On May 11, 2023, the federal government’s COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration will expire. As a result, several programs connected to the PHE such as no-cost COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and Medicaid continuous enrollment will be affected.
COVID-19 Testing
In accordance with the PHE ending, Medicare and private insurance plans will no longer be required to fully cover COVID-19 home tests for their customers. Additionally, the federal program that mailed free tests through the postal service to anyone who ordered them—insured or not—will end May 11. Medicaid coverage will still be required to fully cover COVID-19 tests through September 30, 2024.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments
COVID-19 vaccines and treatment costs have been covered by the federal government. Once the government-purchased supply of vaccines is depleted—likely in late summer—Medicare will continue to fully cover COVID-19 vaccines and Medicaid programs will fully cover COVID-19 vaccines and treatments through September 30, 2024. Most private insurance plans must also fully cover COVID-19 vaccines when patients get the vaccine from an in-network provider, and treatments will be covered according to the regular terms of a person’s health plan. People without insurance or with health plans not subject to the coverage requirement may have to pay for vaccination and treatment.
Medicaid Continuous Coverage
During the PHE, people with Medicaid coverage, called Apple Health in Washington, could keep the coverage even when their incomes rose or they experienced another change that would normally make them ineligible for Medicaid. With the end of the PHE, federal legislation has ended this “continuous coverage” feature and states will resume regular checks to confirm or deny eligibility for Medicaid. Learn more about this change here.
WA Notify
In addition to the PHE ending, Washington’s COVID-19 exposure notification app WA Notify is scheduled to sunset on May 11. WA Notify anonymously alerted people who may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Read more about the app’s termination here.