As Americans continue to fight the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, health insurance providers have been at the forefront of the response, taking decisive action to keep Americans safe and healthy. Forbes has recognized their contributions, ranking several health insurance providers in a list of top employer responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The top 25 list included AHIP members Anthem, Centene, Cigna, and CVS Health.
Health insurance provider actions have been extensive – from covering the costs of COVID-19 treatments, to supporting front-line health care workers, to ensuring people have food to eat, to supporting local relief funds. Centene, for example, has donated 1 million meals a month for the next year through Feeding America, and Cigna has providing drug to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to start a clinical trial that evaluating antimalarial and antibiotic treatments for COVID-19.
Newer policies are also providing additional paid time off for employees and instituting flexible dependent care arrangements. Cigna has given employees 10 days of emergency paid time off, and CVS Health is giving employees access to back-up child care through Bright Horizons.
Whether in the form of grants, donations, or investments, health insurance providers have been working every day to stabilize and reinvigorate their local communities. Our industry will continue to take action, helping patients get the testing and treatment they need, helping partners meet capacity challenges, helping businesses and their employees continue their coverage, and helping policymakers implement effective solutions.
Together, we can and will defeat and overcome the COVID-19 crisis.