New Virtual Care Program is Coming

  • Large Group News
    Published May 20, 2019

    For fully insured groups with 51 or more employees, including OptiFlex groups, who have selected a preferred telehealth vendor.

    Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska is committed to improving the way our members experience healthcare by providing innovative solutions that deliver value and better health outcomes. That’s why we are introducing a new virtual care program we are testing called myCare Alaska*.

    myCare Alaska gives your employees secure access to an in-network, board-certified, emergency medicine physician via text or online chat—without the wait. A myCare physician can help answer your employees’ questions about their condition, advise them of the most appropriate place to receive care, write prescriptions when needed, and even refer them to a specialist.

    The program is available starting June 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, to all fully insured and OptiFlex employers with 51 or more employees at no additional cost or premium increase. During this six-month initial trial period, we will use the experiences and feedback of our customers to refine the program.

    Answers to frequently asked questions

    Is there a cost to my business or employees to use myCare Alaska?
    • myCare Alaska is available at no cost to fully insured and OptiFlex employers with 51 or more employees.
    • myCare Alaska Alaska services are free for your employees and their eligible dependents to use.
    • If a prescription is appropriate for the member, the physician will let them know what they recommend. The physician will also explain to the member that if they write the prescription the conversation will be considered a telehealth visit. Teleheath visit cost shares, per the member’s plan design, will apply. The member can decide at this point to continue with having the prescription written or not. A member will never pay more than $45 dollars for this type of telehealth visit.
    When should my employees use myCare Alaska? Your employees should use myCare Alaska when:
    • They are sick or have a minor injury that is not a life-threatening medical issue**
    • They have general medical questions or want peace of mind
    • They are unaware where to go to receive care
    • They need a routine prescription refill (excluding controlled substances)
    • They are not able to see a physician in-person or use another telehealth service
    • They find texting or online chat preferable or more convenient
    How do my employees and their eligible dependents access myCare Alaska?
    • Your employees can access myCare Alaska via their mobile device or computer, regardless of where they are.
      • For mobile access, download the myCare Alaska app for iOS or Android
      • For other access, go to mycarealaska.com
    • Regardless of the device used, registration is required to access myCare Alaska. Registration is easy and takes less than two minutes to complete. Once your employee creates a username and password, they can instantly connect with a doctor.
    • myCare Alaska physicians are included in the Alaska Global Network, Alaska Heritage Plus, and Alaska Heritage Select provider networks.
    • myCare Alaska physicians are available 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. Alaska Time, seven days a week.
    How is myCare Alaska different from other virtual care programs provided by Premera? Unlike other virtual care programs, myCare Alaska:
    • Is available via text or online chat
    • Offers services provided by board-certified emergency room physicians
    How will Premera notify members about myCare Alaska? Starting the first week of June, eligible members will receive texts, emails, or postcards from Premera or myCare Alaska introducing the service. Premera will only text members who have previously given permission to receive texts from Premera.

    More to come

    Watch for an email that you can send your employees in an upcoming Employer News.

     

    *CirrusMD is an independent company that provides virtual medical care services on behalf of Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska.

    **In the case of a life- or limb-threatening situation, 911 should always be called.

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