Building a family

Precious Additions, Horizon BCBS’s maternity program, is dedicated to helping you learn how to care for yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy.

Once enrolled, you will receive a prenatal package from Horizon BCBS with:

• A pregnancy guide and health information
• A children’s health guide
• Information about Horizon BCBS’s programs and resources
• Details on cord-blood banking and information about a prenatal class partial reimbursement

We encourage you to enroll as early as possible so you can take advantage of all the program has to offer. For more information or to enroll, visit horizonblue.com/merck or contact a Horizon Health Guide at 877-663-7258, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Horizon CareOnline (Telemedicine)

Merck medical plan participants have 24/7 access to U.S. board-certified, licensed doctors via phone, video or mobile app.

Get care for conditions such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Colds and flu
• Fever
• Skin irritations
• Sinusitis

Get started by going to horizonblue.com/merck.

24/7 Nurse Line

For general health questions, you can call the 24/7 Nurse Line. Staffed with registered nurses who have an average of 15 years of experience, the Nurse Line provides trusted, doctor-approved information.

Call the 24/7 Nurse Line at 877-663-7258 to speak with a nurse.

If you are facing a high-risk pregnancy, Horizon BCBS’s High-Risk Maternity Case Management program can provide additional support. You will be assigned a case manager who will:

• Contact your obstetrical and/or maternal-fetal medicine specialist to obtain clinical information and your care plan.
• Monitor the clinical progress of your pregnancy with follow-up calls to the physician(s).
• Help your physician(s) obtain required authorizations for services (when appropriate).
• Provide ongoing education and nursing support throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period (about six weeks following delivery).

For more information or to enroll, contact a Horizon Health Guide at 877-663-7258, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET

Lyra mental health support*

Lyra provides fast access to high-quality evidence-based mental health care. The first 12 sessions are free and available to you, your spouse/domestic partner, any of your household members and your dependent children outside the household (up to age 26). Following your online assessment, Lyra creates a care plan for you, designed specifically for your unique needs and lifestyle, including a curated selection of mental health coaches and therapists who are currently taking appointments. With Lyra, you can book an appointment with the provider who works best for you.

Visit merck.lyrahealth.com or call 844-737-9423 to get started.

*Merck medical plan members enrolled in the Merck PPO with Horizon BCBS can continue therapy with their Lyra provider beyond the 12 free sessions, and access medication management, all subject to in-network deductibles and coinsurance. Please note: Guided self-care and coaching are not available beyond the 12 free sessions. Medication management sessions are not included in the 12 free sessions. Lyra’s pricing varies based on the provider and type of service. For details on the in-network deductible and/or coinsurance you will be expected to pay, go to the Medical and prescription drugs section of this site. For questions about Lyra provider session rates, contact the Lyra Care Navigator Team at 844-737-9423 or email them at care@lyrahealth.com.

Merck medical plan participants have access to registered nurses from the Maternity Health Coach program who can answer general questions about nutrition that expectant and new moms might have.

Contact a nurse at 888-624-3096, option 3, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Merck medical plan participants have access to registered nurses from the Maternity Health Coach program who can answer general questions about exercise that expectant and new moms might have.

Contact a coach at 888-624-3096, option 3, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET

When you are expanding your family, there are many leave/time off options available to you — including Short-Term Disability (STD), Family Medical Leave (FML), Unpaid Child Care Leave (UCCL), and Paid Parental Time Off (PPTO) — that may provide up to 26 weeks of job-protected time off (a combination of paid and unpaid) after the birth, adoption or placement of a foster child in your home. To suit the diverse situations of our employees, the parental leave options are designed to be used in many different ways.

Short-term disability (STD)

STD provides salary continuation for 6-8 weeks, depending on type of delivery. You will receive 100% of your base pay.

For more information, visit Time Away.

Paid parental time off (PPTO)

PPTO provides up to 12 weeks (60 working days) within the first 12 months after birth, adoption or foster care placement. PPTO may be taken consecutively, in a phased approach or a combination, and runs concurrent with family medical leave (FML).

For more information, visit Time Away.

Unpaid child care leave (UCCL)

UCCL provides you with unpaid leave to care for your newly born child, adopted child or placed foster child. UCCL is generally available for up to 20 weeks (100 working days) within the first six months (130 working days) from the date of birth, adoption or foster care placement.

For more information, visit Time Away.

Family medical leave (FML)

FML is available for up to 12 weeks in a rolling 12-month look back; however, you may be eligible for FML for up to 26 weeks to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness. Time off may be consecutive or intermittent.

Merck complies with state and local leave laws. Please review the Paid Sick Time Laws by State or visit your state’s website to learn whether you are entitled to additional or different leave.

For more information, visit Time Away.