Anthem Blue Cross Supports Community Amid Southern California Fires

Anthem Blue Cross is making temporary changes to health plan benefits to provide relief and ensure healthcare access for members who live in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in California and are impacted by the Palisades wildfire and windstorm conditions. The changes are in effect from January 7th through February 5th, 2025.

The changes also apply to emergency responders who have been activated to the impacted area by their state or local agency, but who do not live in the impacted area.
For assistance during this emergency, please call 833-285-4030.

They can help make sure access to healthcare is available. They can help with finding available doctors, refilling prescription drugs, and other health plan questions. They’re available by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT.

Receiving care during the emergency

• Members can receive care from any doctor or hospital, even if they are not in their plan’s network. Anthem Blue Cross will cover the claims as if they are in the plan’s network.
• If a doctor’s office or healthcare facility is closed because of the emergency, or if our member is unable to travel there, call 833-285-4030. They can also help find another doctor.
• If a member is in a care management program and need to reach them, the contact number is 833-285-4030.

Prescription drug refills

• If their Anthem plan covers their prescription medicines, they can receive up to a 30-day emergency refill at any pharmacy now, even if it’s not in their plan’s network. 
• If they use Anthem’s home delivery pharmacy and their address changed, call 833-285-4030 so Anthem Blue Cross can make sure to send the medicine to the right place.

Medical equipment that is lost or damaged

• Anthem can help replace equipment (also called durable medical equipment or DME). Call 833-285-4030.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses that are lost or damaged: Anthem can help you replace eyeglasses or contact lenses. Call 833-285-4030.

Preapprovals or referrals: Members have more time to request them. There won’t be any late fees. Call 833-285-4030 if an extension is needed.

Filing a claim: Members and their doctors have more time to file claims. Call 833-285-4030 if an extension is needed.
 
Health plan premiums: If members receive a bill directly from Anthem for their monthly insurance premium and are experiencing financial difficulties because of the emergency, they have more time to pay their bill. Please call 833-285-4030 to discuss options.

Mental health support 

• Anthem’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers mental health support and resources to help with legal and financial concerns, dependent-care needs, and other life challenges. Call the 24/7 EAP crisis line at 877-208-8240. 
• The Anthem website also offers resources for mental health support.
• Crisis support is available if a member or someone they know is having suicidal thoughts or behavior, is experiencing emotional distress, or is behaving in a way that could harm others. Call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the confidential Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7.

In addition to the above, Anthem is taking the following steps on behalf of their members:

• Activating business continuity procedures to ensure continued access to care for impacted members. Please refer to https://www.anthem.com/ca for more information on how they’re working to help our members. 
• Identifying members who may be medically impacted by smoke and fire. 
• Coordinating with providers (e.g., hospitals and nursing homes) to assist in the event of site closures.

Anthem is also offering free access to its online health option, LiveHealth Online to anyone living in the impacted area. LiveHealth Online offers video visits with U.S.-based board-certified doctors on a mobile device or computer from anywhere for non-emergency health conditions. The free visit offer will be available through the end of the state of emergency. 

Important Notes:

• The timing and locations for these relaxed guidelines may change based on conditions. Please check https://www.anthem.com/ca for updates.
• These changes are for impacted members who reside in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in California and who have Anthem group health plans through their employers, or Anthem individual and family plans. They do not apply to Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans, or fully insured trust funds. These plans have their own guidelines.
• Anthem’s Specialty lines of business do not include any pharmacy coverage. Therefore, this specific requirement about a 30-day emergency prescription refill is not applicable.  All other requirements will apply to Specialty.