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  • On March 29th, 2023, after three years, Present Joe Biden signed H.J. Res. 7, a resolution to end the national COVID-19 emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to COVID-19 and support the country’s economic, health, and welfare systems. While signing this bill immediately ends the COVID-19 national emergency, the public health emergency (PHE) remains in effect.

    The PHE will end on May 11th, 2023. Currently, the PHE mandates that health insurance plans fully cover COVID-19 testing without employee cost-sharing on both an in and out-of-network basis. Once this emergency ends, medical plans, including employer-sponsored plans, will not be required to pay for testing and will have to determine how to move forward.

    What This Means

    The national emergency ends provisions allowing an extended time for special enrollment in plans due to life events such as losing coverage, getting married, or having children. The national emergency gave individuals with a qualifying life event up to a year to enroll compared to individuals typically having 30 days to enroll.

    As a business owner, it’s essential that you’re aware of the impact this has on your business. When you partner with GMS, you gain access to HR experts who ensure you remain compliant. We work with you to update policies, whether in your handbook or educating your employees on the changes that will take place. Interested in learning what else we can help you with? Contact us today.

  • The Biden-Harris Administration has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency to January 11th, 2023. This concern has adapted from the speculation of a winter spike in COVID-19 cases. The COVID-19 public health emergency first made its appearance in January 2020 by the Trump administration and has been renewed every 90 days since.

    Recall: The Purpose Of The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

    The declaration allowed changes throughout the healthcare system which included the free distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Millions of Americans gained Medicaid coverage, telehealth services were authorized, and hospitals gained flexibility in responding to patient surges.

    In addition, it provided the federal government with the flexibility to waive or modify specific requirements in a number of areas such as Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and private health insurance. Alongside these, Congress also enacted the following legislation:

    What Next?

    When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, an estimated 5.3 million to 14.2 million individuals could lose their Medicaid coverage. The loss of Medicaid coverage has been named, “the great unwinding,” and could take as long as a year to complete.

    It’s vital for small business owners to provide their employees with the health insurance coverage they need. What happens when the public health emergency ends and you have employees who were enrolled in Medicare during that health emergency period? GMS does more than simply offer coverage like a medical insurance company. We provide our clients with various tools and resources to find a coverage solution tailored to their needs. Contact us today!