Update 1/15/22: This new insurance benefit is now live. Below are links to some options which can get reimbursed (some affiliate links are found below):
- Every home in US can get 4 free tests directly from COVIDtests.gov with no credit card number needed
- Amazon: iHealth 2-pack for $19.80
- Target.com: Access bio 2-pack for $21.99
- Walmart.com: BinaxNOW 2-pack for $19.88 (goes in-and-out of stock)
- Costco.com: Flowflex 5-pack for $47.99
- Costco.com: Flowflex 25-pack for $199.99
Amazon: On/Go 2-pack for $24Amazon: On/Go 20-pack for $229- Let us know if there are other options to buy these and we’ll add in the links.
Multi-pack tests would presumably count as separate tests for reimbursement, e.g. if you buy a two-pack for $24 you should be able to get the entire $24 reimbursed, but you may want to check with your insurer to verify that. (See also these comments.)
Original Post 1/11/22:
A new rule set in place for U.S. health insurance companies requires them to cover the cost of at-home tests ordered online or purchased from a store. Insurance companies will be required to cover up to $12 per test and up to 8 over-the-counter tests per person each month. This new benefit begins on January 15.
White House press release | FAQ
Pharmacies might be able to give you the products for free and bill insurance directly. If not, you can submit a claim to insurance and get reimbursed afterward. It’s useful to have some at-home tests on hand in case you need to test before travel or after getting symptoms, I’ll probably order a few to keep on hand in case of need.
These rapid Covid tests are still available on Amazon at 2 for $19.80 (affiliate link) so they’d be totally covered beginning January 15, though you might have to submit a claim with insurance.
There are likely non-rapid tests available also for at-home use which require mailing out the test; not sure how much those cost. If anyone has more information on the best options to use, ideally keeping within the $12 allowance, feel free to share in the comments below. We appreciate when readers show respect to each other in the comments. Thanks
Hat tip to Dansdeals
View Comments (285)
Insurance coverage mandate to end on 5/11. It was a fantastic way to get some free spending
@will @chucksithe
Does anyone know if this program is still in place?
My 'insurer' (UMR, part of United Healthcare, but not really an insurer, admin for employer self-insurance) declined my claim for January, but the only way I found out was by logging and viewing the claim. That said I need to submit to to my Rx provider, so I've done that today. The Rx folks have a form on their website. It might be that other insurers are trying to fob the claim off in this way, legitimately or not. P2 submitted directly to United and was reimbursed without an issue.
Anyone received reimbursement from their insurer? Filed my claim on 31JAN and yet to receive a check
express scripts approved my claims the next business day and got the check in about a week
I got mine from my HMO.
I sent 2 claims for Jan and feb for costco 5 pack. They only reimbursed me for 8 tests.
I need to follow-up with them.
Anybody had success filing an online claim with Aetna? They are really making the process difficult.
Family of 4 here. Aetna reimbursed me February for antigen tests from Walmart and Amazon with the general claim pdf form sent via secure message. In early March I bought 6 emed.com kits and received a check in the mail a lot quicker than past reimbursements. In late March I bought 6 more emed.com kits and used the easier general claims online form and it looks like it's going to be reimbursed as well-disbursing charges across multiple members even though I claimed these as P2 instead of P1.
Have you been able to get reimbursement from Aetna for the travel purpose covid test kit from Emed? That is actually great, but Aetna on their website mentioned they do not reimburse for the travel purpose kit.
https://www.emed.com/products/covid-at-home-testkit-six-pack
Yes, I specifically got reimbursed for it. You can make monitoring appointments I think for the binaxnow separately.
I saw a service for under $20 that monitors you as well for the Ihealth test kits.
I just ordered some of the lucira tests (LAMP). We'll see if they still reimburse for those. I bought 4 of those a year ago.
You can also order them directly from CVS for no cost for aetna.
The one available in CVS "BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test" is not valid for international travel. Did you get reimbursed for the purchases in late march?
Yes, got reimbursed for emed purchase (qty 6) except for shipping charge.
Sorry, I am still asking again, so you were reimbursed both times right? just want to be sure before I buy.
Correct.
Thanks a lot!
3rd batch of emed got reimbursed. (At least according to the Aetna claims site). This time shipping was covered as well. Even the insurance company doesn't know their own rules after mergers and running on multiple different mainframes and software packages. https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/six-levels-down/ I'm sending in for reimbursement for a couple of LAMP tests to see if they still get reimbursed. https://checkit.lucirahealth.com/ They don't come with telehealth monitoring, but can be ordered here with telemonitoring. https://www.azova.com/testing/lucira/
Qty 2 lucira was reimbursed plus tax.
Isn't it just a form you fill out and upload a receipt?
Express Scripts wants a pharmacy receipt, pharmacy NPI, etc. for normal claims, and didn't specify any exceptions for covid tests bought off the shelf. I googled the NPI for Costco RX in Seattle WA where my order shipped from, and wrote "Online order from Costco.com for retail Covid-19 test, no pharmacy receipt available" in the note. It was approved so I guess they were ok with that, but YMMV.
1/17: Bought a two-pack off Amazon, submitted receipt to United HealthCare and included the tax
2/19: Check for the amount I specified
Is state sales tax also reimbursable or just the price for rapid test?
https://special.usps.com/testkits
@chucksithe
USPS has 4-Count At-Home COVID-19 Tests for FREE. Shipping is free.
Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Orders will ship free starting in late January
Gov test thru USPS are live
https://special.usps.com/testkits
This is the USPS link from
https://www.covidtests.gov/
I do not want my tax dollars spent on this kind of dumb shit. How much money have they wasted on this charade?
What else should we not spend YOUR TAX DOLLARS on? Taking notes...