As we manage our way through this situation, I want to make sure you know that MedBen has made plans to ensure that we are available for our clients.  Many of you and your associates will be even busier during the coming weeks, and we want to make sure that you don’t have to worry about your benefit plan.

Here’s an update on MedBen’s plans and our recommendations for clients.  Please know that we are working diligently to make sure that our timeliness and quality remains unmatched for our clients.

Remote Work

You may know that MedBen has used remote work processes for more than a dozen years.  In the past two years, we have expanded those capabilities so you can have confidence that we will continue to meet your service and availability expectations.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about this, let your Account Management team know and we will make adjustments as necessary.   You should also always feel free to call me directly with any questions.  My cell phone is 740 334-1597.

Travel will be assessed on a case-by-case basis over the next few weeks.

Plan Considerations

Pharmacy Refills – Most of our clients already have provisions for 90-day fills on many medications.  Our current refill policy is to permit both 30-day and 90-day refills after 75% of the prescription supply has been exhausted.  Last week, we made the recommendation to leave this policy in place.  This week, we again consulted with our pharmacy benefit management and wholesale partners.  They suggested continuing that recommendation with the normal flexibility we maintain for vacations and other unforeseen circumstances.

If you would like greater flexibility for your plan’s refill-too-soon policy, please contact your Account Management team.  They can make arrangements for adjustments to the refill-too-soon policy or even extend the traditional fill policy on a group by group basis.

COVID-19 Testing – Testing for COVID-19 is currently considered to be covered by all our client’s plans under the traditional medical necessity provisions at diagnostic testing benefit levels.  CMS has issued codes for the testing and we are prepared to process those claims as other testing is covered.

Additionally, the IRS issued a clarification this week that COVID-19 testing can be covered at 100% under qualified high deductible health plans without jeopardizing the tax deductibility of the plan or member’s HSA accounts.  The IRS’ Notice can be viewed in its entirety here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-15.pdf

If you would like COVID-19 testing or treatment to be covered at a different level of benefits, such as 100% for the member, please let your Account Management team know and we will put that language in place.

Leave of Absence/Actively at Work – We have surveyed our stop-loss carriers on their treatment of employees who may, for any variety of reasons, be unable to work but not fit neatly into illness or disability definitions.  For self-quarantine most have indicated that they will not require specific plan amendments in order to continue the member’s eligibility under the plan.

Each carrier has their own policy so check with your Account Management team if you have specific situations.  Once we have all responses, which should probably be next week, we will provide them to clients.

Most important, remember that self-funded plans provide you with the flexibility to adapt your plan to changing circumstances.  If you have questions, please call us.

Kurt Harden

Kurt Harden
President and CEO