The government has announced free COVID tests for everyone, and every insurance company is expected to pay the cost of up to eight tests each month. As per the renewed policy, the people with Medicare Part B (outpatient care coverage), including Advantage Plan enrollees, will be able to get up to eight over-the-counter tests per month for free from participating pharmacies and health-care providers.
The initiative comes after Medicare was left out of the Biden administration’s January mandate that private insurers cover the cost of at home Covid tests (also up to eight per month). It is for the very first time that Medicare has announced to cover a self-administered, over-the-counter test at no cost to beneficiaries.
Are you confused about the process of getting free at-home Covid test or lack the right information about making a claim, etc. – we’ve got you back by putting together all the information you might need in this blog post! Continue reading to learn how to obtain your free at-home COVID tests and save yourself the trouble.
How to Get a Free COVID Test at Home?
Everything appeared to be returning to normal last year, but then Omicron and other variants appeared, necessitating the need to offer residents with OTC COVID testing. The Biden administration took the free Covid test effort to assure testing availability across the country.
- Any residence in the United States, including US territories and military addresses, may get four free tests.
- If you have direct coverage via your health plan, the test will be free at the point of sale, or you will be reimbursed if you are charged for OTC COVID testing. Keep your receipts if you need to submit a claim to your insurance company for compensation. Insurance companies are obligated to pay you up to $12 for each test.
- Furthermore, you may get your free COVID exam online at covidtests.gov. The tests can take up to seven to twelve days to arrive. However, it is best to purchase them ahead of time if you need to get tested right away. Although you cannot choose the brand of your testing kit, the site says the free COVID tests are FDA-approved and utilized for quick antigen testing.
Will I Have To Pay For My At-Home Covid Test In Advance?
The Biden-Harris Administration is strongly encouraging health plans and insurers to establish a network of convenient locations across the country, such as pharmacies or retailers, where people with private health insurance can order online or walk in and pick up at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free rather than having to submit claims for reimbursement.
Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if such a programme provides direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 testing or whether they must file a claim for reimbursement. If you are charged for your test after January 15, save your receipt and file a refund claim to your insurance carrier.
There are a few things to consider here:
- The insurance would not cover the cost of over-the-counter COVID test kits required by your workplace or school.
- People who do not have private insurance are likewise not eligible for compensation.
- Furthermore, persons enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan should read the plan’s terms and conditions. Although Medicare participants and individuals without insurance are still eligible for free in-person testing (with certain limits), they are not eligible for free at-home COVID exams.
How Much Will I Have To Pay If I Buy It First And Then Make A Claim To My Insurance Company?
If you pay for an over-the-counter COVID-19 test from a pharmacy, store, or internet retailer, save your receipt and claim your insurance provider for reimbursement. For example, if you pay $34 for a two-pack of tests, your plan or insurance will be bound to paying you a refund a refund of $34.
COVID’s Free Rapid Test Program
If you start experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the virus, you should be tested. But how does the program function?
Individuals can acquire free at-home COVID test kits from the government’s official website. You may also obtain an OTC COVID test from a pharmacy or retailer (over-the-counter COVID test). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved these tests, which are considered safe to use and effective in positively identifying the COVID strain.
According to the plan, the Biden-Harris administration plans to give away over 500 million OTC COVID tests for free to people around the country. Americans with private health insurance can also have the at-home COVID testing for free or have the expenses repaid.
Who Is Eligible for the Covid Test Program?
Under the initiative, all US citizens are entitled to request free at-home COVID 19 tests and have them delivered to retail stores or pharmacies in their neighborhood. The sole restriction here is the number of tests that a single home may obtain since each household is only entitled to order four free COVID test kits. If a member of the same household attempts to request more tests for the same address, their order will be tagged as “duplicate” and will not be completed.
Individuals living in flats and multi-unit condominiums have reported being stopped from getting tests after other occupants had placed their requests. If you are experiencing this problem, you can register a request online. After you submit your order, you will get the test within 7-12 days from US Postal Service.
How Can I Get Paid for Free Covid Tests?
Reimbursements for free COVID testing are only available to people who have commercial, employer-sponsored, or student health insurance, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Each month, insurers must pay the cost of eight tests per covered person, allowing a family of four to get a total of 32 free COVID test kits at home. Furthermore, you do not require a doctor’s prescription to obtain them.
If you paid for your OTC COVID test in advance, you might have to go through your health insurance’s standard claim submission and reimbursement process. Most of the time, beneficiaries of these testing kits must submit a claim form with a copy of their receipt. Depending on your carrier, you can claim the cost of your Covid test via the website, fax, or email.
It should be mentioned that your insurance provider may establish its own reimbursement and coverage policies. For more information on the free COVID testing, contact your personal health insurance provider.