Coronavirus (COVID-19): Get the Facts (as of February 3, 2022)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, there remain many questions but there are also many answers. It’s important to stick to the facts as we know them currently. As new information comes to light, we will continue to update this information.

Prevention: The best way to prevent serious illness due to COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. More than 500 million doses and 10 months of data show that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious disease and death:

  • Being vaccinated reduces your risk of COVID-19 infection by up to 95%.
  • If you do get a breakthrough infection, your symptoms are highly likely to be much less severe.
  • Vaccination reduces your risk of being hospitalized (or requiring ICU treatment) by 80% or more.

Preventive vaccines are covered at 100% by your health plan, including the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. There is no cost to you.

To find out if you are eligible and to schedule an appointment for your vaccine , go to: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/ if you live in Oregon, or https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/vaccine if you live in Washington.

For more general COVID-19 vaccine information, go to: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html.

COVID-19 variants continue to circulate with a high level of transmission. Please get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Mitigate to Reduce the Spread:

There are many things that you should do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you or someone around you does become infected:

  • Wear a mask (anyone over age 2) in indoor public places if you are not fully vaccinated or are fully vaccinated in an area with substantial or high transmission or if you have a weakened immune system.
  • Get tested immediately if you have any symptoms: fever (100.4 F or above), cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, decreased appetite, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, loss of taste or smell, and occasionally gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

    Over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests are now available at no cost to you. See below, under “Benefit Coverage”, to find out how to obtain free COVID-19 tests through the federal government and the state of Washington, as well as how to obtain tests at no cost to you through your prescription drug plan.


  • Isolate for 5 days if you are sick or test positive even if you do not have symptoms, to reduce the likelihood that you’ll spread the disease to others. Contact your doctor for advice. Get immediate medical attention if you have difficulty breathing. Wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
  • Notify your close contacts if you test positive. A close contact is anyone who was less than 6 feet away from you for at least 15 minutes while you may have been infectious.
  • If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, quarantine for 5 days if you are unvaccinated OR are not up to date on your vaccinations. Get tested as soon as possible. Watch for symptoms and wear a mask around others for at least 10 days.

For more information, go to the Centers for Disease Control: cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Treatment: We ask everyone follow the recommendations of the CDC. If you have a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, you are encouraged to begin by seeing a doctor from the comfort of your own home through virtual care. With virtual care, a health care provider can evaluate your risk and help with next steps, if necessary, while minimizing the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses such as the flu.

Click here to learn about the advantages of using virtual care and how to access virtual care through your health plan.

If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Benefit Coverage

The Trust health plans (Kaiser Permanente and Cigna) are following state and federal guidelines and are waiving all cost sharing (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) for medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 for members and their enrolled dependents. This applies to screening and testing services provided by and conducted in in-network and/or out-of-network facilities.

Whenever possible, SD-1 Trust members and their enrolled dependents are encouraged to use in-network providers for medically necessary testing and treatment services. This allows your health plan to coordinate your care most effectively and efficiently. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

  • Kaiser Permanente participants: If you are outside of your service area and have COVID-19 symptoms or believe you have been exposed, you can call a member services representative at the Away from Home Travel number (951-268-3900), 24/7, to get directed to the most appropriate care. You can also visit kp.org/getcare for assistance. If you have symptoms and have been quarantined outside your service area, Kaiser Permanente does not require you to return to your service area for medically necessary testing or treatment. Any medically necessary testing or urgent and emergency services needed outside of your service area during the quarantine period will be covered.
  • CIGNA participants: Out-of-network coverage for medically necessary treatment of COVID-19 will be in accordance with the terms and conditions set for in the coverage document for the Plan. If you are enrolled in the In-network Only Plan, testing is covered for in-network and out-of-network. Treatment is not covered for out-of-network care unless it’s an emergency.

For more information about coverage for COVID-19 screening and treatment, please contact your health plan. To learn more about how to save money by choosing in-network providers, click here.

Prescriptions: If you’re not already using your plan’s mail-order service to fill your prescriptions, now is a good time to consider it. You’ll avoid standing in line at your pharmacy which can help minimize the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses such as the flu.

  • Kaiser Permanente participants: Sign up on kp.org/rxrefill and receive your medications in about 3 to 5 business days. With most prescriptions you can get 3 months’ supply for the price of 2 months. For urgent prescriptions, you should visit your closest Kaiser Permanente medical center pharmacy.
  • Express Scripts participants: If you currently fill 30-day supplies of your maintenance medication at a local pharmacy and would like a longer-term supply, you can ask your physician to write your prescription for a 90-day supply, plus refills for up to 1 year (as appropriate) and fill it at Express Scripts Home Delivery. Click here to get started, or just call the number on the back of your pharmacy card.

Over-the-Counter At-Home COVID-19 Tests Are Available at NO COST TO YOU: Now, it’s easier than ever to find out if you’ve got COVID-19 from the comfort of your home and at no cost to you:

  1. You can receive up to four free at-home COVID-19 tests per household through a program offered by U.S. federal government. Order your free tests at COVIDTests.gov. Tests will be mailed to your home.
  2. If you live in Washington state, you can order up to 5 free tests per household. (Supplies will be limited at first and will restock as supply into the state increases.) This is in addition to the tests provide through the U.S. federal government. Go to www.sayyescovidhometest.org to order your free tests to be delivered to your home.
  3. Beginning January 15, 2022, your SD-1 Health Trust benefits cover the full cost of most over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests through your prescription drug plan (Kaiser Permanente or Express Scripts for Cigna medical plan participants):
    • Up to 8 tests per covered person every 30 calendar days
    • Purchased without a prescription on or after January 15, 2022 (there is currently no limit on tests ordered by your provider)
    • For use if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive (does not include non-medical uses such as employment, school, or travel)


    Kaiser Permanente Participants:
    Due to the current nationwide shortage of COVID-19 at-home tests, Kaiser Permanente, like other health care providers, has access to a very limited supply. They are working to get tests and will make them available to participants through a number of outlets, including mail order. Click here for the most up-to-date information.

    At-home tests are also available at your local drug store or through online retailers. Kaiser Permanente will reimburse participants for FDA-approved over-the-counter at-home tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022. Click here for the reimbursement form.

    Express Scripts Participants:
    Tests can be obtained from an in-network Express Scripts retail pharmacy, or you can order them online and have them delivered to your home through the Express Scripts® Pharmacy at express-scripts.com or on the mobile app. (Initially, online supplies will be limited, and tests may take up to 4 weeks to arrive.) If you obtain your tests from a non-network pharmacy, you may submit a claim for reimbursement. (Reimbursement for non-network pharmacy tests will be limited to up to $12 per test.)

    When you purchase your at-home COVID-19 tests at an Express Scripts retail pharmacy, take your purchase to the pharmacy counter to check out (not the regular checkout lane) and present your Express Scripts ID card. There should be no charge for your at-home COVID-19 tests. To find a retail pharmacy in your network, log in to your account on express-scripts.com and click “Find a Pharmacy” or use the Express Scripts mobile app.

    To submit a request for reimbursement for eligible out-of-pocket costs for tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022, or for more information about COVID-19, visit the Express Scripts resource center at express-scripts.com/covid-19/resource-center.

How is my health plan responding to COVID-19?

The SD-1 Trust plan providers are committed to providing uninterrupted service for their members and healthcare providers.

Mental Health Well-Being:

If you are feeling anxiety, stress or depression, please seek help from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Reliant Behavioral Health. You and anyone living in your household can receive 5 free sessions per situation per year:

  • Online: www.MyRBH.com; click on MEMBERS, then click on RBH and enter access code OEBB
  • By phone: 866-750-1327

For tips on coping with working from home, isolation and loneliness, click here.

Where can you find more information about COVID-19

You may find more information on Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, or the Oregon Health Authority website where you can also subscribe for updates and connect to information on their social media sites. For general information on novel coronavirus in Oregon, call 211. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

For updates from Portland Public Schools, click here.

Share this Post:
Go back to Trust Blog home page