Your Place for COVID-19 Answers and Assistance

Vaccines work by simulating a virus, which trains your body’s immune system to attack and eliminate the virus before it can make you sick.

Vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna are available in the US. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, marketed as Comirnaty, has full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people 16 and older, and emergency use authorization from the FDA for people between 12 and 15 years old. Johnson & Johnson and Moderna have received emergency use authorization from the FDA. The vaccines have been found to be safe and extremely effective at preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19.

To be fully protected from COVID-19 you need two doses of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, given three to four weeks apart. It is very important to schedule your second vaccination appointment while on site receiving the first dose. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose. The vaccines are considered fully effective two weeks after completed vaccination.

Providers administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should follow the company’s Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine and patients and family should read the Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, which have been revised to include information about the rare risk of blood clots that may be connected to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

There is no cost for the COVID-19 vaccine. The federal government has purchased millions of doses of the vaccine and will provide it for free. Any costs related to administration of the vaccine will be covered by us, with no member cost share.

All U.S. residents 12 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

Those who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at retail pharmacies, health care providers, or other community locations by visiting vaxfinder.mass.gov. Walk up appointments are also available at many locations.

People ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine. Consent from a parent or legal guardian may be required for the vaccination of children under 18. Please check with your vaccine provider.

For our out-of-state members, please visit your state's health department website for local distribution plans.

Whether fully approved or under an emergency use authorization, the vaccines have undergone rigorous clinical trials in which tens of thousands of volunteers received a vaccine with no serious side effects. These vaccines have also undergone the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA's) emergency use authorization (EUA) process. An EUA provides quicker access to critical medical products—like medicines and tests—when there are no other adequate, approved, and available options. In granting an EUA, the FDA balances the known risks of the product with the known benefits. You can learn more about EUA in this FDA video.

In Massachusetts, infectious disease specialists also review the EUA data, and provide an independent opinion about vaccine safety and efficacy.

Data from the clinical trials show that the vaccines provide strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19, and may reduce the spread of the virus by vaccinated people. Researchers will continue to monitor the safety and efficacy of these vaccines over time.

Yes. The CDC maintains that two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are required to create the most effective immune response. 

You won't get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

As is common with many vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause short-term side effects, which are signs that your immune system is developing the response, or antibodies, to fight the virus. Side effects may include aches, fatigue, or even a fever for a day or two after receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Both the Pfizer/BioTech and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be fully effective so don’t let side effects keep you from getting the vaccine. There have been rare instances of people having an allergic reaction after being vaccinated.

If you're concerned about side effects, talk to your health care provider.

Those who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can register for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at retail pharmacies, health care providers, or other community locations by visiting vaxfinder.mass.gov. Walk up appointments are also available at many locations. Or your health care provider may reach out to you when they have vaccine available.

People ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine. Consent from a parent or legal guardian may be required for the vaccination of children under 18. Please check with your vaccine provider.

Studies show the vaccines are effective against newer strains of the virus. In some instances, a booster shot might be needed.

Information about new strains of the virus, including those identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil is rapidly emerging and scientists are working to learn more. To learn more about the emerging variants of the virus and how scientists are working to better understand how to stop the spread, visit the CDC. 

Children as young as 12 can now receive the Pfizer vaccine under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization. Moderna's vaccine is authorized for people 18 and older.

Vaccines are usually tested on adults first and if found to be safe, then clinical trials involving children begin. Clinical trials for the use of other COVID-19 vaccines in children are underway.

These vaccines have not been well researched among women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Studies are underway.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you should discuss vaccination with your health care provider. The CDC says that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness if infected with the coronavirus.

If you're not feeling well, call your doctor and discuss your symptoms. You may be asked about your travel history and about those with whom you've been in close contact.

According to medical experts, symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are similar to the flu or other respiratory diseases.

To help you make decisions and seek medical care if necessary, use this symptom checker tool.

You should check with your doctor's office. Be prepared to share with them where you have traveled and with whom you've been in close contact.

Help prevent the spread of infection and keep your family and community safe by getting vaccinated.

For the latest COVID-19 safety information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, click here.

Our doctors and most clinicians recommend that everyone, especially the unvaccinated, take basic precautions to avoid infection with any virus:

• Wear a mask or face covering in indoor public places, or when you can't socially distance outdoors
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes
• Disinfect commonly touched services

Talk to your doctor. You doctor will determine if you should be tested in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. 

If you want to find a testing site on your own, your state’s health department website should provide details. To find test sites in Massachusetts, visit Mass.gov.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization all provide regular updates on their websites:

• cdc.gov/coronavirus
• mass.gov/dph
• who.int

In addition to our Coronavirus Resource Center, we’re providing information on our health news site, Coverage.

Our HMO, POS, PPO, and Indemnity plans cover both viral (also known as antigen) and antibody (also known as serologic) tests, when ordered by a health care provider who is making an individualized clinical assessment of the patient in according to current standards of medical practice, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines.

Medicare plans: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts follows Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-mandated requirements, as well as state-mandated requirements related to coverage of SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing, for our Medicare HMO and Medicare PPO members.

Blue Cross will cover viral and antibody Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved tests when ordered by any health care professional authorized under state law for the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.

In keeping with CMS guidance issued September 2, 2020, and for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Blue Cross will cover, without a health care professional’s order, the cost of one diagnostic test for COVID-19 and one diagnostic test each for influenza virus or similar respiratory condition for Medicare members, when performed in conjunction with a COVID-19 test and needed to obtain a final COVID-19 diagnosis. Subsequent tests will require the order of an authorized health care professional.

Note regarding Medex^®' plans: Because Medicare provides primary coverage for Medex members, standard Medicare rules as outlined above apply for one-time coverage of tests without a health care professional’s order.

Your health plan covers both viral (also known as antigen) and antibody (also known as serologic) tests, when ordered by a health care provider who is making a medically necessary clinical assessment of the individual patient, following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines.

Please note that CDC guidelines regarding antibody tests indicate that this type of test shouldn't be used to:

• Determine if someone can return to work;
• Group people together in settings such as schools, dormitories, and correctional facilities;
• Determine the immune status in individuals, since medical experts aren't sure that the presence of antibodies creates immunity or how long any potential immunity may last.

Talk to your doctor about the best location for you to get tested. Blue Cross will cover tests when conducted at, but not limited to, the following sites:

• Drive-through testing sites
• Emergency rooms
• Medical provider offices
• The patient’s home (using a testing kit—a patient self-swab)

Remember that the test must be ordered by a health care provider, who is making an individualized clinical assessment of the patient according to current standards of medical practice, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines. The test must be Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, or must have received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA; or the manufacturer (maker) intends to request Emergency Use Authorization.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has created an interactive map of testing sites on its COVID-19 resource web page. Please visit Mass.gov.

Your health plan covers medically necessary services to diagnose or treat illness.

Blue Cross isn't required to cover routine screenings to determine an individual’s fitness to return to work, school, or for public health surveillance purposes.

Your health plan covers medically necessary services to diagnose or treat illness.

Testing is covered when ordered by a health care professional. Some examples of when testing may be ordered by a provider include, but are not limited to:

• When a person has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, no sense of smell, and gastrointestinal distress
• If a person has had direct exposure to another individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19
• Those people who have been identified by contact tracing as being at risk of exposure
• Symptomatic or asymptomatic patients who require testing prior to a medical procedure or surgery
• People who are admitted to a health care facility, including but not limited to a hospital operated or licensed by the Department of Public Health or Mental Health, a long-term acute care hospital, or a skilled nursing facility

For Medicare members, in keeping with CMS guidance issued September 2, 2020, and for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Blue Cross will cover, without a health care professional’s order, the cost of one diagnostic test for COVID-19 and one diagnostic test each for influenza virus or similar respiratory condition for Medicare members when performed in conjunction with a COVID-19 test and needed to obtain a final COVID-19 diagnosis. Subsequent tests will require the order of an authorized health care professional.

Your health plan doesn't cover tests:

• Requested for general screening purposes such as return-to-work or for public health surveillance purposes
• Used as routine screenings for such individuals as people who live or work in residential facilities such as skilled nursing homes
• That have been denied FDA approval, or tests that don't have Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, or tests whose developers haven't requested Emergency Use Authorization within a reasonable time frame
• Antibody tests aren't covered for screening purposes, such as eligibility to donate plasma

Your health plan will cover COVID-19 tests for each individual, when ordered by a health care provider who is making an individualized clinical assessment of the patient according to current standards of medical practice, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines.

We’re expanding the types of care available via telehealth to better meet the needs of our members. Any medically necessary service covered under a member’s health plan can now be performed via telehealth (by video or phone) when appropriate, and offered by your doctor.

If your coverage already includes our telehealth benefit, please use our Well Connection platform available when you log in to MyBlue. For members with this telehealth benefit, we're waiving cost share for visits conducted through Well Connection for COVID-19 services.*

For Federal Employee Program (FEP) members:

Effective March 10, 2020, we’ve removed the member cost share for all telehealth services (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) received through the Teladoc^®'' network. Members can register for Teladoc by visiting fepblue.org/coronavirus. For other providers offering telehealth services not on Teladoc, the applicable office visit cost share will apply (unless COVID-19 related).

Our 24/7 Nurse Line also is available at no cost to FEP members, and offers a safe and convenient clinical resource for questions or minor ailments. Call the 24/7 Nurse Line at 1-888-258-3432 or learn more.

For Medicare HMO Blue and Medicare PPO Blue members:

Until further notice, telehealth cost share will be waived for primary care visits, urgently needed visits, health risk assessments and outpatient mental health visits. In addition, cost share will be waived for telehealth visits by a specialist if the visit is related to COVID-19.

*Benefits may vary by plan.

Effective March 10, 2020, we’ve removed the member cost share for all telehealth services (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related) received through the Teladoc network. Members can register for Teladoc by visiting fepblue.org/coronavirus. For other providers offering telehealth services not on Teladoc, the applicable office visit cost share will apply (unless COVID-19 related).

Our 24/7 Nurse Line also is available at no cost to all members and offers a safe and convenient clinical resource for questions or minor ailments. The number for the Nurse Line is 1-888-247-2583.

If you're eligible, coverage for yourself and your dependents can be purchased directly from Blue Cross or any other health insurer, or through the Massachusetts Health Connector.

If you're interested in a Blue Cross plan, or to find out if you're eligible, please visit getbluema.com or call 1-800-422-3545.

If you have coverage through Dental Blue^®, and until further notice, you can receive care from your dentist via telephone or video if your dentist offers virtual services. Services provided by non-participating dentists could be subject to balance billing.

Our members are covered for emergency medical care while traveling internationally. If someone were to be hospitalized while traveling, costs would be covered according to the terms of your plan.

You can purchase additional health insurance designed for travelers from any number of companies. Blue Cross offers health insurance for travelers that provides extended coverage, called GeoBlue^®. You can learn more at geobluetravelinsurance.com/bcbsma, or by calling 1-855-481-6647.

Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield has temporarily lifted limits on early refills of prescription medications, allowing members to obtain one additional fill of their existing prescription.

Please note: the prescribing doctor or pharmacy filling the prescription may decide to continue to impose limits at their discretion.

Certain medications, such as opioids and medications with quality care dosing limits, are excluded.

Members can get a two-month supply of a medication for two copayments at the retail pharmacy of their choice, as benefits allow. Additionally, members can use the Express Scripts^®'' (ESI) mail order pharmacy to get three-month supplies of medications.

Members enrolled in Smart90^®''are eligible for 90-day supplies at retail pharmacies for certain maintenance medications.

We won't allow for greater than a 90-day supply, to avoid stockpiling or potential shortages.

We recommend that you consider our mail order delivery option for your maintenance medications—those you take for the long term. It’ll be one less trip that you need to take. Visit Express Scripts^®' Pharmacy, our third-party partner, or call 1-800-892-5119. For short term prescriptions, ask your pharmacy about delivery or curbside pickup.

Our members are covered for emergency medical care while traveling internationally. If someone were to be hospitalized while traveling, costs would be covered according to the terms of your plan.

You can purchase additional health insurance designed for travelers from any number of companies. Blue Cross offers health insurance for travelers that provides extended coverage, called GeoBlue^®. You can learn more at geobluetravelinsurance.com/bcbsma or by calling 1-855-481-6647.

You should follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control or the U.S. State Department concerning personal travel outside of the United States.

The State Department provides guidance on travel at travel.state.gov and has advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel, and that U.S. citizens traveling abroad should return to the United States.

The CDC website provides regular updates and a global risk assessment of the virus.

Government officials haven't issued any guidance about domestic travel.