AdministrativeCommercialApril 14, 2023

Help for members impacted by the winter storms emergency in California

This communication applies to Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plans from Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) in California.

We are making temporary changes to health plan benefits to provide relief for members who live in California and are impacted by the winter storms emergency. The changes are in effect for the following counties in California:
  • Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma, and Tulare counties ― March 1, 2023, through
    March 30, 2023
  • Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties ― March 8, 2023, through April 6, 2023
  • Calaveras, Del Norte, Glenn, Kings, San Benito, and San Joaquin counties ― March 12, 2023, through April 10, 2023
  • Alpine, Orange, and Trinity counties ― March 14, 2023, through April 12, 2023


The changes also apply to emergency responders who have been activated to the impacted area by their state or local agency but who do not live in the impacted area.

 

For assistance during this emergency, please call us at 833-285-4030

We are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. We can help members with finding available doctors, refilling prescription drugs, and other health plan questions.

 

Emergency or urgent care:

  • Members can receive emergency or urgent care from any doctor or hospital, even if they are not in their plan’s network. We will pay the claims as if they are in their plan’s network.
  • If a member’s doctor’s office or healthcare facility is closed because of the emergency, or if members are unable to travel there, they can call us at 833-285-4030. We can help them find another doctor.
  • If a member is in a care management program and needs to reach them, they can call 833-285-4030.


Prescription refills:

  • If a member’s Anthem plan covers their prescription medications, they can receive up to a 30-day emergency refill at any pharmacy now, even if it’s not in their plan’s network. 
  • If a member uses mail-order pharmacy and their address changed, they can call us at 833-285-4030 so we can make sure to send their medicine to the right place.  


Medical equipment that is lost or damaged:

  • We can help members replace their equipment (also called durable medical equipment or DME). They can call us at 833-285-4030.


Eyeglasses or contact lenses that are lost or damaged:

  • We can help members replace their eyeglasses or contact lenses. Members can call us at 833-285-4030.

 

Preapprovals or referrals:

  • Members have more time to request them. There won’t be any late fees. Members can call 833-285-4030 if you need an extension.


Filing a claim:

  • Members and their doctors have more time to file claims. Members can call us at 833-285-4030 if they need an extension.


Mental health or other additional support:

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers mental health support as well as resources on our website to help with legal and financial concerns and dependent-care needs. Members can call the EAP crisis line 24/7 at 877-208-8240 or go to anthemeap.com and use the log in: EAP Can Help.


Health plan premiums:

If members receive a bill directly from Anthem for their monthly insurance premium and are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the emergency, they have more time to pay their bill. Members can call us at 833-285-4030 to discuss options. These relaxed guidelines are in effect for the California counties listed above.

 

The changes also apply to emergency responders who have been activated to the impacted area by their state or local agency, but who do not live in the impacted area.

 

The time period for updated support and care may change based on the conditions. Please check back here for updates.

 

These changes are for members with Anthem group health plans through their employers, Anthem individual and family plans, Medi-Cal Managed Care, or Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement plans. These changes are not for Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans, which have their own guidelines.

 

If members need additional support, they can call us at 833-285-4030.

CABC-CDCRCM-022094-23