Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-cb49a8458f33a698c3a4f3b721835270


WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. The Biden administration announced the change Monday as it looks to lower costs and make testing for the virus more convenient amid rising frustrations.

Under the new policy, first detailed to the AP, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit. A family of four, for instance, could be reimbursed for up to 32 tests per month. PCR tests and rapid tests ordered or administered by a health provider will continue to be fully covered by insurance with no limit.

President Joe Biden faced criticism over the holiday season for a shortage of at-home rapid tests as Americans traveled to see family amid the surge in cases from the more transmissible omicron variant. Now the administration is working to make COVID-19 home tests more accessible, both by increasing supply and bringing down costs.

Later this month, the federal government will launch a website to begin making 500 million at-home COVID-19 tests available via mail. The administration also is scaling up emergency rapid-testing sites in areas experiencing the greatest surges in cases.

*snip*

[pidge]

1. Those on Medicare not covered....that includes me.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. But the tests will be, as they are now, free of charge through Medicare.

So you won't have a cost, so there's nothing to be reimbursed.

...For Americans without health insurance and those covered by Medicare or Medicaid, the Biden administration said it will distribute 50 million free at-home tests to testing sites, community health centers, and rural clinics...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/your-at-home-covid-19-tests-can-be-reimbursed-by-health-insurance-next-year/ar-AAS1xKB

You should be able to schedule a test with any doctor or clinic that accepts Medicare and get tested free of charge now. This new action doesn't take that away.

It appears that this is not intended to change the coverage of the cost of the tests for those who have their medical insurance through Medicare but to expand the covered cost to those who are covered by private insurance.

❤

[pidge]

6. Thank you...makes me feel better.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. You're welcome, pidge. I'm glad. ❤

[orleans]

3. so this is good but...

some of those anti vaxers won't bother getting tested

and those without insurance, medicare, or public aid -- sol

[forthemiddle]

4. So my insurance premiums will go up next year?

If someone is required (for work) to be tested twice a week, why should my insurance have to cover that?
If someone is somewhat of a hypochondriac, and thinks they need to be tested 8 times a month, why should my insurance cover that?
8 times a month? Who needs to be tested that often?

I think free tests are fine, but I am not liking the increased cost to my insurance company (and eventually my premiums) to be sending 8 tests a month to people.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. May the odds be ever in your favor.

The administration is trying to incentivize private insurers to cover the tests up-front and without a cumbersome reimbursement process. Insurance plans that work with pharmacies and retailers to cover the up-front costs of the tests will be required to reimburse only up to $12 per test if purchased through an out-of-network retailer. Plans that don’t move proactively to set up a network of pharmacies would have to cover the full retail price that the customer paid — which could be more than $12 per test.

The two main health insurance industry groups said insurers would carry out the administration’s order, but cautioned consumers it won’t be as easy as flipping a switch.

“Health insurance providers will work as quickly as possible to implement this guidance in ways that limit consumer confusion and challenges,” Matt Eyles, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. “While there will likely be some hiccups in early days, we will work with the administration to swiftly address issues as they arise.”

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association had a more direct response. “We are concerned that the policy does not solve for the limited supply of tests in the country and could cause additional consumer friction as insurers stand up a program in just four days’ time,” Kim Keck, the group’s president, said in a statement.