South San Francisco, CA May 29, 2020 Submitted by Matt Skryja, Kaiser Permanente
Cost waiver extension eliminates out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 treatment, allowing impacted members to focus on their health and recovery
Kaiser Permanente has announced that it will extend its waiver for most member out-of-pocket costs for inpatient and outpatient services related to the treatment of COVID-19 through December 31, 2020. This waiver, put into effect on April 1 and originally set to expire on May 31, is intended to alleviate the cost burden and stress on impacted members of paying for care, allowing them to focus on recovery.
“Kaiser Permanente understands the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on our members and the communities we serve and is committed to ensuring they have access to the care they need during this time of crisis,” said Greg Adams, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. “This move aims to alleviate any stress about paying for care, as well as any hesitancy to seek needed care. The path forward through this pandemic must include identifying, treating and tracing as many cases of COVID-19 as possible as we work to suppress this virus.”
Kaiser Permanente’s elimination of member out-of-pocket costs applies to all fully insured benefit plans, in all markets, unless prohibited or modified by law or regulation. It will apply for all dates of service from April 1 through December 31, 2020, unless superseded by government action or extended by Kaiser Permanente. This waiver does not automatically apply to self-funded customers who directly administer health benefits to their employees. Kaiser Permanente has encouraged self-funded customers to adopt this change.
Kaiser Permanente suspended all terminations for non-payment of premium or out of pocket expenses from March 15 through May 31. In May, Kaiser Permanente further extended terminations for non-payment through June 30 for KP Individuals and Family and small group members.
This waiver does not automatically apply to self-funded customers who directly administer health benefits to their employees, and non-urgent or emergent out-of-network claims for tiered benefit product customers.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health.
Kaiser Permanente should discount its premiums for all members for as long as only its Emergency Rooms have been seeing patients. I have paid three months’ of premiums in advance, March, April, May, without being able to obtain the healthcare I need most, an eye exam and new prescription lenses and frames. It is unclear to me if dentists in the Advantage Plus network are seeing patients for non-emergency dental care. I was unable to obtain that information from the phone contact on my dental plan card.
Fortunately, I have been able to obtain help with minor medical concerns via the Kaiser Permanente physician message center. I believe Kaiser Permanente should reopen all of its clinics and resume providing all of its benefits to all of its members immediately. I believe I have less to fear from Covid-19 now than from the persistent delay and denial of my routine and urgent care by a health insurer that I once believed I could rely on.