Employee Benefit Message

Wellness benefits can be triggered by COVID-19 testing as an eligible benefit if you have not previously exhausted the annual wellness benefits in your policy. This benefit can be triggered by a telemedicine visit. Generally, we will consider a telemedicine visit the same as an in-person visit to the doctor.

COVID-19 has not been classified as a specified disease in our critical illness product (CriticalEvents^®), but the testing for it is payable under the wellness benefit (see above).

Hospital indemnity products (TransChoice® Advance, TransChoice® Plus, Transamerica Provider Select®, and Hospital Select® II and III) will pay benefits for confinements related to a COVID-19 diagnosis as part of the benefits outlined in the policy. If you are under guidance from a physician at a hospital or alternative designated facility, we would consider this an eligible hospital indemnity claim. A government-ordered home quarantine doesn’t indicate you are under the care of a physician, therefore would not be eligible for claim payment.

Transamerica’s short term disability income insurance (TransDI Plus®) will provide benefits, once the sickness elimination period has been met, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and are unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or medical quarantine. If you are exhibiting signs of COVID-19 and are under guidance from a physician to self-isolate, you may be eligible for benefits under their disability policy. A government-ordered quarantine doesn’t indicate you are under the care of a physician.

Our Gap/TransConnect® product provides benefits to help cover COVID-19-related co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses for inpatient services covered under your major medical policy. Out-of-pocket expenses for select outpatient services may also be covered as listed under the terms of the policy.

Medicare Supplement insurance and retiree medical policies will help cover COVID-19-related out-of-pocket expenses from services offered by your Medicare policy.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) offers additional information about COVID-19, as well as a mobile app for looking up specific tests or services.

https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

https://www.medicare.gov/blog/whats-covered-mobile-app

Transamerica’s executive supplemental health insurance will help provide benefits for COVID-19 medical expenses for services covered within the policy, regardless of whether those are included in your major medical insurance.

Transamerica’s life insurance benefits apply as they would for any illness-related death, following normal policy limitations and exclusions. For policies that include the Waiver of Premium Due to Layoff or Strike Rider, we will waive the monthly premiums on the contract if you are laid off (provided the first premium on the contract has been paid). Monthly premiums will be waived starting on the first day of the month following the date of the initial layoff.*

File claims the way you normally would, based on the product guidelines; there isn’t anything special you need to provide for claims related to COVID-19. The easiest way is to register and log in to your account at tebcs.com to file an online claim.

Due to COVID-19, if you were furloughed on or after March 1, 2020, with a policy through another provider, we will consider you eligible for benefits through April 30, 2020, as long as premiums continue to be paid to Transamerica. We’ll continue to review the situation and will provide additional guidance as it becomes available.

Due to COVID-19, Transamerica will allow you to maintain eligibility for your benefits even if you fall below the minimum hours required threshold.

Transamerica is committed to ensuring customers are supported during this time, which includes keeping valuable coverage. We’ll be flexible on billing and will extend grace periods to keep coverage in place — you can pay back the premiums over time once you’re back at work.

Transamerica allows e-signatures of a wet signature as a general business practice. We will follow our standard rules for call center enrollments at this time. We accept Docusign or a similar technology, but a typed name with a date is not sufficient.

If the employee is on direct billing, they can increase their coverage with a completed application, including medical questions.

If you lose eligibility for any reason other than nonpayment of premiums, you can maintain your policy by paying your premiums directly to Transamerica within 31 days following the termination. We will bill you directly once we receive notification from your employer to continue this insurance.

• If we receive a partial payment or no payment for your premium while it's on the group billing statement, we will send a bill to your home address.

• If we receive no premium for two consecutive billing cycles, we will place the policy on direct pay for portable products or cancel the coverage for nonpayment.

Products are ported at the same rates and benefit levels. Your employer is required to notify you of your right to convert your insurances. This should be provided through either a written or mailed notice.