The End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Insurance: What You Need to Know
The federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will end on May 11. With it, there will be some changes to what is covered under your health insurance plan.
If you do not have Medicare, your health plan will no longer cover over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. Your plan will cover medically necessary lab tests, but cost sharing will apply. COVID-19 vaccines will still be covered as preventive services if you get them from an in-network provider. Treatments such as antiviral medications or hospital treatments will still be covered, but cost sharing may apply.
If you have Medicare, your health plan and Medicare will also still cover COVID-19 vaccines without any cost sharing to you. You will also still be able to get laboratory COVID-19 tests without cost sharing, but you will no longer be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through your plan. Treatments such as antiviral medications or hospital treatments will still be covered, but cost sharing may apply.
For more information, see this Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services webpage.
Experienced a Life Change That May Affect Health Benefits?
Throughout the year you may experience life events that allow you to change your benefits outside of the annual open enrollment period. The Department of Employee Trust Funds has a Life Events Guide that reviews the life events that allow you to make changes and deadlines, along with any required documentation and filing deadlines. Life event examples include birth of a child, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse or dependent, etc.