COVID-19 Updates and Guidance > FAQs > Employees and workforce

Employees and workforce

1. Benefits and Resources

Yes. All costs for COVID-19 testing are waived for all medical plan participants per the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

As of Jan. 15, 2022, DePaul’s medical plan pharmacy benefits, which are provided through BCBSIL/Prime Therapeutics, began covering over-the-counter diagnostic tests for COVID-19. This coverage is per new federal guidance and is effective through the end of the federal public health emergency. 

For employees enrolled in DePaul's HMO, PPO, or CDHP plan, you will be reimbursed up to $12 per test, up to eight tests every 30 days per person. For example, you can purchase four boxes that include two over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.

You can go to a Prime network pharmacy and purchase tests at the store’s pharmacy counter. Tests must be FDA-authorized. If you aren’t sure if a test kit is FDA-authorized, ask your pharmacist for help. The pharmacy should process the test through your pharmacy insurance at no cost to you. If you have to pay out of pocket for the test, you can file a claim to receive reimbursement for up to $12 per test. Click here for the reimbursement request form and instructions. 

Employees who receive health benefits from DePaul may access telehealth services or virtual visits, as outlined in the health plan design, meaning that the normal deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance will apply.

PPO and CDHP members may access telehealth services offered by their healthcare provider for non-urgent medical care, or they can access care through MDLive. MDLive is primarily for those who would not use their own regular provider for telehealth services or whose providers do not offer it. MDLive is essentially a pool of registered doctors who provide non-urgent medical and behavioral health services. PPO and CDHP members are encouraged to register with MDLive in advance of needing this service to enable a smoother process when care is needed.

HMO-IL members interested in virtual visits may do so for medically necessary services from providers in their medical group who offer telehealth, subject to HMO rules, such as using your primary care physician​ for a referral. Contact your primary care physician for more information and to coordinate your medical care services.

Details about COVID-19 coverage for BCBSIL members can be found on the BCBSIL website.


All employees have access to wellness and educational resources through DePaul's employee assistance program, offered by ComPsych® GuidanceResources® (the organization web ID to log-in is EAP4DPU).

Confidential counseling sessions are also available for employees, spouses and dependents (up to 6 free sessions per employee/spouse/dependent, per “incident”). To speak with a counselor or schedule an appointment, employees may call 800-621-4124 anytime.

Specific to the COVID-19 pandemic, ComPsych® GuidanceResources® has developed a Coronavirus Digital Toolkit to offer resources to offer guidance on how to remain healthy and deal with the emotional impacts of the outbreak.

Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) members may have cost-sharing for COVID-19 related services; full details can be found on their website.

MAPD members can also call Blue Cross Blue Shield's MAPD customer service line at 877-299-1008 for more information.

2. Sick Leave and Paid Time Off

​Employees receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, or who experience side effects from the vaccine booster, can use paid time off.​ For more information, visit Newsline​. ​

A full-time exempt employee may use sick time. A full-time non-exempt employee may use accrued sick time (up to 30 days based on the employee's sick time bank), floating holidays and then vacation time in that order. 

A part-time employee may use up to 60 hours of paid sick time per year, based on their accrual. Part-time employees accrue sick time at a rate of one (1) hour for every forty (40) hours of work.

For extended periods of illness, after five days, eligible employees may qualify for short-term disability benefits or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) based on certification of their condition by a medical practitioner. The employee should contact the Lincoln Financial Group for instructions by calling 800-341-0593 or accessing the Lincoln Financial portal through mybluesky.depaul.edu then click on the Lincoln Financial Group tile. Details about FMLA can be found on the Office of Human Resources website.

4. Employees with Direct Reports

If a student, faculty, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website​ at for the most up-to-date instructions on quarantine, isolation and safety measures.

As directed by CDC, individuals should inform their close contacts.  If someone reported that they attended a meeting during their infectious period - two days before symptoms or two days before day of test if no symptoms - the meeting organizer can send a notification to the meeting attendees regarding possible exposure. It is important to protect privacy as much as possible and not reveal names of those who tested positive. An example of notification:

 “I am writing to inform you that an individual has recently tested positive for COVID-19. You were present at the same location with this individual on [Insert day of meeting]. Please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website to review their guidance following exposure. This includes wearing a mask for 10 days. As always, you should self-monitor for symptoms. If you begin to experience symptoms do not come to campus, test immediately and call your healthcare provider to discuss questions regarding symptoms.

Please visit DePaul's COVID-19 Testing Resource page for information on how to find testing locations. Rapid tests are also  available at DePaul if you do not have access to testing. 

Keep in mind it is our responsibility, as directed by the CDC, to maintain the privacy and anonymity of those individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Please remember to honor this commitment to privacy for those who contract the virus."

Submit a question

If you can’t find an answer that you’re looking for, please email DePaulCommunityHealth@depaul.edu.​​