Healthy Boiler

Helping each other through the new normal – Easily-accessible resources shared by Human Resources

Right now, anywhere you look you’re bound to see COVID-19 coverage. There are still a lot of questions pertaining to the ever-revolving global crisis, including “What social services are available to assist with food, housing, job training, transportation and more?”

Meet Aunt Bertha

To facilitate the sharing of these types of resources, Anthem, Purdue’s medical plan administrator, has partnered with Aunt Bertha, a leading social care network, which helps connect individuals and families to free and reduced-cost social services in their communities. These programs include COVID-19-specific assistance, such as food delivery and help paying bills.

The best part? All consumers can access the more than 350,000 programs, which are available in every zip code across the U.S. Via auntbertha.com, you can search for free or reduced-cost services such as medical care, food, job training and more. Simply type in your zip code and click “Search.” Aunt Bertha then generates zip code-specific information. For example, a search of “47906” generated 1,491 programs serving people in West Lafayette, IN (47906).

Additionally, the recent article, “Community offers, resources, support to those in need during COVID-19 outbreak,” provides a list of resources for general, food, utilities and academic needs.

Healthcare resources

Healthcare needs such as accessing telehealth care, mental health assistance and more are high on the list of important needs, today and every day. That’s why Purdue employees have and will continue to have a variety of options for their all of their healthcare needs, including telehealth options. Currently, many normal in-office appointments at health clinics and doctors’ offices in communities have moved to telehealth – the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is one of those. Additionally, the CHL has set up a phone line to assist those who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19. See the recent Purdue Today article for information. 

Other available resources, which may be able to assist, include:

  • Medical
    • Telehealth Services – Using telehealth when possible will help prevent the spread of infection and improve access to care. The telehealth services linked are available via Anthem and Purdue’s health plans.
    • HealthWell Foundation – national non-profit dedicated to improving access to care for America’s underinsured. They have a “COVID-19 Ancillary Costs” fund, which is currently accepting phone applications. Patients must meet the fund’s eligibility qualifications to receive assistance. The link above provides details.
  • Prescription
    • Lilly Insulin Value Program – The Lilly Insulin Value Program allows anyone with commercial insurance and those without insurance to fill their monthly prescription of Lily insulin for $35. View the FAQs for more information.
    • Rx Savings Solutions – continues to provide support and savings for Purdue employees; COVID-19 information is available here.
    • CVS Pharmacy – offers its CarePass™membership program ($5 monthly fee) that offers online and in-store perks with home delivery of medications (as well as over-the-counter (OTC) medications  that do not require a new prescription  from your provider.
    • CVS Caremark – implementation of enhancements will help prevent interruption of medication availability. See their complete coverage of COVID-19 here.
    • The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation – independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications. Patients must meet the program’s eligibility qualifications to receive assistance. See their “COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Fund” web page for details.
  • Mental Health Resources
    • See the mental health / counseling article in this issue.

“Human Resources – Benefits, along with the Center for Healthy Living and the University as a whole, want to make the adjustment to life amid COVID-19, remote work and everything else that comes with that, as easy as possible,” said Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “Sharing resource information, adjusting how care is delivered at the CHL, reworking leave policies and more are all part of the commitment to our Purdue family. As a reminder, the 'Working through COVID-19' website provides direct access to all of that information and more in a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate website.”

More information

Additional information is available via the University’s “Things you need to know about COVID-19” website, Purdue Today and the Healthy Boiler Newsletter’s COVID-19 edition.

You can also contact Human Resources at hr@purdue.edu or call 765-494-2222 or toll free at 877-725-0222 with questions.