How the end of the COVID health emergency affects your Medicare

The COVID-19 public health emergency that started in January 2020 ended on May 11. When that happened, several Medicare rules and waivers that went into effect during the pandemic came to an end — and it may catch Medicare patients by surprise. 

Many of the changes were made to accommodate the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic — when hospitals were mobbed, people were encouraged not to leave their homes and patients found themselves getting medical care in unusual places. Some changes — like increased use of telehealth — are sticking around for the near future. 

Here are a few things Medicare beneficiaries can expect from their benefits post-pandemic. 

COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccines