April 11, 2023 – Over three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joe Biden signed a House bill to immediately end the COVID-19 national emergency for the U.S. While the White House initially planned to extend both the national emergency and public health emergency until May 11, the newly signed bill ended the national emergency.
COVID-19 has killed over 1 million people in the United States since 2020. The chaos of the pandemic urged former President Donald Trump to issue a national emergency declaration in March 2020, allowing the federal government to mobilize resources and provide support for activities beyond the confines of public health. It also allowed people to take advantage of telehealth opportunities from the safety of their home, as well as free COVID vaccines for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries once they were available. Eventually, the Biden administration would require private insurance companies to cover the test with no out-of-pocket costs.
After the public health emergency ends on May 11, those with private insurance may have to pay for any COVID tests they need. Telehealth will still be an available option for those who need it, and the government’s stockpile will continue to be utilized depending on the supply.