The Mississippi Department of Insurance wants to answer your coronavirus questions.
There are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in Mississippi, but the Department of Health stated that several Mississippi residents have been tested. There have been many questions regarding the cost and coverage of the exam, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney issued the following response.
“The MID has communicated with the major health insurance carriers in the state regarding this issue. It appears that the major carriers, including Aetna, Ambetter, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Molina, and United Healthcare, will waive the cost of medically necessary COVID-19 testing when ordered by a licensed, authorized healthcare provider. However, carriers encourage consumers to carefully read your benefit plan or call your carrier to determine what will be covered,” Chaney said.
Travel plans have been affected by the spread of the virus as it has now been confirmed around the country and the globe. Chaney says that when it comes to being reimbursed for canceled plans, it will all depend on your travel insurance policy.
“You should carefully read your travel insurance policy to determine if pandemics, such as coronavirus, are covered. You may also call the insurance company to figure out what’s covered under your policy. Every provider offers different insurance options that can vary depending on what you’ve selected. You may also be able to upgrade to a more comprehensive plan. Cancel for any reason policies exist, but are usually much more expensive than the standard travel policy,” he stated.
The Mississippi Insurance Department is happy to assist in answering your questions. For help, call 1-800-562-2957 or email consumer@mid.ms.gov
The state continues to monitor the spread of the virus, which is now in surrounding states like Tennessee and Louisiana.
