The Expansion of Testing Is Just the Latest in a Long List of COVID-Fighting Accomplishments by the Administration
Today, the Biden administration announced that Americans with private health insurance will be able to access free at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests starting in mid-January. This action shows how President Biden and his administration are committed to saving lives and ending this pandemic as swiftly as possible using every tool at our disposal.
Each month, individuals with insurance will be able to get up to eight over-the-counter tests for free. The White House also announced that insurance companies are setting up systems to provide free tests to consumers up front without requiring reimbursement. The announcement comes after the Biden administration purchased 500 million free rapid tests to send to American families.
AP: Home Covid Tests To Be Covered By Insurers Starting Saturday. “Under the new policy 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.” [AP, 1/10/22]
New York Times: Private Insurers Must Cover Eight At-Home Virus Tests A Person Per Month, The Biden Administration Says. “People who provide their insurance information will be able to get the tests with no out-of-pocket costs at certain pharmacies; in other cases, they will have to file claims to their insurers for reimbursement, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, just as they often do for medical services… The Biden administration is also working on other efforts to get tests to people regardless of their insurance status, including a plan to deliver 500 million free rapid tests to the homes of Americans who order them, starting later this month.” [New York Times, 1/10/22]
Bloomberg Law: Biden Team Mandates Coverage Of Rapid, At-Home Covid Tests. “While a family of four…could get up to 32 covered tests per month, there’s no limit on the number of tests, including at-home tests, that are covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment…HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement…‘Since we took office, we have more than tripled the number of sites where people can get COVID-19 tests for free, and we’re also purchasing half a billion at-home, rapid tests to send for free to Americans who need them. By requiring private health plans to cover people’s at-home tests, we are further expanding Americans’ ability to get tests for free when they need them.’” [Bloomberg Law, 1/10/22]
The Hill: Biden Officials Require Insurers To Cover Eight At-Home Tests Per Month. “The Biden administration on Monday issued rules requiring private health insurers to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests starting Jan. 15, amid pressure to make testing more available. Under the policy, insurers will be required to cover the cost of eight at-home COVID-19 tests per person per month.” [The Hill, 1/10/22]
Newsweek: U.S. Private Health Insurers Now Required To Cover At-Home COVID Tests. “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.” [Newsweek, 1/10/22]
Fierce Healthcare: Insurers Must Cover At-Home Covid-19 Tests Starting Jan. 15 Under New CMS Directive. “The frequently-asked questions document released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is an effort to improve access to at-home tests, which have been in short supply in recent weeks amid a surge of the virus fueled by the Omicron variant. The administration, which announced it would install the requirement last month, also wants insurers to take steps to ensure consumers can get the tests at the pharmacy counter with no out-of-pocket costs. ‘Testing is critically important to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, as well as to quickly diagnose COVID-19 so that it can be effectively treated,’ said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Director Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in a statement. ‘Today’s action further removes financial barriers and expands access to COVID-19 tests for millions of people.’” [Fierce Healthcare, 1/10/22]