Medicare Will Start Covering Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
The tests will be available to people who have Medicare's “Part B” outpatient benefit and handed out at participating pharmaciesThe Biden administration, seeking to fill a frustrating gap in coverage for COVID-19 tests, Thursday announced that people with Medicare will be able to get free over-the-counter tests much more easily in the coming weeks.
Last month, the administration directed private insurers to cover up to eight free tests a month for people on their plans. Officials said at the time they were still trying to figure out what to do about Medicare, which covers more than 60 million people, most of them age 65 or older and more vulnerable to severe illness from coronavirus infection.
AARP praised Medicare's decision and said it will closely follow the rollout. “The cost of paying for tests and the time needed to find free testing options are barriers that could discourage Medicare beneficiaries from getting tested, leading to greater social isolation and continued spread of the virus," Nancy LeaMond, a vice-president of the advocacy group for older people, said in a statement.
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