Updates to COVID Coverage and Plan Deadlines as Emergency Periods End

As the declared public health and national health emergencies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic end, NRECA will return to normal operations and discontinue certain pandemic flexibilities and modifications in place since 2020.

As of May 12, 2023, the following will be applicable to participants covered by the NRECA Medical Plan:

FDA-approved COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing (and associated visits) ordered by a medical professional will be covered by the plan in accordance with each participant’s standard diagnostic lab and x-ray services coverage, subject to any applicable participant cost share.

CDC-approved and recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will be covered without participant cost share as a preventive services benefit when provided by an in-network provider.

Teladoc consultation fees will continue to be waived for general medical and mental health consultations through December 31, 2024, as permitted by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Other telemedicine visits (offered by providers outside the Teladoc network) will be covered under the participant’s physician services benefit, subject to applicable cost share for in- or out-of-network providers.

Over-the-counter COVID-19 test kit costs will no longer be covered by the NRECA Medical Plan; however, plan participants may use a tax-advantaged spending account (FSA/HSA, etc.) to purchase or seek reimbursement for these tests.

Treatment for COVID-19 will be covered by the plan in accordance with the individual’s standard plan benefit based on where treatment was provided; cost shares may apply. Antibody treatments (e.g., Paxlovid) will also be covered as a standard plan benefit subject to applicable participant cost share.

Waivers of early prescription refills on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications at in-network pharmacies will end.

Plan Deadlines for all NRECA Plans
Normal plan deadline calculations will resume on July 10, 2023, thus ending the disregarded time period used to calculate certain deadlines applicable to all employee benefit plans sponsored by NRECA. This will impact the NRECA Medical Plan (including FutureMe), NRECA Vision Plan, and NRECA Dental Plan deadlines for electing COBRA coverage and making premium payments; providing COBRA election notices; and electing HIPAA special enrollment for certain life events. Cooperatives with UMR-administered COBRA will receive specific communications regarding any applicable premium refunds.

In addition, this change will impact the filing deadlines for all claims, appeals, and/or requests for external review (if applicable) for all NRECA employee benefit plans.

Communications
This information will be featured for benefits administrators (BAs) on the Announcements module on the NRECA Employee Benefits website’s Admin homepage. Participants will be provided with this information under Announcements on the website’s participant homepage. Additionally, the second quarter issue of Energize will also feature a summary of these updates.

Questions
Should you or your co-op’s employees have specific questions about these changes, please contact NRECA’s Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm, Central time or via email at contactcenter@nreca.coop.