Free COVID Test Kit Program Relaunched

To prepare for the cold, flu and COVID season, the Biden-Harris Administration relaunched the program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans. As of Monday, September, 25, all US households can place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests.

The at-home tests are completely free and are expected to ship starting October 2, 2023. The post office expects to deliver orders 7-10 business days after they are placed. People can use the tests now until the end of 2023.

If you need help placing an order, call 1-800-232-0233.

Why was the program restarted? 

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on September 20 that it would relaunch the program to increase domestic production of at-home test kits. This keeps stock high in stores and in homes.

“Manufacturing COVID-19 tests in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, reduces our reliance on other countries, and provides good jobs to hardworking Americans,” said Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell.

The program is meant to make it easy for Americans to test for COVID in their own homes. Testing and prevention helps slow the spread of the virus during peak season. 

Related post: Tips to stay healthy during cold and flu season

What type of tests will arrive? 

Anyone who places an order will receive four rapid at-home antigen tests. These tests are easy to use, and people get results quickly. People can be take them anywhere and the test is complete in no more than 30 minutes.

Keep in mind rapid tests work best when a person has symptoms of the virus. However, they can be used as a first precautionary step, if a person is sick or has been exposed to the virus. 

When should I test for COVID?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people test if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever.

People should test at least five days after they’ve come into close contact with someone with the virus, even if they don’t have symptoms. The CDC also recommends people perform tests for multiple days, if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with the virus. 

If you or a family member tests positive, you can follow the see the latest CDC guidelines for isolation and/or wearing a mask. 

Does health insurance cover at-home COVID tests?

Insurance companies are required to reimburse for over-the-counter COVID test kits. They are required to cover up to eight tests per person, per month. It applies to all at-home tests covered under the emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

Contact your insurance company directly with any questions about this coverage. 

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021

ClaimLinx releases Compensation Disclosure as part of CAA

ClaimLinx distributed its Broker Compensation Disclosure as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This is statement about the funds ClaimLinx received as a health insurance broker in 2022. You can see the general statement here. If you are a client, a detailed version of the compensation disclosure is available in the Private Portal. If you are not a client and would like to request detail on specific compensation, you may request that by contacting commissions_admin@claimlinx.com.

What is the broker compensation disclosure requirement and what does it do?

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 was a spending and relief package for the Coronavirus but it also included an expansion of existing disclosure requirements through the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act (ERISA). Before, agencies only had to release information about retirement plans. Now, insurance agencies and brokers must disclose compensation for all group plans. Lawmakers created the provision to help address the high cost of health care and health insurance by increasing transparency.

Where can employers find the ClaimLinx Compensation Disclosure?

ClaimLinx posted its basic compensation disclosure statement on the website. The detailed Broker Compensation statement is available on the private portal under the ClaimLinx Resource Documents folder. There, clients can review specific compensation from insurance companies. You may contact commissions_admin@claimlinx.com with any questions about figures.

Do administrators need to do anything with the form after reviewing it?

No, there is no requirement for clients to do anything with the disclosure statement. On page 4 of the document, there is a section for Client Acknowledgement. Clients may sign and return the form through the portal. However a signature is not required.

What should clients know about ClaimLinx’s compensation from insurance plans?

ClaimLinx receives varying amounts for the insurance plans it implements for clients. But that does not include all plans. The primary factor when choosing plans is client savings so our Sales Team sometimes foregoes the opportunity for additional compensation from the insurance company so the plan cost stays low. Rest assured, savings remains the primary concern when choosing benefit plans for clients.

Who do I contact with questions about the disclosure?

If you have any questions, you can always start a Live Chat with a team member. Or contact the Service Team at service@claimlinx.com or (513) 677-0217.

ClaimLinx office closed for 4th of July

The ClaimLinx office will be closed on Monday, July 4 to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. All inquiries will be returned as soon as possible upon our return.

We hope all our clients and members are able to enjoy the holiday safely with loved ones. Our staff will be grilling, hanging by the pool, travelling to see family and generally trying to stay cool. What are you doing for the holiday? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Facts about American Independence Day

  • The Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. That’s why we celebrate on that date.
  • Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Philadelphia.
  • The first signee of the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock

Facts about Celebrating July 4th

  • The oldest 4th of July Parade happens in Bristol, Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts was the first state to recognize the 4th of July as a holiday
  • Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show is the biggest fireworks display of the holiday.
  • The 4th of July did not have common celebrations until after the War of 1812.

Fun actives to do to celebrate

  • Make patriotic desserts
  • Have a backyard movie with family and friends
  • Go camping in your background
  • Have a game night
  • Make crafts with your kids
  • Watch fireworks
  • Spend the weekend on the water

We encourage all of our members and clients to stay safe while celebrating the holiday and we look forward to working with you again when our office is open.

Clogged emergency departments highlight need for alternative fees

Emergency departments were never meant for routine visits for people with chronic conditions, but in the absence of coordinated care, confused patients have turned to them when they don’t know where else to go.

Now, people with six common chronic conditions make up about 60 percent of all emergency room visits, according to a report released this year by Premier. Of those visits, about one third of them were likely preventable and accounted for $8.3 billion in additional costs for the industry.

This information came as no surprise to industry experts but highlights the need for the healthcare industry to rethink its service environment as a way of managing costs. Currently, about 90 percent of providers use a fee-for-service payment structure, which means that most people, especially those with chronic conditions, receive health services from a variety of providers with no single party coordinating care.

This style of care is not only confusing for patients but can also be dangerous and expensive. Fragmented care is associated with communication gaps, more hospital admissions, poorer outcomes and higher costs.

The problem only becomes worse for people with more than one chronic condition. Patients with one to two chronic conditions and highly fragmented care were 13 percent more likely to visit an emergency room and 14 percent more likely to require a hospital admission.

Fixing the issue would require a shift to a value-based model, in which a chronically ill patient receives care in a coordinate way that helps manage disease progress and promotes wellness. That way patients are guided through the management and/or treatment process rather than having to guess or piece together a picture of how ideal care would look.

“More and more providers are convinced that the future is going to be value-based payment, said Joe Damore, senior vice president of population health consulting at Premier, who produced the report.

The study looked at data from 24 million emergency department visits at 747 hospitals within Premier’s database.

Until the model changes, however, it’s important patients be their own advocates and consider the cost of an emergency room visits before going. Remember that managing a chronic condition is a learning process. There is no shame in asking questions.

We recommend to our members to ask their physicians as much as they can about what to do when a complication or issue arises. Try to remember that the emergency room was never meant to be a go-to first step in receiving care. They are set up for urgent visits when treatment is needed immediately. That can sometimes mean being proactive and aware of a provider’s regular hours.

Have a happy healthy summer with these tips

It’s officially summer. That means longer days, more sunshine and hopefully more time to enjoy friends, family and the outdoors. This year, start your summer off right with these quick tips for making the most of this sweet, sunny season.

Tips for enjoying the home – Use this summer to reclaim joy in your home and your town.

  • Rediscover your yard – Sometimes all the nature you need is right in your own backyard. Have dinner as a picnic, plan a Friday night camp out, or even rent or buy a projector for an open-air movie night.
  • Be a tourist in your town – All residents have places in their towns where they might go if they were a tourist, but have never gone as a local. Try a new restaurant, go to the town museum, finally make it out to the summer fair or festival. You might even find a new favorite place along the way.
  • Channel your inner child – Think back to when summer was full of endless possibilities and reclaim that feeling by bringing a little silliness into your life. Plan a trip to the local water or amusement park, go to the park up the street, mow a maze into your lawn or start a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. Just make sure it’s something that makes you smile.

Tips for enjoying vacation – Family trips are fun, but they can also be stressful and exhausting.

  • Think small and more often – The temptation to make every trip “once in a lifetime” can be intoxicating, but big trips aren’t any more fun or memorable than smaller ones. For your next trip, take the pressure off by planning something easy to get to and less expensive. You might even be able to take more than one vacation that way.
  • Enjoy the planning phase – Anticipation of a trip can sometimes be just as fun as the trip itself: picturing yourself on vacation, reading up on new foods or activities, talking to others about what you want to do. Revel in this process as much as you can, it can only make the enjoyment of the trip more fun.
  • Manage your expectations – Try not to fantasize too much about your trip. You may need to work while you’re out, have a long drive ahead, need to corral children to different locations, do housework. Know these activities are in your future, accept it and focus on the joy that surrounds these less pleasurable activities.

No matter what’s in your future this summer, the best advice is always to try make the most of each moment. Take time for yourself, your friends and your family.