The AP reports private health insurers, starting Saturday, “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, 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.” The AP says, “The insurer-covered testing would dramatically reduce costs for many Americans, and the administration hopes that by easing a barrier to more regular at-home testing, it can help slow the spread of the virus, get kids back into school more quickly and help people gather safely.”
Reuters reports the White House “also said on Monday that there is no limit to the number of COVID-19 tests, including at-home tests, that insurers must cover if they are ordered or administered by a health care provider.” White House press secretary Jen Psaki “said on Monday that Americans should be able to order the tests online later this month, noting that all contracts for 500 million rapid tests should be awarded over the next two weeks. The first two were signed last week, with two more announced on Monday.”
Politico reports, “Under the plan, private insurers can set up programs at preferred pharmacies or retailers where the upfront cost of home tests is covered for beneficiaries.” Those who “purchase home tests outside of their insurers’ preferred network must be reimbursed up to $12 per test, but plans can ‘provide more generous reimbursement up to the actual price of’ more pricey tests, according to the guidance. Still, that could create problems for consumers who don’t live near participating pharmacies or who purchase pricier home tests.”
Roll Call reports HHS Secretary Becerra said in a statement, “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.” Alliance of Community Health Plans President and CEO Ceci Connolly “said the guidance ‘fails to address the enormous barriers: significant shipping delays, sold-out pharmacies and retailers, and the early signs of price gouging.’”
The Hill reports, “Despite the new rules, there is still the issue of whether at-home rapid tests will be in stock and on store shelves for people to buy in the first place given that finding the tests has often been difficult amid the omicron wave.” Kaiser Family Foundation Health Policy Expert Larry Levitt said, “The success of the Biden Administration’s requirement that insurers pay for at-home COVID tests will depend, of course, on being able to snag those valuable tests to begin with.”
The Wall Street Journal reports the new guidelines do not apply to Medicaid, which already covers FDA-authorized at-home COVID tests. Some insurer groups criticized the Administration for not doing more sooner for test availability and affordability, while others expressed support, noting the changes could prevent price gouging.
From the news release of the American Association for Justice.
