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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.

Three vaccines, one made by Pfizer/BioNTech, another by Cambridge-based Moderna and a third by Johnson & Johnson, have received emergency use authorization (EAU) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are being administered to people across the country.

An EUA provides quicker access to critical medical products —like medicines and tests— when there are no other adequate, approved, and available options.

While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two separate doses that are given three to four weeks apart, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose. All three vaccines have shown strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19, and may reduce the spread of the virus by vaccinated people. For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine you need both doses for the vaccine to be fully effective.

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.

While vaccines are being distributed now in most states for those deemed high risk for complications from COVID-19, vaccines should be widely available to the public in the late spring/early summer of 2021.

For vaccine distribution plans in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov. For our out-of-state members, please visit your state's health department website. 

The vaccines authorized for use 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 safety as these vaccines are administered

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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.

When it's your turn to get vaccinated, you'll need to make an appointment, to confirm your vaccine eligibility and to maintain capacity limits at the vaccination site.

To find a public vaccination site in Massachusetts and schedule your appointment, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov. Before you schedule your vaccination, check your eligibility to get the vaccination as outlined by the state’s phased vaccination plan at the Massachusetts Department of Health website. Or, if you live outside of Massachusetts, check your state's health department website. If you're 75+ and living in Massachusetts, you can also call 211 for help scheduling an appointment.

There is incredible demand for vaccines. The appointment website is extremely busy and may at times be unavailable. We recommend you be patient and visit the site often.

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.

Vaccines are usually tested on adults first and if found to be safe, then clinical trials involving children begin. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for those as young as 16. Moderna's vaccine Is authorized for people 18 and older.

Clinical trials are currently underway for children as young as 12, the results of which will be reviewed by the FDA.

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness if infected with the coronavirus.

If you're not feeling well, please 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.

When it if your turn, get vaccinated. Your loved ones need you. Get the COVID-19 vaccine to make sure you can be there for them. You should follow the guidance of your doctor, the governor, and federal and state health experts: avoid large gatherings, work from home if your business allows it, and practice social distancing – keeping six feet away from people you don’t know. Avoid travel. This will help slow the spread of the disease.

For the latest information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, click here.

Our doctors and most clinicians recommend that everyone should take basic precautions to avoid infection with any virus:

• Wear a mask or face covering in public
• 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

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

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:

• https://www.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.bluecrossma.com.

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 does not cover routine screenings to determine an individual’s fitness to return to work; for purposes of travel; to attend school, daycare, or camp or for public health surveillance purposes.

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

Blue Cross does not cover tests related to travel, including the governor of Massachusetts's recent guidance related to travel.

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 does not cover tests:

• Requested for general screening purposes such as return to work; clearance to travel; or attend school, day care, or camp; or for public health or 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 are not 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.

Effective March 16, 2020, and for the duration of the Massachusetts state of emergency, you may receive all medically necessary covered services from an in-network provider via telehealth or by telephone.*

We're waiving all member cost share (copayments, co-insurance, or deductibles) for members who receive care via, phone, video, or telehealth in place of an office visit, for COVID-19– and non-COVID-19–related services received from an in-network provider.*

You're temporarily eligible to receive services by telephone or other chat application if available from your provider.

Well Connection Telehealth Visits

Many members may also have an existing telehealth benefit included as part of the Blue Cross health plan. For members with this telehealth benefit, we're waiving cost-sharing for telehealth visits conducted through Well Connection. To find out if you're covered, call Member Service at 1-800-262-BLUE (2583), or sign in to MyBlue and click Review My Benefits. Be sure to include your insurance information when registering for Well Connection.

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 minor ailments or questions. Call the 24/7 Nurse Line at 1-888-258-3432 or learn more.”

For Medicare HMO Blue and Medicare PPO Blue members:

Effective January 1, 2021, Telehealth visits will include a member cost share as described in the Evidence of Coverage.

*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 minor ailments or questions. 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 www.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. There will be no member cost-share up to the member's existing annual dollar maximum. 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 https://www.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 physician 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.

Members being told Blue Cross isn't allowing early refills can call Member Service at the number on their member ID card, for help while at the pharmacy.

We're working with our pharmacy network to make sure the pharmacies understand this change.

The pharmacist can also call the Express Scripts Pharmacy Help Desk at 1-800-922-1557.

Please remember: pharmacies and the provider who wrote the prescription can maintain these limits at their discretion.

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 https://www.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.