COVID-19

Up-to-date questions and answers for your COVID-19 resources involving:

VACCINE INFORMATION

HEALTH & VISION BENEFITS

Where can I find up-to-date information on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine from LAwell healthcare providers?

Both Kaiser and Anthem have provided up-to-date information on COVID-19 resources through their websites, direct member communications, and network physicians. Employees can access updated information on COVID-19 through the Kaiser COVID-19 Resource website and the
Anthem COVID-19 Resource website.

How do I access COVID-19 related services from LAwell healthcare providers, Kaiser and Anthem?

Kaiser members should call 833-574-2273 if they have COVID-19 symptoms or believe they may have been exposed to the virus; they can go to kp.org/coronavirus for information and updates.

Anthem members should call their physician if they have COVID-19 symptoms or believe they have been exposed to the virus; members can visit anthem.com/ca/cityofla/ for information, updates, and guidance regarding accessing services from their network of providers.

Do Kaiser and Anthem offer telehealth services?

Yes.

Kaiser provides phone and video appointments at no cost to the member. In order to increase the number of patients they can treat, they’re offering more video and phone visits. Kaiser members can also complete an e-visit from the comfort of your home if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed. It will allow you to get quick guidance and online care from a Kaiser Permanente provider, including some prescriptions and 24/7 self-care advice — without a trip to your doctor’s office. Visit kp.org/getcare for more convenient ways to get care.

Anthem offers LiveHealth Online providing online video visits with a doctor 24/7 through a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a webcam; no appointment is needed. Anthem also offers a Coronavirus Assessment on the Sydney Care mobile app, which members can download (Apple App Store or Google Play) at no cost. The Coronavirus Assessment is based on CDC and NIH guidelines and designed to help individuals quickly evaluate their symptoms and assess their risk of having COVID-19. Based on the results, Anthem members will be able to connect directly to a board-certified doctor via text or secure two-way video via the Sydney Care app who can then recommend care options. Cost share will be waived for telehealth visits from Anthem’s telehealth provider, LiveHealth Online, for non-COVID-19 services through May 31, 2021. Cost-sharing will be waived for audio-only, in-network provider telephone only visits through May 31, 2021. The applicable copay or cost share will apply for care received from other providers delivering virtual care for physical and behavioral telehealth visits for health conditions.

View our Telehealth flyer.

What services will the City’s health plans cover related to COVID-19 testing and care?

Kaiser covers testing for COVID-19, and the care individuals receive if they’re diagnosed as having COVID-19. Kaiser members are not charged any out-of-pocket expenses for testing.

Anthem members are covered with no copays or cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing with in-network providers.  COVID-19 treatment is covered with no copays or cost-sharing through January 31, 2021, for in-network providers.

Where can I find up-to-date information on COVID-19 from EyeMed?

Log on to your personal EyeMed account at eyemedvisioncare.com/cityofla or visit EyeMed's COVID-19 updates website.

Can I still access my vision coverage benefits through EyeMed while COVID-19 stay at home and social distancing measures are in place?

Visiting a provider for in-person routine eye exams may vary in availability by provider and location. Visit EyeMed's COVID-19 updates website for more details. Filling orders for existing prescriptions can still be performed through online and telephonic services.

SUPPORT-PLUS EMPLOYEE & FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

What COVID-19 related support can I receive from Support-Plus Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)?

In addition to the free counseling services available to all LAwell members, Support Plus provides a free emotional support public crisis help line: (866) 342-6892. This line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to anyone for public crisis emotional support services.

Support Plus also offers a free COVID-19 Support website with resources and strategies for coping with grief or stress during COVID-19.

What is the Support-Plus Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)?

The Support-Plus EFAP offers a broad array of resources and services for LAwell Program members, including:

* Work-Life Resources on topics such as parenting, childcare, legal resources, and financial education
* Convenience Services for everyday needs such as finding household service providers
* Confidential Counseling for stress management, personal relationships, and substance abuse

How does Support-Plus EFAP work?

LAwell Program members are eligible for up to five face-to-face and/or web-video consultations per person, per incident. Same day counseling services are available for emergencies.

How do I access Support-Plus EFAP?

You can access Support-Plus EFAP representatives 24/7 at 800-213-5813 (access code: CityofLA). You can also visit LiveAndWorkWell.com/CityofLA to access a variety of educational resources, including a special resources page focused on COVID-19 support.

DENTAL BENEFITS

Can I still access my dental coverage benefits through Delta Dental while COVID-19 stay at home and social distancing measures are in place?

Members may wish to postpone some dental treatments where possible. Urgent dental care procedures can still be performed. Contact your dental office directly for current availability of procedures. For additional support, log into your Delta Dental Online Account or contact Delta Dental Customer Service at (PPO & Preventative: 800-765-6003) or (DHMO: 800-422-4234).

Where can I find up-to-date COVID-19 information from Delta Dental?

Visit Delta Dental's COVID-19 Resource page.

DISABILITY & LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS

Will disability insurance benefits cover an employee who is off work due to COVID-19?

An employee is eligible to file a disability insurance claim for an illness related to COVID-19. All LAwell program members are eligible for the City’s base disability insurance benefits. Or if elected when hired or during Open Enrollment, supplemental disability coverage, which pays a higher benefit. Learn more about your disability insurance benefits. To start a disability claim, call 844-505-6025.

Group Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Disability coverage normally ends when you lose eligibility because you are no longer working the required minimum number of hours or you are on an unpaid leave of absence. However, as an accommodation to insured members during this time of uncertainty, subject to continued payment of unreduced premium, your coverages can be continued through June 30, 2021, while you are not working due to a partial or full furlough or temporary layoff that started on or after March 1, 2020. The Standard is continually monitoring the situation and we will update the potential extensions as needs evolve.

Am I still eligible for Short Term Disability benefits if I am placed under quarantine, but have not been diagnosed with illness?

There are a wide variety of scenarios under which you may be quarantined, ranging from a voluntary self-quarantine without a COVID-19 diagnosis to a mandated quarantine with a diagnosis.

If an individual is quarantined as directed by a licensed health care professional or government agency, Standard will assess a claim for benefits as follows:

* If the individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is unable to work from home, they will remain insured and eligible under the group STD policy.

* If the individual has not been diagnosed and is unable to work from home, they will retain coverage and eligibility under the STD policy should they eventually become disabled.

It is important to remember that under most STD policies a covered individual must be unable to work, either at their place of employment or from home, and must experience a loss of income to be eligible for STD benefits in all cases.

Where can I find more information?

Visit the City of Los Angeles microsite for Standard Insurance Company's COVID-19 FAQ website.

TAX-ADVANTAGED ACCOUNTS

What changes have occurred as a result of COVID-19?

The Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service have issued guidance providing additional flexibility to employees in employer sponsored benefit programs. Visit the 2020 Mid-Year benefit election options FAQ to learn more.

In addition, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allows over-the-counter drugs and medicines without a prescription along with menstrual care products purchased on or after January 1, 2020 to be eligible for reimbursement from a healthcare flexible spending account (HCFSA). If you have an active HCFSA account and purchased an over-the-counter drug or a menstrual care product on or after January 1, 2020, you may submit a reimbursement claim to WageWorks. If you previously submitted a claim for these items and were denied, you may either resubmit the claim or contact WageWorks about appealing the denial. Visit Wageworks or call 877-924-3967.

How can I find more information on CARES Act changes?

Enrolled 2020 HCFSA account holders received an announcement email from Wageworks explaining the CARES Act change. Visit the HeatlhEquity COVID-19 Regulatory Updates website to learn more. HealthEquity is the Wagerworks parent company.

BENEFITS COVERAGE DURING PERIODS OF ABSENCE OR A REDUCTION OF WORKING HOURS

What happens to my health and other benefits if I’m off of work due to illness?

The LAwell Program provides subsidies for your health, dental, vision, basic disability, and basic life insurance benefits. An employee must have minimum of compensated hours (40 hours for full-time employees and 20 hours for half-time employees) per pay period for the LAwell Program to continue to pay subsidies. Compensated hours include hours worked, banked sick or vacation time, and other qualifying hours. Employees may pay additional amounts for health, dental, disability, and life insurance if they have elected benefit coverages above the LAwell Program’s subsidies.

In most instances during periods of short-term absence, so long as an employee has compensated hours, coverage will continue. However, if an employee is off due to illness, has filed a disability claim and had that claim approved by the City’s disability insurance provider, The Standard Insurance Company, City subsidies will continue through the LAwell Program’s Benefit Protection Plan. The Benefits Protection Plan continues subsidies for any LAwell medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance coverage an employees had as an active employee for up to two years of disability. Employees are required to pay the coverage cost they paid as an active employee, if any, plus any costs for dependent coverage. The Benefit Protection Plan is not for work-related injuries or for individuals who have terminated or retired from City service for any reason.

Additionally, employees who have a department-approved Family Medical Leave, under the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), will continue to have City subsidies applied to their benefits during the duration of their approved FMLA status, regardless of their amount of compensated hours. Employees must apply for FMLA with their department’s Human Resource section.

What happens to my health and other benefits if I’m not eligible for City subsidies via any City program or benefit?

If an employee is not eligible for City subsidies via any City program or benefit (off of work without either (a) sufficient compensated time; (b) approved disability claim/Benefits Protection Plan coverage; or (c) Family Medical Leave coverage), LAwell Program benefits can continue if the employee pays the full premium cost for coverage. These employees will receive a bill for these costs with instructions on making payments. Timely payment of benefit premium is necessary in order to avoid termination of coverage.

What happens to my LAwell benefits if I'm working, but my work schedule changes?

An employee will receive a bill for the full premium cost in any pay period where an employee does not:

  1. maintain a minimum of compensated hours (40 hours for full-time employees and 20 hours for half-time employees)
  2. have Family Medical Leave or Benefit Protection Plan status

The City subsidy paid towards employee benefits is not eligible for any pay period where the about two conditions are not met. Employees not meeting the above criteria will receive a bill each pay period for all applicable premium costs with instructions on making payments. Timely payment of benefit premium is necessary in order to avoid termination of coverage.

As a new employee how quickly can I enroll in benefits?

Generally, most new employees are able to elect their benefits during the week they expect to receive their first paycheck for which they:

  1. have worked the minimum number of compensated hours (40 hours for full-time employees and 20 hours for half-time employees),
  2. are contributing LACERS members, and
  3. are employed in a job classification authorized to receive LAwell benefits.

If you have questions regarding your benefit eligibility as a new hire, please visit our Employee Benefits Contacts page.

If I return to regular working status, how quickly can I regain my benefits?

Employees returning to work, or resuming regular working hours, during the same calendar year are generally reinstated into their prior benefit elections automatically. This reinstatement will occur once the LAwell program confirms that all of the following benefit eligibility requirements are met:

  1. Employee worked the minimum number of compensated hours (40 hours for full-time employees and 20 hours for half-time employees),
  2. Employee is an active contributing LACERS members, and
  3. Employee remains employed in a job classification authorized to receive LAwell benefits.

Employee reinstatement is an automatic process tied to City payroll processing. No further action from the employee is required.

I received a bill. Who can I talk to?

General questions about bills can made to the LAwell Benefits Service Center at 833-4LA-WELL (833-452-9355) Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm.

THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE!
WELLNESS SUPPORT AND TIPS FOR A STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM

Strategies for avoiding coming in contact with COVID-19 are important and something each one of us should observe. Equally important is supporting your overall wellness because that in turn supports your immune system – your primary defense against illness. There has never been a more important moment than this one to get serious about optimizing your personal health through common-sense wellness approaches. Following are just a few of the most important and practical tips to help support your immune system:

STRESS REDUCTION

Turn on your relaxation response – The human body doesn’t function well when it’s chronically stressed, and certainly these are stressful times. Stress hormones tell the body to focus on “fight or flight” rather than normal processes, like repair and defending the body against infection. If you’re feeling stress, try being intentional about turning on your relaxation response – signaling your body that it’s okay to relax. There are many ways you can do this – taking a walk, enjoying a relaxing bath, meditation, or listening to calming music are just a few of the ways to turn off the stress switch. Review this brief discussion from the American Psychological Association regarding how stress impacts our health.

NUTRITION

Eat nutritious foods and boost your intake of vegetables – The human body, including the immune system, is impacted by the foods we eat. If you’re confused by dietary advice from media sources, keep it simple – focus on foods that are dense in nutrients, as close to “whole” (meaning unprocessed) as possible, and loaded with vegetables. Kaiser has a convenient resource open to all LAwell Program members, kp.org/foodforhealth, providing valuable nutrition guidance as well as many nutritious and delicious recipes.

EXERCISE

Conduct a daily exercise routine – Exercising the body is great for many reasons, but one of the most valuable benefits cardiovascular exercise provides is reducing stress levels so that healing and immune-supporting functions can operate as they’re supposed to. Check out this overview from LAwell Program provider Anthem discussing how exercise can be medicine.

SLEEP

Get a full night’s sleep every night - Consistently getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most powerful ways to support your immune system. The body uses sleeping time to heal, restore, and strengthen its defenses. While the necessary amount of sleep varies from person to person, most adults need seven to eight hours a day. Check out this information from the Cleveland Clinic with helpful guidance regarding getting enough sleep.

For more health-supporting tips and resources, and to develop your own personalized wellness program, please enroll with LIVEwell.la. This unique resource was created to provide you with a fun, web-based tool for creating your own wellness strategy. After completing a brief WellCheck questionnaire, LIVEwell.la generates a personalized set of recommended health activities, and you can choose others that other interest you as well. A community feed allows you to share information with other City employees. Stay connected and stay strong!