nefit Plan’s
COVID-19 Pandemic
ies to provide a
day supply of
s to proactively
supply. In light
we temporarily
aximum number
s allowed,
continue to
nsing fees if
to receive a
of maintenance
ne time.
number of times
your home to
and receipts for
now allow claims
ia email. We were
oward electronic
claims but have
engthy process.
to submit claims
ot yet ready,
mit claim forms
ipts to an email
continue to work
onic submission
will have more to
the near future.
bers who use the
le and certified
titioners (such
dieticians, and
) providing
through
, Skype, or other
will have their
ARTA took a long-view approach
when it came to monthly benefit
premiums. With the changes
mentioned earlier, the claims
experience was more difficult to
predict — we assumed the plan
would be paying considerably more
for dispensing fees but less for
services provided virtually, such
as chiropractor visits. Dental care
was even more difficult to predict
— while claims certainly decreased
in April and May, we knew that the
majority of these claims were being
warehoused; dental work will still
be required and covered members
will eventually need to make a
dental care claim. The reduced
claims in April and May will likely
be off-set by a surge in claims
once people are able to visit their
dentists again.
Our health plan is completely
self-insured, with monthly rates
based on the actual costs paid for
services. If overall claims increase
due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
rate action may be required. At
the time of writing (late April),
it’s too early to predict the overall
impact to the health plan, but we
continue to monitor the situation
to ensure members are paying fair
rates for the services used. ●
news&views SUMMER 2020 | 11