Topic: Health and Welfare Plans

Beginning January 15, 2022, and continuing throughout the duration of the public health ‎emergency, group health plans and insurers are required to cover over-the-counter (OTC) at-home ‎COVID-19 ‎tests (OTC Tests), including tests not ordered by a ‎health care provider, without ‎participant cost-sharing, preauthorization, or medical management, according to Frequently ‎Asked Questions (FAQs) recently issued by the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and ‎Human Services.‎

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury jointly ‎released additional frequently asked questions (“FAQs”) regarding implementation of ‎the health coverage provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ‎‎(“FFCRA”); the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), and ‎other health coverage issues related to COVID-19.‎

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury (collectively, the ‎‎“Departments”) jointly issued FAQ guidance regarding implementation of the health coverage ‎provisions under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and the Coronavirus ‎Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).‎

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was signed into ‎law by President Trump on March 27, 2020, authorizes more than $2 trillion of economic relief ‎for individuals, businesses and industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ‎

This article provides practical guidance regarding how employers should address eligibility and coverage issues under their group health plans resulting from the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19).  For more information on legal issues relating to the coronavirus, see Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Site.