HIGH DEDUCTIBLE FIRST DOLLAR TELEHEALTH COVERAGE ALLOWED FOR APRIL 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 2022

High Deductible First Dollar Telehealth Coverage Allowed for April 1 through December 2022

On March 15, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 amended federal law to allow first dollar coverage of telehealth service under high deductible plans for the months of April 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, without jeopardizing the status of the health savings account, i.e. members do not have to meet the deductible prior to obtaining telehealth services.

Previously, under the CARES Act, such first dollar coverage of telehealth services was allowed for plan years beginning on or before December 31, 2021. Such coverage expired for calendar-year plans in 2021. Unfortunately, to date, there is no amendment to federal law allowing for first-dollar coverage of telehealth services under high deductible plans for the months of January through March 2022.