Get vaccinated
UCare covers COVID-19 vaccinations. Get the latest information, including availability and safety.
I will
Wash my hands often
Cover my cough
Follow government and medical expert guidance on mask wearing and social distancing
Stay home and isolate when
• I feel sick or have symptoms
• I've had contact with someone with COVID-19
Get the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible
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How do I know if I have COVID-19?
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you might have COVID-19. It is important to go get tested if you have symptoms.
- Temp 100.4 or above
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Loss of taste or smell
- Watch UCare Medical Director Dr. Scott Kammer answer questions about how to tell the difference between allergies and COVID-19.
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
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What do I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
Get tested as soon as possible. Call your clinic or find a testing location near you on the Minnesota Department of Health website.
If you test positive for COVID-19, it is important to care for yourself, while also protecting your family and your community.
If you need emergency medical attention any time during the isolation period, call 911 and let them know you have been diagnosed with COVID-19. If you need to go to a clinic or hospital, do not use public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services. For members who use
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How do I care for myself?
Monitor your symptoms
Take your temperature regularly and pay close attention to any changes in your symptoms. Call your doctor or clinic with any concerns.
Download the UCare COVID-19 symptom tracker
Use a pulse oximeter
Ask your doctor or clinic for a pulse oximeter or purchase one at your pharmacy to monitor your blood oxygen level at home. Ask your doctor how best to use the pulse oximeter and what to do in case of low blood oxygen.
All UCare health plans cover pulse oximeters ordered by a doctor, and some plans also cover oximeters purchased over the counter. If you have questions, call the Customer Service number on the back of your UCare member ID card.
Get medical care if you have difficulty breathing
If you feel short of breath or have difficulty breathing, call your doctor or clinic. If these symptoms are severe, call 911, and let them know you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
If you need to go to a clinic or hospital, do not use public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services. For members who use UCare Health Ride, please call 1-800-864-2157 (TTY 1-800-688-8534), and we can arrange a safe ride for you.
Get plenty of rest
You may feel more tired than usual. Sleep and rest as much as you can.
Drink lots of fluids
Staying hydrated when you are sick helps your body heal. Focus on drinking water and other caffeine-free and alcohol-free liquids.
Maintain a healthy diet
Make sure you are eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and healthy sources of protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Get follow-up care
If your doctor gave you instructions to follow after your visit or hospital stay, be sure to follow them. If you continue to have symptoms, set up a telehealth or office visit with your doctor.
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How do I protect the people I live with?
Isolate yourself
Stay in a separate room or isolate as much as you can. Use a separate bathroom if possible. Talk to your doctor about how long you will need to isolate yourself.
Wear a mask
When you cannot isolate from the people you live with, wear a mask. Make sure everyone you live with wears a mask as well.
Avoid sharing household items
Do not share food, dishes, utensils, towels, bedding or other household items with other people in your home. After using items, wash them yourself using soap and water.
Wash your hands often
Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
Clean shared surfaces
Clean frequently touched surfaces - like countertops, doorknobs, light switches and faucets - regularly with disinfectant cleaner.
Get Vaccinated
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, wait to be vaccinated until you recover and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation. If you do not have symptoms, wait until you meet the criteria for discontinuing isolation before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies if you get COVID-19 before getting your second dose of vaccine.
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How do I protect my community?
Stay home
Do not go to work, school or anywhere outside your home. Stay home until all three of the following are true:
- You feel better. Your cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms are better
and - It has been 10 days since you started feeling sick
and - You have not had a fever and have not taken medication that lowers fever within the last 24 hours
Wear a mask
If you need to leave your home or answer the door, wear a mask.
Keep your distance
If you need to leave your home, be sure to keep six feet between yourself and other people.
Do not use public transportation
Do not use public transportation, ride-sharing (such as Uber or Lyft) or taxis if you need to go to a clinic or hospital.
For members who use UCare Health Ride, please call 1-800-864-2157 (TTY 1-800-688-8534), and we can arrange a safe ride for you.
Summary
Throughout the pandemic UCare has provided enhanced coverage for our members, and we will continue to do so through 2021. For all members, we continue to fully cover COVID-19 testing services without cost sharing during the federal and state health emergencies. We will also continue to waive cost share for COVID-19 observation or inpatient hospitalization for all members through December 31, 2021. COVID-19 vaccines are covered without charge for members through 20211.
COVID-19: What's covered?
We’re helping to contain the spread of the virus by removing barriers to testing and care. As the COVID-19 situation changes, we’ll adjust our policies and coverage as best we can to protect our members and the community.
Your UCare plan will cover:
- Vaccines: For all members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine administration both in-network and out-of-network. (Note for Medicare members: Bring your UCare member ID card and red, white and blue Medicare card. Unlike most of your UCare benefits, Medicare is covering COVID vaccines directly.)
Learn more - Tests: Copays, coinsurance or deductibles for doctor-ordered COVID-19 tests for UCare members. To find a testing location near you, call your clinic or visit the Minnesota Department of Health website. (CAUTION: Members of Medical Assistance should not pay out of pocket for COVID-19 tests because UCare is not allowed to reimburse this payment. If asked to pay for a test, tell the testing provider to bill UCare.)
- Services: For all members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for in-network clinic, urgent care, emergency room visit and certain other related services when you receive a COVID-19 test.
- Hospital services: Copays, coinsurance and deductibles when you receive in-network observation and inpatient hospital services to treat COVID-19 through December 31, 2021.
- International coverage: Vaccines, tests and services provided outside of the country are not covered. (EXCEPTION: For UCare Medicare Advantage plans, COVID-19 testing is covered if done as part of emergency or urgently needed care.)
- Medications: We will cover a 90-day supply of maintenance medications (except for controlled substances or specialty drugs for Medical Assistance members). Medicare and Individual & Family Plan members can also get early refills. To reduce exposure to the virus, we encourage you to use Express Scripts mail order services, home delivery services from your retail pharmacy if available, or delivery through CVS or Walgreens.
- Supplies: Medicare plan members can use their Healthy Savings over-the-counter benefit to purchase preventive care items such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizers at participating stores. All UCare members can call the Customer Service number on the back of your member ID card to request no-cost masks, thermometers, hand sanitizers and pill boxes.
- Wages and non-health care costs: UCare cannot cover lost wages or non-health care costs you may experience as a result of COVID-19.
How to connect with us during COVID-19
UCare is working closely with state leaders and public health authorities to keep our members, employees and communities safe. To protect against the spread of the virus, we’ve closed our doors for now. Although we can’t meet with you face to face, you can still reach us by phone and online.
UCare members
Call the number on the back of your UCare member identification (ID) card if you have questions about your plan or coverage.
For questions about COVID-19 or to get help scheduling a vaccine appointment, call the UCare COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-833-951-3189 (TTY 1-800-688-2534).
If you're looking for a health plan
1: Source: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (Pub. L. 116-127)
COVID-19 resources
COVID-19 facts
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Resources
Get your COVID-19 questions answered. Find COVID-19 testing locations, Minnesota COVID-19 resources and up-to-date information.
1-800-657-3504
TTY 711
9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday
Learn more
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 information
Get the most current facts and guidance on COVID-19 prevention, care and vaccines.
Learn more
Community
Minnesota Black Community COVID-19 Hotline
Fully staffed hotline to support Minnesota’s African American community through the pandemic with COVID-19 information, testing sites, resources to support food insecurity, physical and mental health, employment, housing, childcare, legal rights and other issues stemming from the pandemic.
612-254-1145
TTY 711
Learn more
Minnesota Department of Health COVID Community Coordinator Search Tool
This tool helps you identify organizations in your community by culture, language and county.
Learn more
UCare support for community resources
UCare can help members find resources within their community, such as food services, financial assistance and housing support.
1-833-276-1185
TTY 1-800-688-2534
Mental Health
UCare Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Triage Line
For crisis support or ongoing help to manage a mental health or substance use condition at no extra cost to you.
612-676-6533 or 1-833-276-1185
TTY 1-800-688-2534
8 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday
Learn more
Mental Health Minnesota
No-cost, confidential, anonymous support from a mental health professional.
1-833-HERE4MN
TTY 711
Learn more
Additional UCare support
Do you need home COVID-19 prevention resources?
UCare provides no-cost resources to support UCare members during this pandemic. Call UCare Customer Service at the number on the back of your UCare member ID card if you need masks, thermometers, hand sanitizers or pill boxes.
UCare COVID-19 vaccine hotline
Get help finding a COVID-19 vaccine appointment if available, signing up for the Minnesota Department of Health Vaccine Connector and finding answers to your questions and concerns about the vaccine.
1-833-951-3189
TTY 1-800-688-2534
UCare 24/7 Nurse Line
1-800-688-2157
TTY 1-855-307-6976
UCare pregnancy advisor nurse line
Nurses can offer expert advice, support, answers to your pregnancy questions and referrals to additional resources over the phone.
1-855-260-9708
TTY 1-800-688-2534
9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday
UCare Health Ride
No-cost transportation to and from COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccines and medical, dental and pharmacy visits. (only available for certain plans)
1-800-864-2157
TTY 1-800-688-2534
8 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday
Learn more
COVID-19 resources in other languages
Español
Enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
Somali
Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19)
Hmong
Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19)
American Sign Language (ASL)
American Sign Language (ASL) Videos for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Minnesota Department of Health
H2456_10275_072021 approved
H5937_Y0120_10275_072021_C
U10275 07/2021