PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The tens of millions of Americans who rely on Medicare will be able to go out and get free at-home COVID-19 tests in early spring. They were initially left out when private insurance companies were told they had to start covering the tests last month.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Medicare will cover up to eight free tests per month, starting in early spring. The tests will be handed out at participating pharmacies and other locations. They'll be available to people who have Medicare's “Part B” outpatient benefit, which about 9 in 10 enrollees sign up for.
The tests will be available at participating pharmacies and stores, and Medicare participants will not have to pay anything up front. This is different from what is currently on the books for people with private insurance. They have to buy the tests first and then file to get reimbursement.
When that plan went into effect last month, Medicare was excluded because certain laws prevented the Medicare from participating, even though most of the more than 60 million people it covers are over age 65 and more vulnerable to severe illness from coronavirus infection.
The AARP was not happy about that and pushed for change.
Now, the AARP is pleased by the move saying it “will help protect seniors, who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.”
Medicare benefits are governed by a host of arcane laws and regulations, and officials said Thursday they were able to arrange for coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests by using the program's legal authority to conduct demonstration programs on innovative ways to deliver health care. This is the first time Medicare has covered an over-the-counter test at no cost to recipients.
Until this goes into effect at some point in the spring — no specific date was given — officials say people with Medicare Advantage, a private insurance option that covers about 4 in 10 Medicare enrollees, will also have access to free COVID-19 tests through their plans, officials said. Medicare Advantage plans can already cover over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as a supplemental benefit.
And if they haven’t done so, they can go to covidtests.gov to get the four free tests allowed per household.