How BCBSND telehealth will work during the crisis

Medically necessary COVID-19-related telehealth visits are covered. 

Members can have COVID-19-related symptoms evaluated virtually, with no out-of-pocket costs.

Telehealth coverage for non-COVID-19 related visits has been expanded.

Because online doctor visits reduce the strain on our health care system and limit unnecessary spread of disease, telehealth coverage temporarily includes the following:

For self-funded groups:

For all urgent care visits, cost-shares are waived if using Amwell telehealth for care.  

For Fully insured group business:

We will waive cost-shares for telehealth visits for nearly all services whether provided by Amwell or a local provider’s telehealth service.

For the Federal Employee Program (FEP):

The Federal Employee Program (FEP) has expanded telehealth services to allow non-Teladoc telehealth services. Services performed by non-Teladoc providers and not related to COVID-19 will apply cost shares.

Services include things like:

  • Urgent care visits
  • Office visits for patients
  • Physical therapy (PT) plan evaluation
  • Speech therapy (ST) plan evaluation
  • Behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment
  • Diabetes education
  • Nutrition counseling 

Members can seek telehealth visits through local providers or Amwell

Employees have options for telehealth services. Many providers in the BCBSND network have a digital care option. Your employees’ regular providers may have a digital care option. Advise employees to check directly with their provider to learn about options available to them.

Another option is Amwell—our partner for telehealth services. They’ve long been offering live, on-demand video visits from a smartphone or computer, and users give them high regards.

First-time Amwell users complete a one-time enrollment.

The first time employees use the Amwell site, they’ll be asked to go through a simple enrollment process. During that process the system will ask them for a service key code. Fully insured employers should instruct employees to use the code “BCBSNDFI” in order to have cost-shares waived.