The way to get free COVID-19 exams by insurance coverage

PDo you need to meet up together with your family members over the vacations? Here is a well timed reminder that each member of your loved ones who’s enrolled in medical health insurance is entitled to eight free, at-home, fast COVID-19 exams every month. That goes for any insurance coverage you may have — whether or not it is by Medicare, the Inexpensive Care Act market, Medicaid, or your employer — because the federal authorities nonetheless requires fast exams to be reimbursed.

There are two methods to buy these exams. The primary is to choose them up at a pharmacy or retailer marked as “on the community” in your plan. In case you’re on Medicare, here is additionally a partial listing of pharmacies that provide over-the-counter testing. In lots of circumstances the benefit is that you just should not have to pay for the exams; You may be lined instantly. Some pharmacies, together with Walgreens and CVS, additionally provide on-line applications the place yow will discover exams, enter your insurance coverage info, after which choose them up in particular person. Nevertheless, insurance coverage firms generally require individuals to purchase exams themselves after which apply for reimbursement.

Nevertheless, insurance coverage firms generally require individuals to purchase exams themselves — on-line, at a pharmacy, or from different retailers — after which apply for a refund. Your plan should reimburse you for as much as $12 per take a look at (or $24 for a field of two). Earlier than buying, you must examine your insurer’s reimbursement necessities and plan to maintain your receipt. There are some contexts the place insurers usually are not required to reimburse for testing. For instance, they don’t seem to be legally required to pay for ongoing exams required by an employer as a situation of employment.

At this level within the pandemic, fast at-home exams for COVID-19 are important instruments. Consultants suggest taking them earlier than assembly different individuals, particularly in the event that they’re at excessive danger of great sicknesses (together with these over the age of 65) or their vaccines aren’t updated. You also needs to take a look at in case you have COVID-19 signs, similar to a fever, sore throat or runny nostril, or in case you have been in touch with somebody who has had COVID-19 prior to now 5 days.

Contact us at letters@time.com.