Stay at home, but make sure you still have what you need. | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Stay at home, but make sure you still have what you need.
Isolation at home is necessary to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19).
General HealthClinically Speaking
5 min read
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We know that you’re worrying about a lot of things right now. Isolation at home is necessary to fight Coronavirus (COVID-19). We want to make sure you understand what’s available to you while you take this important step, right from your home.
What is a “Shelter in Place” or a “Stay at Home” order?
Public health leaders are recommending that you stay at home as much as possible so that you don’t risk exposure to COVID-19 or expose others without knowing it. Some local governments are announcing a “Shelter in Place” order, which means that you must stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
Don’t panic: you’re allowed to leave home to get food at the grocery store, care for relatives, go to the doctor, take your pet to the vet, and pick up meds at the pharmacy. You can still go outside to take a walk with someone you live with, but you must keep at least six feet of distance between you and other people as much as possible.
Public or private gatherings outside a single household are not permitted. You won’t be allowed any non-essential travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, car, or public transit.
So only go out if you have to. Otherwise, don’t.
It is on all of us to fight this virus, and isolating at home is the safest way to do so. We want to make sure you understand exactly what is likely to be open in your community, and what staying at home means for you and your care.
How will I get my medications? What if my supply runs out?
You will still have access to your meds without leaving your house, and we can help:
Request a refill: You can get refills for many meds - up to 90 days for some - through Doctor on Call (opens in new tab) or by selecting “renew prescriptions” in the app. Please note, wait times for Doctor on Call are longer than usual during this time.
Refill limits: Oscar is waiving early refill limits on most prescription drugs at all in-network pharmacies.
CVS free home delivery: CVS Pharmacy offers free home delivery for all meds within 1-2 days. To transfer and refill your prescriptions with CVS, just call the Oscar/CVS hotline at (855) 796-7227.
With Doctor on Call, most Oscar members can talk to a doctor 24/7 for $0. Wait times are longer than usual right now, but rest assured we will get back to you as soon as possible. We suggest you select a consult via messaging and a dedicated group of providers will get back to you.
It is important that members who are very ill are able to get care, including virtual care, in order to minimize the risk that they will spread the virus to others. We encourage members who require prescriptions or do not need to see a provider in person to continue to stay home, and message a provider as needed.
If you have any of these symptoms, we suggest you contact Doctor on Call or your provider:
A fever of 104 degrees F or higher that does not decrease to at least 102 degrees with medications such as Tylenol
Difficulty breathing where you are not able to walk across a room without needing to stop, or worsening lightheadedness
If you are experiencing emergency symptoms, such as being unable to complete a sentence without gasping for air, have shortness of breath with lips turning blue, pass out or have an altered mental status (unusual confusion), please call 911 immediately
Doctor’s offices and hospitals are considered essential during Shelter in Place, and these facilities will remain open, although your provider might ask to reschedule elective procedures and surgeries at this time.
How can I get my DME (durable medical equipment)?
You can still get deliveries, and your Concierge team is always available to check on the status of your DME equipment. They can help you contact the vendor to schedule delivery. Get in touch with your Concierge team by sending them a message (opens in new tab) or calling 1-855-672-2755. Please note that our Doctor on Call doctors cannot prescribe DME equipment.
What kind of care should I consider postponing?
Many elective procedures and surgeries may be delayed during this time. If you’re not sure if an upcoming procedure you have can be delayed, we recommend talking to your doctor. Remember, emergency/first responders will continue to be available in case of emergency.
Life at Home
Places like shops, bars, hair salons, and fitness centers will be closed, but you’ll still have access to the most important things. Restaurants will remain open, but only for takeout and delivery. Taxis, Uber, Lyft, and public transit will continue running so you can use it to get food, medicine, or do other essential activities. In New York, do not take public transport unless urgent and absolutely necessary.
Will I be able to get food?
Grocery stores are staying open and most grocery and meal delivery services are still available. Many restaurants are still providing takeout or delivery. Some tips from U.S. News & World Report on where to order groceries and supplies can be found here (opens in new tab).
If you’re concerned about running out of food before you have enough money to restock, many local hunger relief organizations — including food pantries and non-profit organizations—are creating emergency plans to extend capacity.
