Decision Needed: ASO Groups Can Waive Member Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Treatment
Please share this information with your ASO group clients. A news alert will be sent later today to large groups and national accounts.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is waiving member cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, related to treatment for COVID-19. The waiver applies to costs associated with COVID-19 treatment at in-network facilities and treatment for out-of-network emergencies.
The new policy applies to all BCBSIL fully insured group plan, individual and family plan, Medicare (excluding Part D plans), Medicare Supplement and Medicaid members. Our policy is effective for treatment received April 1 through May 31, 2020. BCBSIL will continue to reassess this policy as circumstances warrant.
We are offering this option to all our ASO customers.
ASO groups: To select this temporary cost-sharing waiver option for your health plan (waiving member cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, related to treatment for COVID-19, at in-network facilities and treatment for out-of-network emergencies), please notifyyour account representative by Friday, April 10, that you want to addthe “COVID-19 Cost Sharing Expansion.” Cost sharing will be waived for dates of service from April 1 through May 31, 2020. This date is subject to extension as circumstances warrant. We will contact you, in the event we extend this date.
Additional coverage notes: COVID-19 Cost Sharing Expansion is available for HDHP, Grandfathered and Grandmothered plans.
Important Notice for ASO Group Customers: BCBSIL is working to assist and support our ASO group plan sponsors and members during this COVID-19 public health emergency. As part of this assistance and support, we have added plan benefits and services that ASO customers are required by law to provide under their health plan. We are also making available benefits and services that plans are being encouraged by federal and state governments to provide as part of an effort to combat, reduce the spread of and treat COVID-19.
Action needed: You should contact your BCBSIL account executive to instruct us to add the COVID-19 Cost-sharing Expansion coverage described above. Nothing in this communication modifies or relieves any ASO group plan sponsors of their obligations under the law, nor does it impact or change BCBSIL’s role as claims administrator.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
File is in portable document format (PDF). To view this file, you may need to install a PDF reader program. Most PDF readers are a free download. One option is Adobe® Reader® which has a built-in screen reader. Other Adobe accessibility tools and information can be downloaded at 