Preparing for the End of the Public Health Emergency: A Guide to Your Health Benefit Plan’s Coverage

As we approach May 12, 2023, it’s important to be aware of the upcoming changes to your health benefit plan’s COVID-19 coverage. This is due to the expiration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which was established in March 2020 to combat COVID-19. The PHE will officially end on May 11, 2023, and federal requirements established under the PHE will no longer apply to your health benefit plan.

If you’re unsure how these changes will impact your coverage, you’re not alone. It’s important to understand what will change and what will stay the same. In this blog, we’ll break down the key points to keep in mind as the PHE expires.

COVID-19 Vaccines: All health insurance plans must continue to provide coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, even after the PHE ends. This means that you will still be able to receive COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to you. As always, we encourage you to get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so. Vaccines are safe and effective, and getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Tests: Your health insurance plan will continue to cover diagnostic tests for COVID-19, even after the PHE expires. This includes tests to diagnose active infections, as well as tests for screening purposes. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested right away and follow the guidance of your healthcare provider.

Anti-Viral Treatment: Your health insurance plan will continue to cover Paxlovid and other anti-viral treatments for COVID-19. These treatments are used to treat COVID-19 in individuals who are at high risk of developing severe illness. It’s important to note that these treatments should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare provider and are most effective when started early in the course of the illness.

It’s important to note that the specific coverage for these services may vary depending on your health benefit plan. We recommend that you review your plan documents and speak with your insurance provider to understand how the changes will impact your coverage.

In conclusion, while the expiration of the PHE may lead to changes in healthcare coverage, you can be assured that the federal government has put measures in place to ensure that you will still receive coverage for COVID-19-related services.

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