Private insurance companies will be required to reimburse customers for up to eight at- home Covid-19 tests per month starting Saturday, according to a policy announced Monday, as the Biden Administration grapples with high demand for tests amid a soaring number of coronaviruses.
Employees of the Miami-Dade Public Library System distribute Covid-19 home rapid test kits. The photo was taken by Chan Khan.
The images are from the same source.
The Department of Health and Human Services said in a press release that private insurers can pay for at- home tests at preferred pharmacy and retailers.
Insurance companies can choose to reimburse tests purchased earlier, but only if they were purchased on or after January 15.
Medicare already covers Covid-19 tests in labs, and Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program plans are required to fully reimburse the costs of FDA-approved tests, so Americans on Medicare won't be eligible for the federal reimbursement plan.
Insurance will continue to cover rapid tests administered by a healthcare provider.
The plan was first reported by the Associated Press.
The Biden Administration plans to launch a website later this month that will allow Americans to receive free Covid-19 tests through the mail. 500 million tests will be made available when the website launches, but the exact date has not been revealed.
The quote is crucial.
The HHS Secretary said in a press release that this is part of the strategy to ramp up access to easy-to-use, at- home tests. Private health plans are required to cover at- home tests for people.
The White House said last month that it will require insurance companies to reimburse the costs of at- home tests, but it did not reveal the details of the plan. Over the past few weeks, demand for at- home tests has skyrocketed as new Covid-19 cases reach their highest levels since the beginning of the Pandemic, leading stores like Amazon and Walmart to limit the number of tests customers can purchase. Walmart and other retailers raised the prices of the tests because they couldn't keep up with demand.
There is a structure called the Tangent.
According to reports from CBS News, social media accounts that helped in the search for in-demand products like the Playstation 5 pivoted to searching for at- home Covid-19 tests last week.
Home carbon tests will be covered by insurers.
Biden is going to release free at- home covid test kits.
Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers are limiting the number of at- home covid test kits they sell.
There's a lot of shoppers who will help people buy the Covid-19 test kits.