--- title: What You Need to Know Before Making Coronavirus Related Health Plan Updates description: "Employers should check with their agent/broker or carrier before making any coronavirus-related changes to their group health plans." image: https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/health%20plan%20b.jpg --- ![What You Need to Know Before Making Coronavirus Related Health Plan Updates](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/health%20plan%20b.jpg) # What You Need to Know Before Making Coronavirus Related Health Plan Updates - Home - [Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers](https://blog.nisbenefits.com) - What You Need to Know Before Making Coronavirus Related Health Plan Updates [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 04/21/2020 [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) [0 Comments ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/coronavirus-related-health-plan-updates#postComment) 1 Minutes *1 minute read* In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some public sector employers may be considering making changes to their group health plans. Before making any changes, employers should check with their agent/broker, health insurance carriers (for fully insured plans), and flexible spending accounts (FSA) vendors. In some cases, carriers may already be initiating some of these changes. Changes may include: - Waiving certain eligibility requirements for those who are furloughed, laid off, or had hours reduced - Allowing a High Deductible Health Plan to cover COVID-19 treatment and telehealth without a deductible - Offering a special mid-year enrollment window for employees who didn’t elect coverage during the last enrollment period - Allowing an FSA or HRA (health reimbursement arrangement) to reimburse over-the-counter drugs and feminine hygiene products Contact your [NIS Consultant](http://bit.ly/2kNfE6i) if you’re thinking of making changes. For eligibility and plan changes, written approval may need to be obtained from the carrier. Plan documents may need to be reviewed and updated. Employers would need to communicate plan changes to their employees through a summary of material modifications. For those thinking about a special mid-year enrollment, tax rules for premium payments must be considered. For more details, [download the bulletin](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20supporting%20documents/bulletin%20-%20Updating%20Health%20Plans%20for%20Coronavirus%20Changes.pdf). *[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3325505/7d4cc476-ff48-46c5-929f-09612179e77f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3325505/7d4cc476-ff48-46c5-929f-09612179e77f)* *This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.*   --- #### Tag: [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/coronavirus-related-health-plan-updates) - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/coronavirus-related-health-plan-updates&text=What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20Before%20Making%20Coronavirus%20Related%20Health%20Plan%20Updates) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/coronavirus-related-health-plan-updates) - [Follow us on Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/coronavirus-related-health-plan-updates&text=What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20Before%20Making%20Coronavirus%20Related%20Health%20Plan%20Updatesdescription=1%20minute%20read%20In%20response%20to%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic,%20some%20public%20sector%20employers%20may%20be%20considering%20making%20changes%20to%20their%20group%20health%20plans.%20Before%20making[...]&media=https://info.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/health%20plan%20b.jpg) --- [ #### CARES Act Changes Affect Retirement Plans, FSAs, & Dependent Care Accounts ##### Previous Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/cares-act-changes-affect-retirement-plans-fsas-dependent-care-accounts) [#### Updated FAQs: Compliance with ADA during COVID-19 ##### Next Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/updated-faqs-ada-compliance-covid-19) ### Leave a Reply This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Category - [Legislative News (1149)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) - [Health Insurance Solutions (504)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions) - [COVID-19 (209)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) - [Ancillary Benefits (175)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits) - [Mental Health (122)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) ### Popular Posts [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 02/16/2024 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions) [ Understanding Embedded vs. Nonembedded Deductibles ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/understanding-embedded-nonembedded-deductibles) [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 02/09/2026 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ IRS Releases 2027 Health Plan Cost-sharing Limits ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2027-health-plan-cost-sharing-limits) [ Valerie Ortiz ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/valerie-ortiz) 02/17/2026 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ 4 Employee Wellness Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2026 ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2026-employee-wellness-trends) [ Dina Lubben ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/dina-lubben) 11/14/2025 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ Trump Administration Unveils Plan to Make GLP-1 Drugs Affordable ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/trump-administration-plan-glp1-drugs-affordable) --- ## Related Posts [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Ancillary Benefits](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19), [ Mental Health](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 08 January, 2024 #### [2024 Employee Benefit Trends](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2024-employee-benefit-trends) 4 minute read Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have faced challenges in attracting and… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2024-employee-benefit-trends) [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19), [ Mental Health](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 20 December, 2023 #### [2024 Health Plan Compliance Issues](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2024-health-plan-compliance-issues) 4.5 minute read Employers should be aware of the compliance issues impacting their health plan… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2024-health-plan-compliance-issues) [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ COVID-19](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 05 July, 2023 #### [Important Information for HDHPs Regarding COVID-19 and Preventive Care](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hdhps-covid-19-and-preventive-care) 2.5 minute read The IRS recently issued Notice 2023-37, providing updated guidance for high… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hdhps-covid-19-and-preventive-care)