The End of the COVID-19 Emergency and Health Insurance

The White House began terminating the COVID-19 national emergency declaration in May. That move had deep implications for some of your clients’ health insurance.

One emergency declaration mandate required Medicaid to keep people enrolled in Medicaid, even if their family income increased too much for them to meet the program’s usual income limits.

Another provision required that COVID tests, the COVID vaccines developed under Operation Warp Speed and many antiviral treatments be offered to patients with no out-of-pocket cost.

States are now working to wind down swollen Medicaid enrollment levels.

People who earn too much to qualify and want to stay covered will have to try to get an Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan, coverage through an employer-sponsored plan, or coverage through some other type of private arrangement.

That could eventually affect as many as 14 million people nationwide.

Meanwhile, private plans no longer have to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for COVID tests and treatments.

For most clients with private health coverage, COVID vaccines should still be available with no out-of-pocket cost, because ACA rules require insurers to cover the cost of preventive care. The preventive care package includes vaccines.

Uninsured clients must now use their own cash to pay for COVID treatments because federal funding for COVID treatments for the uninsured ended in May.

Meanwhile, most health professionals are quick to remind us that COVID is still with us, even though the official public health emergency is not. What opportunities and challenges that will present for agents, brokers and clients remains to be seen.

Jessica Leirer is a vice president at All Web Leads, a company that reaches consumers and converts them into leads, clicks and calls through sites such as InsuranceQuotes.com.

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