Before the pandemic, Medicare covered telehealth services including office visits, psychotherapy, consultations, and certain other medical or health services only under certain circumstances. The beneficiary receiving those services had to be located in a rural area and in a medical facility designated as an eligible originating site. The beneficiary’s home was generally not considered an eligible originating site but during the emergency Medicare has waived the requirement and telehealth services can be provided in all settings – including at a patient’s home.

Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans generally already cover everything that a COVID-19 patient might experience. CMS has issued some clarifying information to update Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and insurance carriers on specific COVID-19-related charges.

In 2018 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a special enrollment period (SEP) for individuals affected by weather-related emergencies or other disasters. This is available to anyone who resides in an area that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has declared an emergency or a major disaster.

One fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the closing of local Social Security Administration offices and delays in the normal SSA processing time, making it difficult for people turning 65 to complete an application for Medicare Part B and/or premium-paid Medicare Part A. In light of this situation, CMS has announced that individuals who missed their window because of COVID-19-related issues with completing the application can have additional time to enroll.