PHP extends premium grace period, waives telehealth costs

Published: March 19, 2020

LANSING, MI – To help employers and individuals negatively impacted by recent events, Physicians Health Plan (PHP) has announced that it will extend the premium payment grace period from 30 to 90 days. In addition, PHP is waiving all member cost-share for the teleheath benefit provided in its commercial individual and employer group plans.

“We recognize the state-declared emergency due to COVID-19 has created many unexpected situations for our employer groups and Members, and we are committed to doing all we can to increase access and ease the challenges,” says Physicians Health Plan President and CEO Dennis Reese.

Effective immediately, PHP will:

  • Extend the premium payment grace period from 30 to 90 days for employer groups and individuals.
  • Waive Member cost-share for the telehealth benefit included in the member’s PHP individual or employer-sponsored health plan. This includes waiving Member copays and deductibles.

Physicians Health Plan previously announced that is has:

  • Waived prior authorization and member copays and deductibles for COVID-19 diagnostic testing as ordered by a Physician and consistent with CDC guidelines, and
  • Waived early prescription refill lockouts to ensure an adequate supply.

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 providers 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.