Since the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency (PHE) on Jan. 31, 2020, COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and treatment have been provided at no cost, regardless of insurance status. However, on Jan. 30, 2023, the Biden administration announced the PHE will end on May 11, 2023. As a result, health plans will no longer be required to provide certain health plan coverage rules offered during the PHE, including:
- COVID-19 tests, including at-home tests, without cost sharing for plan subscribers.
- COVID-19 vaccines provided by out-of-network providers; however, plan subscribers will still receive vaccinations without paying out-of-pocket.
- Stand-alone telehealth benefits for employees who aren’t eligible for coverage under any other group health plan offered by the employer.
The announcement also affects deadlines related to employer-sponsored group health plans extended during the pandemic, including extensions for requesting HIPAA special enrollment, electing COBRA coverage, and filing benefit claims and appeals.
For more information on how these changes will impact coverage rules for employer-sponsored health plans, download our bulletin. If you have questions about your particular health plan, please contact Plante Moran Group Benefit Advisors.
