Independence is committed to serving the people who rely on us, especially
when a significant health risk may be present. Along with our fellow Blue
Cross® Blue Shield® plans across the country, we
are closely monitoring the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by the new
coronavirus (COVID-19) which was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province,
China. As always, we are here to provide the peace of mind of health care
coverage for our members, your patients, when they get sick.
Taking necessary precautions
If our members, your patients, would like information about specific
symptoms they are experiencing or have questions about their personal health,
we recommend that they contact their doctor.
While Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the current
COVID-19 a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the
immediate health risk from COVID-19 to the general American public is
considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness
precautions.
CDC is currently recommending that people avoid all nonessential travel to
China. As the situation continues to evolve, we recommend that members visit
the CDC traveler health site for the most updated
information about travel to China.
COVID-19 is getting a lot of attention in the media and is a serious global
health concern. It is also important to remember that influenza, or seasonal
flu, is a much more significant and immediate health concern for Americans. As
we have in previous years, Independence encourages all members to discuss
getting a flu shot with their doctor.
Learn more
For reliable information about COVID-19, we suggest visiting the CDC Coronavirus
(COVID-19) webpage.
As more information becomes available, we will communicate it through
Partners in Health UpdateSM and on our website.