Medicare to Cover At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Medicare to Cover At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Medicare enrollees could be able to receive up to eight at-home tests in step with month, the centers for Medicare and Medicaid offerings (CMS) introduced on Feb. 3. CMS officers say the initiative might be up and running in early spring, but specific dates and info have no longer but been introduced. Medicare can pay eligible pharmacies and other participating locations directly, so beneficiaries will not have to pay whatever up front for the tests.

Medicare beneficiaries originally left out

whilst over the counter White residence first announced in January its plan to require insurers to pay for at-home exams, it did now not consist of insurance for Medicare beneficiaries. this could be the first time that Medicare will cover any over the counter products for free of charge to beneficiaries.

Fast tests, also referred to as antigen tests, provide results in as low as 15 mins, in comparison to the numerous days it can take to get results from PCR — polymerase chain response — tests, which must be processed via a lab. PCR exams, however, are typically taken into consideration greater accurate than rapid antigen assessments. The rapid tests are typically bought in boxes of two.

Until over-the-counter application starts, Medicare beneficiaries can nonetheless request four free over the counter tests delivered to their houses through federal government internet site covidtests.gov. These tests are available to all Americans. If a beneficiary’s provider prescribes a PCR look at, they are available at no charge at more than 20,000 free testing sites. In addition, people with Medicare can still get admission to one PCR test free of charge, without a prescription.