.
• People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

To avoid the spread of infection, the WHO recommends:

• Regular and thorough hand washing
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
• Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing
• Follow public gathering restrictions. More people means more risk of exposure. Continue “social distancing” to limit the spread of COVID-19. Stay 6 feet away from others when possible

Remember, the key to prevention is washing hands often (maybe hum a favorite tune for 20 seconds), social distancing and wearing a mask when around others. 

In accordance with CDC and WHO guidelines, we strongly recommend calling your provider for medical advice if you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as a cough or difficulty breathing. Be sure to tell them you think you may have COVID-19. Depending on your location, testing and the ability to isolate infected patients may vary. Contacting your provider ahead of time will help the office/facility protect you, staff and other patients. For additional guidelines, follow directions provided by your local health authority or visit the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.

Provider availability, services and operating hours may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Once you have identified a provider, we strongly encourage you to contact them for their availability and services.

Click here for more information about the coronavirus and the services available to you from GeoBlue.

GeoBlue has compiled a list of COVID-19 hotlines by country as a resource to help you get in contact with the local public health authorities. In many cases, the public health authorities are directing and managing access to testing and have oversight of the public health response to this pandemic. If you are unable to communicate with the operators of the hotlines due to a language barrier, please contact the Embassy or consular service in the country of your stay by hotline, email or via their accounts on social media for guidance. This information, compiled from open sources, is provided as a courtesy and is current as of when we compiled the data. We cannot provide any warranties about the accuracy and/or comprehensiveness of the data. This is provided for informational purposes only and cannot be substituted for official governmental data, or consultation with a licensed healthcare professional.

Yes! A safe and convenient option for accessing healthcare services is our telemedicine service, Global TeleMD™, which is available at no additional cost to our GeoBlue members.

The Global TeleMD app provides remote access to a global network of licensed doctors by telephone or video without needing to leave your home or office. All Global TeleMD doctors in the region are briefed on the World Health Organization’s recommendations and are prepared to render remote consultations with patients around the world. Remote consultations via Global TeleMD are free and can be used as many times as you need.

The Global TeleMD app can be downloaded for free to your mobile device from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you download the app, you’ll need to create a profile, which is quick and easy. Please have your member ID card or Certificate Number available when creating your profile.

Medical evacuations due to COVID-19 are currently not covered under Voyager and Trekker plans.

Medical evacuation coverage and restrictions vary by product. If your plan provides coverage for medical evacuation, the medical evacuation would be covered under the following circumstances:

- Sudden accident or unforeseen* illness that leads to a recommendation for medical evacuation by the local attending physician.

- Medical evacuation is medically necessary and subject to approval by our physicians in consultation with the attending physician

- Medical evacuation is advisable i.e. the patient is stable enough to travel, noting that evacuation is always to the nearest capable facility

- Evacuation is practically possible (e.g., with due consideration of origin and destination government rules and restrictions, the availability of commercial air ambulance providers and a receiving facility)

* Unforeseen illness refers to a condition that was not pre-existing

Coverage:  The claim will be covered in any of the following circumstances:

- Prescribed testing from a doctor

- Contact testing

- Medical facility admission testing

Testing that is not medically necessary or is required as a prerequisite for work, school or entry into country is not covered.

Cost-sharing:

- As of January 1, 2021, existing plan rules apply where there may be cost sharing for a COVID-19 test. Please consult your Certificate of Coverage for more information on co-pays, deductibles, coverage and benefits.

 

GeoBlue Voyager and Trekker plans

Medically necessary treatment for COVID-19 is covered as an Illness under GeoBlue Voyager and Trekker plans, up to age 95. As of January 1st, 2021, medically-necessary COVID-19 treatment is covered, however the policy deductible applies (if applicable).

GeoBlue Navigator and Xplorer plans

The long-term Xplorer and Navigator plans cover medicay-necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment. If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected].

 

GeoBlue Voyager and Trekker plans

Our Voyager and Trekker plans are designed to provide medical coverage outside of the United States only and do not include an immunization/vaccination benefit. The cost of the COVID-19 vaccine will not be covered by these plans. Based on the country where the vaccination is administered, the government may or may not fund the cost. 

 

GeoBlue Navigator and Xplorer plans

If the vaccine is administered in the U.S.

The cost of the COVID-19 vaccine is covered by the U.S. government under the CARES Act regardless of whether or not your policy includes an immunization/vaccination benefit. The pharmacy or provider, where you have the vaccine administered, will be reimbursed under the CARES Act. You are not responsible for any cost share for the vaccination itself.   

If there is an administration charge in addition to the cost of the vaccine, GeoBlue will cover 100% up to the CMS* published fee (CMS regulated administration fees: up to $28.39 for a single dose vaccine; or up to $45.33 for double dose vaccines [$16.94 + $28.39 for both doses]) for all Navigator and Xplorer plans except Xplorer Essential and Select plans. Xplorer Essential and Select plans do not include an immunization/vaccination benefit in the U.S., and you will be responsible for any administration costs charged separately from the cost of the vaccine.

If the vaccine is administered outside the U.S.

Based on the country where the vaccination is administered, the government may or may not fund the cost. GeoBlue will not reimburse any claims for the cost of the vaccination in locations where the government funds the cost. GeoBlue will pay eligible non-government paid vaccination costs based on your plan immunization/vaccination benefit (subject to usual, customary and reasonable cost standards; member cost share and limits may apply).  Additionally, if the administration fee is a separate charge, GeoBlue will pay that fee at 100% using the CMS* fee as the maximum amount (CMS regulated administration fees: up to $28.39 for a single dose vaccine; or up to $45.33 for double dose vaccines [$16.94 + $28.39 for both doses]).

*The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the U.S. GeoBlue will consider administration fees for the COVID-19 vaccine based on reasonable cost using CMS published fees when the plan includes an immunization/vaccination benefit.

COVID-19 requirements vary worldwide. We highly recommend you review the host country’s COVID-19 requirements before you travel to or within that country. Costs associated with a mandatory quarantine, when not medically necessary, are not covered under your plan. For example, if you test positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic and forced to quarantine in a hospital, those hospital charges will not be covered by your plan as these costs are not considered medically necessary. 

GeoBlue Trekker and Voyager plans

GeoBlue plans are available for purchase, however we do encourage travelers to review and consider all travel plans according to travel restrictions country-by-country. Medically-necessary treatment for COVID-19 is covered as an Illness under GeoBlue Voyager and Trekker. As of January 1, 2021, existing plan rules apply where there may be cost sharing. Please consult your Certificate of Coverage for more information on co-pays, deductibles, coverage and benefits or to see a quote, visit www.geobluetravelinsurance.com.

GeoBlue Navigator and Xplorer plans

GeoBlue plans are available for purchase, however we do encourage travelers to review and consider all travel plans according to travel restrictions country-by-country. The long-term Xplorer and Navigator plans cover medically-necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment. To see a quote, visit www.geobluetravelinsurance.com. For questions regarding new long-term applications, please contact [email protected]

GeoBlue believes individuals must be assured access to testing for COVID-19, when the medical need arises, and that access should not be dependent on one’s ability to pay. In support of this goal, GeoBlue committed to cover testing related to diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 at zero cost-sharing for our members through December 31, 2020.

However, people who have no signs or symptoms of the coronavirus may be tested for their exposure to the virus as part of a broader public health effort, including identifying others who may have been exposed and could therefore transmit COVID-19. Broad application of such tests is being considered to assess people’s ability to return to work, school or even gain entrance to entertainment venues. This is very different from testing to diagnose and treat people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have had a significant exposure risk, which is done under a healthcare provider’s order (i.e. a healthcare provider licensed under state law) and appropriately covered by health insurance. While anti-body testing has potentially beneficial uses, it has limited usefulness as a stand-alone test in the diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19. In conjunction with other testing when those tests are negative but COVID-19 is still suspected, anti-body testing may be used for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. As a stand-alone test, its greatest use thus far seems to be for population health/epidemiological reasons, rather than for diagnosis and treatment.

These broader testing scenarios – population health and epidemiological – are a public health responsibility that should be done in coordination with local governmental and/or national Departments or Ministries of Health as well as the entities involved (businesses, schools, public venues).

Based on this, GeoBlue’s position remains consistent in covering testing when medically necessary and as part of diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, GeoBlue will cover, at no cost sharing, COVID-19 anti-body testing when ordered by a doctor for diagnostic and treatment purposes, when used to diagnose a suspected case for which PCR (polymerise chain reaction) testing is negative or unavailable. Anti-body testing should not be ordered as a stand-alone test for diagnosis and treatment.

GeoBlue will not cover any COVID-19 testing (including anti-body testing) requested by non-medical personnel (members, employers, school programs, governmental agencies) for non-diagnostic treatment purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, testing for personal information or for return to work/school requirements.

As of January 1, 2021, existing plan rules apply, which may include cost sharing. Please consult your Certificate of Coverage for more information on co-pays, deductibles, coverage and benefits. 

Coverage for Trip Interruption depends on when you purchased your plan. Coverage for Trip Interruption on Voyager plans is not available for trips to a country subject to a CDC level-3 travel warning, or similar warning from the government of the destination country. If the policy was purchased after the date the destination country became subject to such a warning, coverage would not be available.

There is no impact to Trip Interruption coverage for eligible members who purchased a GeoBlue Voyager plan prior to the listed dates and have travelled or are planning travel to one of the listed countries. Members who meet these criteria may use the Trip Interruption benefit as needed ($500 max).

Preventive quarantine in a hotel, cruise ship or any other location would not be covered. 

For all CDC references, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices.