As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, there remain many questions but there are also many answers.

Prevention: The best way to prevent serious illness due to COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. More than 500 million doses and 10 months of data show that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious disease and death:

• Being vaccinated reduces your risk of COVID-19 infection by up to 95%.
• If you do get a breakthrough infection, your symptoms are highly likely to be much less severe.
• Vaccination reduces your risk of being hospitalized (or requiring ICU treatment) by 80% or more.

Preventive vaccines are covered at 100% by your health plan, including the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. There is no cost to you.

To schedule an appointment for your vaccine , go to: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

For more general COVID-19 vaccine information, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html.

COVID-19 variants continue to circulate with a high level of transmission. Please get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Mitigation:

There are many things that you should do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you or someone around you does become infected:

• Wear a mask (anyone over age 2) in indoor public places if you are not fully vaccinated or are fully vaccinated in an area with substantial or high transmission or if you have a weakened immune system.
• Get tested immediately if you have any symptoms: fever (100.4 F or above), cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, decreased appetite, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, and occasionally gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Isolate for 5 days if you are sick or test positive even if you do not have symptoms, to reduce the likelihood that you’ll spread the disease to others. Contact your doctor for advice. Get immediate medical attention if you have difficulty breathing. Wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• Notify your close contacts if you test positive. A close contact is anyone who was less than 6 feet away from you for at least 15 minutes while you may have been infectious.
• If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, quarantine for 5 days if you are unvaccinated OR are not up to date on your vaccinations. Get tested as soon as possible. Watch for symptoms and wear a mask around others for at least 10 days.

For more information, go to the Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/index.html.

Treatment: We ask everyone to follow the recommendations of the CDC. If you have a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, you are encouraged to call a healthcare provider first to be assessed and for help with next steps, if necessary, to minimize the risk of spread of COVID-19 and other viruses like the flu.

• Teladoc: see a doctor from the comfort of your own home through Teladoc. A Teladoc doctor can evaluate your risk and help with next steps, if necessary, while minimizing the risk of spread of COVID-19 and other viruses such as the flu.
  • No cost to you
  • Available 24/7
  • By phone: 1-800-TELADOC (835-2362)
  • Online: Teladoc.com/Aetna
  • Download the app: Apple Store and Google Play
  • Teladoc: Tips to Stay Healthy
  • Teladoc: What to Know about the COVID-19 Variants

• The Coalition Health Centers: To make an appointment, go to coalitionhealthcenter.com or call.
  • Anchorage CHC – 907-264-1370
  • Fairbanks CHC – 907-450-3300
  • Mat-Su Valley (Wasilla) 907-206-4601

• Call your regular provider

Maintaining your Mental Well-being: If you are feeling anxious, isolated or depressed, don’t forget that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Aetna Resources for Living, is available to you 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. You can have up to six free counseling sessions per year. Your medical plan also provides coverage for mental health services. Click here to learn more

• If you are experiencing a behavioral health emergency or are feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 988 (available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week)

Benefit Coverage: Benefits for treatment of COVID-19 will be treated like any infectious disease or illness.

Beginning November 23, 2023, you are eligible to order four (4) free at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government at https://www.covid.gov/tests. If you require more than four (4) at-home COVID-19 tests and you are enrolled in a HCRA, you may request reimbursement from your HCRA account for the cost of over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests you purchase.

Vaccine Coverage: The COVID-19 vaccine is covered by your health plan at 100% (no deductible required).

Where can you find more information about COVID-19: You may find more information on Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, or the Alaska Department of Health and Social Service’s (DHSS) website.