Crazy Lean Belly: What the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency means for you

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

What the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency means for you

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What will change when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends

By Alice Park

Senior Health Correspondent

Almost since the emergence of COVID-19, the U.S. has treated the disease as both a national and public health emergency. That will end on May 11, 2023, the Biden Administration announced yesterday. The decision to end these important designations will have wide-ranging impacts on many health measures that Americans have come to take for granted over the past few years, including free vaccines, booster shots, tests, and treatments.

Here's how the changes may impact you.

Vaccines: COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will continue to be covered for people with private insurance when given by in-network providers, but according to an analysis by Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), people may have to pay out-of-pocket if they get their shots from providers outside of their covered network. People with Medicare and Medicaid will continue to receive free vaccines, but uninsured folks won't.
Tests: Insurers may continue to cover COVID-19 tests, including the rapid, at-home kind, but only if they are distributed by a narrower pool of in-network providers. Medicare beneficiaries will have to start paying for a portion of any tests. Medicaid will continue to pay for COVID-19 tests that are ordered by a doctor, but each state will decide whether to cover at-home tests.
Treatments: Privately insured people will continue to receive coverage for COVID-19 treatments, as will people with Medicare Part D (until federal supplies run out). Medicaid will reimburse only for treatments that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Whether medications that are under an emergency use authorization from the FDA are covered will vary state by state.

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