Vol. XIX, Issue 3

January 24, 2022

Participant Communication: How to Receive Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Through HealthFlex

We held the Wespath Update to HealthFlex participants until January 20, 2022, so we could add information about how to receive at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost. Details are as follows:

The HealthFlex pharmacy plan now covers FDA-authorized at-home COVID-19 test kits. The coverage started January 15, 2022.

Here are a few important details to know:

Wespath is working with OptumRx, our pharmacy benefits administrator, to comply with this new requirement and improve this process. For example, additional retailers may be added to the "no-cost" option described above as additional pharmacies are able to support this approach. We also expect an online option to be available through the Optum store soon. We will keep Plan Sponsors and participants posted on any updates.

More information and FAQs are available at: optumrx.com/testinfo.

At-home COVID tests can also be ordered at no cost from the Federal Government from covidtests.gov, with a limit of 4 tests per residence.

Update Regarding $0 Cost Share for MDLIVE Telemedicine

To encourage the use of virtual or telehealth services during the pandemic, Congress passed a law in early 2020 that allowed HSA plans to cover 100% of the cost of virtual visits. Based on this guidance, HealthFlex has allowed MDLIVEŽ visits to be covered at 100% for all plans instead of being subject to cost-sharing. When we added MDLIVE behavioral health on January 1, 2022, we extended the same $0 cost share.

While this law expired at the end of 2021, Wespath had reason to hope we would see the IRS extend this into 2022 with other COVID relief due to industry and bipartisan requests to extend the guidance. Unfortunately, this extension has not transpired. Individuals in HSA plans who pay $0 for MDLIVE visits for services other than preventive or COVID-related care could risk the tax advantaged nature of their HSA by not paying for the service. (This is because, under IRS rules, HSA plan participants must reach their deductible before the plan covers any services, other than preventive and COVID-related care.)

As a result, HealthFlex plans to return to regular MDLIVE cost share effective March 1. Participants who use MDLIVE Behavioral Health beginning on March 1 will be covered by HealthFlex like a traditional behavioral health office visit. This is different than a medical visit through MDLIVE Telehealth, which has its own cost share design for HealthFlex participants (see the image below).

We will notify all participants of this directly. For individuals in HSA plans, we will also address whether MDLIVE services received between January 1-February 28, 2022 may need a payment adjustment.

Congress or the IRS may still take action to extend the special rule. If that happens, Wespath will re-evaluate the benefit to participants vs. disruption that returning to the $0 cost share for MDLIVE services will cause when making a decision.

Not Sure How to Access a Well-Being Program? There's a Video for That

To enhance the well-being brochure that is being mailed to participants, we created a series of videos that explain how to find—and use—many of the HealthFlex well-being programs on the Virgin PulseŽ app. Participants can view the videos via a QR code in the brochure.

You can find all the videos as part of a playlist on Wespath's YouTube channel. We will be sharing these videos individually and collectively through a variety of channels. We invite you to share the videos with your participants as well.

Improvements Made to the At-Home Blueprint for Wellness® Self-Collection Kit

The at-home Blueprint for Wellness test has a few new features and an updated name. Quest Activate (titled Activate Self-Collection on the registration webpage) has several improvements, including:

IRS Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Will be Available by March 2

Wespath will send the 1095-B form to participants by March 2. Participants will either receive the form in the mail or via e-mail, depending on their preference selected in Benefitsolver.

Form 1095-B is used to report certain information to the IRS and to taxpayers about individuals who are covered by minimum essential coverage. The form will report the months in which participants and their dependents were covered in HealthFlex in 2021.

The form will also be available in Benefitsolver after March 2.


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a general agency of The United Methodist Church

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