March 23, 2020

Dear UUP- represented employees,

I am writing to inform you of the additional resources available for Empire Plan enrollees.

Cost Sharing Waivers for COVID-19 Testing

Enrollee cost sharing requirements for COVID-19 testing at approved locations are waived. In addition, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for visits associated with COVID-19 testing are waived, whether the testing is provided in a health care provider's office, an urgent care center, or an emergency department. This cost share waiver applies to all active Empire Plan enrollees, early retirees and Medicare eligible retirees.

Early Prescription Refills

To ensure enrollee access to medications, enrollees will be allowed one emergency prescription refill of up to a 30-day supply for three prescriptions of retail medications and one prescription of specialty medications during a 90-day period. Normal copay rules apply.

Managing Coronavirus Anxiety

Visit the Beacon Lens at beaconlens.com for advice and tips on managing stress and anxiety due to coronavirus. Additional online resources on this topic are available in a guide from the NYS Office of Mental Health and at the Centers for Disease Control.

Nurseline

The Empire Plan Nurseline is fully prepared to share information with enrollees on the COVID-19 virus and triage them to the appropriate level of care as necessary based on the severity of their symptoms. As a reminder, the Empire Plan Nurseline number is 1-877-769-7447, Option # 5.

UUP will keep you posted as any new information regarding the coverage of the COVID-19 virus by the Empire Plan becomes available. Keep apprised on COVID-19 by visiting https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. Here you can also sign up for email updates on the coronavirus.

Thank you,

Tom Tucker

UUP Vice President for Professionals