COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are available to Louisianians ages 6 months and up. Get vaccinated as soon as you can to take your best shot at ending the pandemic and help build more immunity in our community.

Visit the Louisiana Department of Health website to see a current list of vaccine locations. Nonprofits and local organizations around the state are offering free rides to and from vaccine sites. If transportation is a challenge for you, call the statewide 211 network to ask about programs near you.

Things to Know About Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster:
Get the vaccine that’s available to you soonest. There are three types of COVID-19 vaccines being given in Louisiana. All three vaccines were reviewed under the same thorough, scientific process before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized them to be given to patients. And, all three were found safe and effective at preventing deaths and severe outcomes from COVID-19. Unless your healthcare provider has advised you to get a specific vaccine type because of age, allergies or other concerns, get whichever shot you can.

Health officials recommend boosters for everyone 5 and older. Boosters enhance the protection from your original COVID-19 vaccine so your immune system stays prepared to recognize and fight off COVID-19. How soon you need a booster shot and how many you need depends on your health history and risk factors. Ask your healthcare provider if you’re not sure which type of booster you should get or when you need one.

You will not pay anything out of pocket for the vaccine or booster. Patients on individual and employer health insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid can get any FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine or booster for $0. This no-cost coverage is included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which also allows uninsured patients to get the vaccine or booster for $0. Blue Cross will cover the vaccine’s administration without any member cost-share (deductible, copay or coinsurance) on most health plans. If you have questions about vaccine coverage on your health plan, contact Customer Service at the number on your member ID card.

It’s important to get information about COVID-19 and the vaccine from trustworthy sources. Do not just go by what you hear others talking about or see posted online. Some sources you can visit are:

You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for guidance.

When the Public Health Emergency ends on May 11, 2023, we will continue to waive cost share and any applicable prior authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine administration fees when administered by network providers for those plans subject to covering preventive and wellness services at $0 under the Affordable Care Act.

If you have questions about how this is covered on your health plan, contact Customer Service at the number on your member ID card.

Slow the Spread
 It is very important that Louisianians 5 and older get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can, especially if you have family members younger than 5 or who cannot get the vaccine for other reasons. If you have concerns or questions about the vaccine, ask your healthcare provider for guidance. Even if you’ve had COVID-19, you should still get the vaccine. Medical experts advise that the vaccine provides longer and more effective protection than any natural immunity those who have had COVID-19 build up.

It’s also important that everyone, vaccinated or not, takes steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.

In addition to getting the vaccine as soon as you can and wearing a face mask in public, take these steps to prevent getting or spreading COVID-19:

  • Wear a face mask in crowded, indoor areas. This is important even if you’re vaccinated, especially in areas with high COVID-19 case rates.

  • Keep space between yourself and others in public places. Stay at least six feet away from others.

  • Wash your hands often. Keep hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol with you to use when you can’t wash your hands.

  • Isolate yourself if you feel sick and contact your healthcare provider. Symptoms to watch for include sore throat, coughing, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, and/or a fever of 100.4 or higher.
Cross icon that opens and closes an accordion of text How can I find COVID-19 testing near me?

If you are looking for COVID-19 testing, you can contact your healthcare provider to ask about which test you should have and where you can get one.

Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other facilities are offering free community testing for COVID-19 across the state. You can find out where and when testing is taking place by visiting the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Community Testing Centers page, where you can find testing locations by parish. Testing sites are usually open for only a few days at a time, so check the LDH’s COVID-19 Newsroom for the latest announcements. And, check community calendars on newspaper and local TV station websites to find out about testing in your area.

Cross icon that opens and closes an accordion of text Will Blue Cross cover testing for COVID-19?

When the Public Health Emergency ends on May 11, 2023, we will no longer waive member cost share (copayment, deductible or coinsurance) and prior authorization requirements for all types of COVID-19 tests. This also applies to associated medically necessary services such as office visits, lab work, chest x-rays or CT scans in addition to physician and ancillary services, emergency department visits, urgent care visits and telehealth visits (in place of office visits).

We will no longer cover or reimburse for over-the-counter COVID-19 test purchases, which is our normal process for over-the-counter tests and products. COVID-19 tests will no longer be available for purchase through Express Scripts’ mail order (direct-to-consumer) program.

Cross icon that opens and closes an accordion of text Will Blue Cross cover COVID-19 antiviral drugs?

The end of the Public Health Emergency does not change our current coverage of antiviral medications used to treat COVID-19. Today, members pay the applicable dispense fee and taxes. When the federal supply for the medication itself ends, members will be responsible for applicable Tier 2 cost share based on their plans.

If you have questions about how this is covered on your health plan, contact Customer Service at the number on your member ID card.

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