COVID-19

 

Prepare for End of COVID Emergency

The United States government has announced its intention to declare an end to the public health emergency (PHE) that existed due to COVID-19 effective May 11, 2023.

As the pandemic comes to an official end, ICSO H&W wants to ensure our Participating Employers have all the facts and access to the most up-to-date information for you and your employees. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government passed laws (the FFCRA and CARES Act) and issued regulations affecting group health plans. Coverages were mandated, deadlines extended and some restrictions on coverage were eased. Employers were required to amend plan coverages and modify procedures to keep in step with these changes.

Most of these changes were intended only to last while the government determined that a public health emergency (PHE) existed due to the pandemic. With the ending of the PHE, employers will now have to unwind some of the plan changes made in response to the PHE.

We are here to support you during this time. Please refer to the links and resources provided here to answer many of your questions. For additional support or answers to your specific needs, please reach out to your ICSO H&W Administration Team!

Government Updates

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Situation Summary
• Cases & Latest Updates

Department of Labor

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Emergency Sick Leave
• Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

• Employee Retention Credit

ThinkHR

• Employer Best Practices
• Policy Examples
• FAQs Regarding COVID-19

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Emergency Loan Small Business Guide

U.S Treasury

• Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act

U.S. Small Business Administration

• Paycheck Protection Program
  • Borrower Fact Sheet
  • Employer FAQs
  • PPP Application
• EIDL Loan Advance
• SBA Express Bridge Loan
• SBA Debt Relief

Carrier Updates

• Anthem
• BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama
• BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• OPTUM (ConnectYourCare FSA)
• Delta Dental
• Guardian
• HorizonBlue
• Independence BlueCross BlueShield (IBX)
• Kaiser Permanente
• Symetra (Life & Disability)
• Tufts Health Plan
• UnitedHealth Care
• Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Support & Service

ICSO H&W Benefit Administration Team

While the world looks and operates differently for most of us today, your ICSO H&W Administration Team is here to continue business as usual – from home. We are available during standard business hours and commit to providing the same high level of service delivery to our Participating Employers, their employees, and retirees.

Gibson Insurance

• Safe Return to Work Plan

America’s Health Insurance Plans

Stay safe & healthy!