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Get tested

Find a testing location near you.


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Get vaccinated

Get information on vaccine and booster availability and safety.

Learn more



 

You can protect yourself and others from COVID-19

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Wash your hands often

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Cover your cough

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Follow government and medical expert guidance on mask wearing and social distancing

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Stay home and isolate when

• You feel sick or have symptoms
• If you've had contact with someone with COVID-19

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Get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster


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Have your kids get the COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible

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
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Watch UCare Medical Director Dr. Scott Kammer answer questions about how to tell the difference between allergies and COVID-19.

Get tested as soon as possible. Call your clinic or find a testing location near you on the Minnesota Department of Health website.


 

I tested positive for COVID-19

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 UCare Health Ride, please call 1-800-864-2157 (TTY 1-800-688-8534), and we can arrange a safe ride for you.

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

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.


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.




Stay home

Do not go to work, school or anywhere outside your home. Stay home until the following are true:

  • You feel better. Your cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms are better

    and
  • You have not had a fever and have not taken medication that lowers fever within the last 24 hours

Check out more information on isolation and precautions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.


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.




I want to know what UCare covers for COVID-19

We’re helping to contain the spread of the virus by removing barriers to vaccinations, testing and care. We’ll continue to adjust our policies and coverage as best we can to protect our members and the community.


Your UCare plan will cover:

  • Tests and related services: For UCare members, doctor-ordered COVID-19 tests and services are covered according to your benefit plan.

    At-Home Testing
    Members of PMAP, Connect, MinnesotaCare, and MSC+ can get up to eight FDA-authorized over-the-counter tests every 30 days, with a prescription. The tests must be:
    1. Ordered by a doctor or licensed provider
    2. Picked up at a participating pharmacy
      1. You 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.

    Medicare plan members can use their over-the-counter (OTC) benefit through Healthy Savings® to purchase COVID-19 tests at participating stores.

    Individual & Family Plan members
    can get up to four FDA-authorized over-the-counter tests every 30 days without a prescription.

    To get your at-home COVID-19 tests, buy them at a pharmacy. Show your UCare member ID card at the pharmacy counter (as you do when you pick up a prescription). You won’t have to pay anything. 






  • Vaccines: For all members, copays, coinsurance or deductibles for FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine administration both in-network and out-of-network.
  • Treatments: If you are sick with COVID-19, UCare will cover prescribed treatments according to your benefit plan. UCare will follow State and Federal guidelines regarding the coverage, cost-share, availability and distribution of authorized COVID-19 treatments.
  • Hospital services: For Medical Assistance members, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles are covered when you receive in-network observation and inpatient hospital services. For Medicare and Individual & Family Plan members, hospital services are covered according to your benefit plan.
  • Supplies: Medicare plan members can use their OTC 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.
  • 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.)


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.

 

UCare members

Call the number on the back of your UCare member ID card if you have questions about your plan or coverage.


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 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. 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.

Health Improvement Team
UCare's health improvement specialists can assist you with scheduling a COVID vaccine and screening, connect you to social resources, and other preventive needs.
612-676-3481 or 1-833-951-3185
outreach@ucare.org

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 your medical, dental, and pharmacy visits.
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

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