Insurance Companies to Cover Free At-Home Covid Tests Starting 1/15

Starting on January 15, 2022, private health insurers will be required to cover up to EIGHT home COVID-19 tests per month (per person) for people on their plans. PCR tests and rapid tests ordered or administered by a health provider will continue to be fully covered by insurance with no limit. Here is some key information regarding the new policy:

• Private insurers can pay for at-home tests upfront at preferred pharmacies and retailers, or reimburse people who buy the test kits elsewhere
• Only tests purchased on or after January 15 are required to be reimbursed, though insurance companies can choose to reimburse tests purchased earlier.
• Americans on Medicare won’t be eligible for the federal reimbursement plan, though Medicare already covers Covid-19 tests conducted in labs, and Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program plans are already required to fully reimburse the costs of FDA-approved tests.
• PCR tests and rapid tests administered by a healthcare provider will continue to be covered by insurance with no limit.

Later this month, the Biden Administration plans to launch a website where Americans can sign up to receive free at-home Covid-19 tests through the mail. The exact date for launching the website has not been revealed, but the administration said it will make 500 million tests available.