On this page, you will find information on COVID-19 and related Johns Hopkins Employer Health Programs (EHP) coverage.
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ended on May 11, 2023. Coverage for vaccines, testing and other services listed on this page will continue until indicated otherwise.
Jump to:
Vaccines
Telehealth
Tests
Prescriptions
Resources
COVID-19 Vaccine
Everyone age 6 months and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone age 5 and older can also receive a booster dose, based on the timing of their last dose. The vaccine and boosters for these age groups are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine and booster authorization and guidelines.
Learn about COVID-19 vaccine safety.
- Johns Hopkins EHP members do not have to pay for an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Your cost share (copay, deductible, etc.) is $0 for these vaccines during the public health emergency.
- Members can receive the vaccine from an in-network or out-of-network provider.
- Click your state’s link below to find your vaccine eligibility status. If you live outside one of the states or regions identified above, please follow the guidelines of your state and local health departments.
Telehealth
Health care provider offices have procedures in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19. You also have access to great health care through telehealth services. EHP has expanded telemedicine benefits to offer members quick access to providers anytime, anywhere.
EHP members also have 24/7 access to video visits through Johns Hopkins OnDemand Virtual Care for minor, urgent care, with no appointment needed.
- Telemedicine is covered; the “originating site” can be patient’s home. Services for diagnosis, consultation and treatment provided through telemedicine must meet all requirements of face-to-face visits between a licensed health care provider and patient, consistent with the provider’s scope of practice.
- Additional covered telemedicine services includes preventive visits, additional behavioral health and PT/OT/ST codes
- There is no restriction on place of service (POS) of rendered services.
- The same authorization requirements apply for telemedicine as face-to-face visits
- Telemedicine provided by out-of-network providers is covered and payable under member’s out-of-network benefits, if applicable.
- Telephonic consultation is covered.
COVID-19 Tests
COVID-19 Tests
- Testing for COVID-19 is covered for an in-network or out-of-network provider.
- Members will have no cost sharing (copayments, co-insurance and deductibles) for physician-prescribed COVID-19 testing, or visits that result in COVID-19 testing, items and services provided during an office visit (including in office or telehealth provider office visits, urgent care and emergency department visits) that results in the administration of a COVID-19 test or an order for such test, but only to the extent that the items and services relate to the COVID-19 test.
- Prior authorizations are waived for COVID-19 testing and the associated visit.
At-Home Tests
EHP members have coverage for FDA-authorized over-the-counter, at-home antigen tests, per government guidelines. See the full list of authorized tests.
- Some pharmacies will accept your EHP coverage at the point of sale and you will have no out-of-pocket costs. In other cases, you can file for reimbursement through your pharmacy network. See steps below.
- EHP recommends that you save your receipt and the test box, or take a photo of the receipt and box. Make sure the price, test name and number of tests in the box are easily readable. This information may be necessary for reimbursement.
- Coverage limit: Eight tests per member per month, if purchased without a provider’s prescription. This limit applies to individual tests; if a box has multiple tests, each test is counted, not the box. EHP will not cover any tests purchased beyond the coverage limit.
- Learn more: Frequently Asked Questions from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)
- Order four free at-home tests online directly from the federal government.
Process for EHP members with CVS Caremark pharmacy coverage:
- Show your EHP member ID card to pharmacy staff at an in-network pharmacy. Many in-network pharmacies will accept your coverage at purchase with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
- If the pharmacy is not set up to accept your coverage at purchase, you can submit a reimbursement in one of two ways:
- Fill out and mail the COVID-19 Test Kit Reimbursement Claim Form. Include your proof of purchase.
- Log into your CVS Caremark account and follow the online submission process.
Please note: Member reimbursements cannot be sent directly to EHP. These reimbursements will be denied and you will be directed to submit your reimbursement to the pharmacy network directly.
Process for EHP members with Express Scripts pharmacy coverage:
- Visit your local retail pharmacy for at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost to you. Check out at the pharmacy counter and show your member ID.
- If you are not able to purchase your at-home COVID-19 test(s) at the pharmacy counter or were charged, you can submit a receipt for reimbursement. Please note: Member reimbursements cannot be sent directly to EHP. These reimbursements will be denied and you will be directed to submit your reimbursement to Express Scripts directly.
- For additional information, please visit the Johns Hopkins University Human Resources webpage.
Prescriptions
- To increase access to prescription medications, EHP is waiving the early medication refill limits for supplies of at least 30 days (for EHP members with pharmacy benefits through CVS Caremark).Members can also consider getting a 90-day supply of maintenance medications taken on a regular basis. Visit COVID-19 – Frequently Asked Pharmacy Questions or our Pharmacy page to learn more about your prescription coverage.
