Published: July 14, 2020
LANSING, MI – As Michiganders and businesses continue to feel the financial impact of COVID-19, Physician Health Plan (PHP) is extending financial relief to its members and groups.
PHP will offer premium credits to small-market employer groups and members in its Medicare Advantage Plus plans. In addition, PHP is extending $0 member cost share on COVID-19 testing, treatment, and telehealth through Dec. 31, 2020.
“The recent COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted all aspects of our daily lives. Due to the sudden declines in our members accessing doctor visits and elective medical procedures, we are pleased to offer financial relief through premium credits,” said Dennis Reese, President and CEO of Physician Health Plan.
Based on updated financial projections for the year, PHP is passing along the savings in the following ways.
- PHP fully insured small group employers (2-50 employees) will receive a 15% credit for their for April and May premiums, which will be applied to their August 2020 premium invoices.
- PHP Medicare members who paid a premium greater than $0 per month for Sparrow Advantage Plus, Covenant Advantage Plus, or the PHP Advantage Plus plan in April and May 2020 will receive a 50% premium refund for those months, which will be issued in August.
- PHP will continue to evaluate the full effect of COVID-19 and work with regulatory agencies for consideration of other groups and individuals to receive premium credits.
“PHP and its staff, the majority of whom call Mid-Michigan home, are pleased that we can take this additional step in service to our members during of the greatest health and economic threats of our time,” Reese said.
Since the beginning of Michigan’s COVID-19 state of emergency, PHP committed to acting quickly to support members during this uncertain time. PHP continues to waive member cost share through Dec. 31, 2020, for in-network COVID-19 testing and treatment, and for telehealth provided through provider offices and its health plan-provided telehealth benefit through Amwell, which includes medical and mental health.
If any PHP member has a question about their health plan premium, benefit information, or how to access their telehealth benefit, they may call the customer service number on the back of their card.
For more information, go to phpmichigan.com.
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ABOUT PHYSICIANS HEALTH PLAN
Physicians Health Plan (PHP) began in 1980 when Sparrow Health System and a group of visionary physicians began developing Mid-Michigan’s first broad-based independent practice association. Today PHP remains a subsidiary of Sparrow and it has more than 3,100 practitioners and 31 hospitals participating in its provider network. PHP’s mission is to improve the health status of its members by facilitating access to quality, compassionate, accessible and cost-effective health services through organized health delivery systems. For more information about Physicians Health Plan, visit www.phpmichigan.com.
ABOUT SPARROW
Sparrow, a member of the prestigious Mayo Clinic Care Network, is Mid-Michigan’s premier health care organization that includes hospitals in Lansing, Charlotte, St. Johns, Ionia and Carson City as well as Physicians Health Plan, Sparrow Care Network, Sparrow Medical Group and the Michigan Athletic Club. Sparrow has a partnership with Michigan Medicine at the Sparrow Children’s Center and is affiliated with Michigan State University’s three human health colleges. Through these partnerships and the dedication of our 10,000 caregivers, Sparrow pursues a vision to be nationally recognized as a leader in quality and Patient experience. For more information, visit Sparrow.org.