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January 11, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Health insurers are trying to do their part to keep the current U.S. influenza outbreak from becoming anything to write home about.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Independence Blue Cross, and the WellPoint Anthem units in Connecticut and Ohio are some of the carriers that have put out press releases urging consumers to get flu and pneumonia vaccines.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today described U.S. influenza activity as “elevated.”
The clearest indicator of flu activity — pneumonia and influenza mortality for 122 U.S. cities — reached 7.2 percent during the first week of the year, which is slightly above the epidemic threshold of 7.2 percent.
The percentage of outpatient visits that were related to flu-like illnesses fell during the first week, but that percentage usually falls during the first week of the year and is about twice what it has been in the first week of the year during the past 10 years.
Massachusetts Blue, for example, is noting in a press release distributed through Business Wire that it already has heard of reports of 700 confirmed cases of the flu on Boston.
Massachusetts Blue gives advice about preventing the flu from spreading, treating flu at home, seeking professional medical attention for flu symptoms, and insurance coverage for flu vaccination shots.
“Flu shots are covered when members visit participating providers,” the insurer says.
Massachusetts Blue that enrollees may be able to use their coverage to get flu shots from nontraditional providers, such as urgent care centers and drug store clinics, as well as from primary care providers.
The insurer is referring consumers to a dedicated flu information page for more details.
Independence Blue Cross, the Blue Cross licensee in the Philadelphia area, has put out its flu news release through Globe Newswire. Independence Blue Cross gives tips on preventing the spread of the flu but is emphasizing the need for consumers to get flu shots.
Like Massachusetts Blue, Independence Blue Cross is telling consumers they may be able to get flu shots at pharmacies and urgent care clinics as well as primary care doctors’ offices.
Independence Blue Cross gives a list of reasons for consumers to get the flu shot, if they haven’t already.
“You could infect other people even if you don’t get that sick yourself, especially those at high risk such as infants, nursing home residents and people with chronic conditions,” the insurer says.
The Anthem units at WellPoint (NYSE:WLP) have distributed their press releases through Business Wire.
