Rapid at-home Covid-19 test kits are handed out to people at Chelsea Community Connections in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on December 17, 2021.
Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty Images
Who can get the free tests?
The White House says that the 150 million Americans who have private health insurance will be eligible for full reimbursement after they buy an at-home Covid test. That includes people insured by their employer, as well as those who’ve bought a plan on the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace, Dawson said.
The new rules don’t apply to those on Medicaid and Medicare, although that could change, and those on Medicare with private insurance may be covered.
Short-term or health-care sharing plans typically won’t have to cover your tests, said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
At-home Covid tests are also an eligible expense for flexible savings accounts and health savings accounts.
Can I get any test?
Experts said we’ll have to wait for more guidance from the government to know which will be covered, but they expect that most at-home tests available at pharmacies will be included under the policy.
How do I make sure I get reimbursed by my insurer?
You’ll likely have to put in some legwork to get repaid, Dawson said.
Many people may not even be familiar with their provider’s reimbursement policy. (You can start learning about it by contacting your plan.)
It will be crucial that you keep your…
