Communities in every part of Alaska are distributing several free-at-home COVID-19 test kits, especially during the holidays. In addition, the Alaska municipality bought about 25,000 at-home rapid test kits distributed to adult living facilities for residents and staff earlier in the year. The aim was to help the city’s most vulnerable individuals access these test kits.
Currently, Alaska residents can buy at-home kits from a list of private providers, and other people can get them for free. Rapid at-home test kits are also available for a pilot program for individuals arriving at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. In addition, the Borough of Juneau and the city are distributing the rapid at-home test kits at the city hall and its three libraries, among other locations (Maguire, 2022).
Under the Joe Biden Administration, the federal government pledged to distribute 500 million kits, and Americans can order them through the federal site; COVIDtests.gov. Every household can, however, order only four free test kits. Also, according to the federal government, the tests will be shipped within 7 to 12 days of ordering. The United States Postal Service will deliver the test kits using priority mail for orders from Alaska (Morris, 2022). In this report, we will discuss how various insurers in Alaska provide coverage and reimbursement for at-home rapid tests.
How To Get Reimbursement
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska
The Biden strategy to fight the Delta coronavirus and the omicron variant included insurer-funded rapid at-home COVID-19 testing. In addition, the rules and regulations regarding health plan reimbursement for at-home tests purchased by consumers were made available. This mandate, therefore, applies to all commercial plans (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, 2022).
The eligible tests are those with full EUA or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization and should be designated as home tests used for diagnostic purposes. Tests for purposes such as travel or work compliance continue to be not covered. The company will apply the quantity limit of eight individual tests and not package per covered member per 30 days. These tests are not available for Medicare members. Members may submit a specific claim form to request reimbursement for eligible tests (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, 2022).
Instructions for requesting reimbursement
Claim reimbursement form only for at-home tests purchased for you or covered members. To be eligible, the following must apply in addition to the above information.
The purchase date must be January 15, 2022, or later. A separate claim form is required if reimbursement is needed for several members. Members must provide documentation such as purchase or shipping receipt that includes the amount paid, the test purchased, and the total number of tests. They must also provide a photo or a copy of the barcode from the test package, and the tests must be used when a person has direct exposure or have COVID-19 related symptoms and not for school or work events (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, 2022).
The above information also applies to the reimbursement request form for COVID-19 at-home tests that members have paid for out of pocket. By submitting these claims, you as the member agree that the above conditions are met. The reimbursement form contains (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, 2022):
- General information like patient name, ID number, and phone number
- The required information includes the date of purchase, total cost, number of tests, manufacturer details, and place of purchase.
- Reason for the test and lastly signature of the member.
Members should ensure that the form is fully completed, signed, and returned for their information to be processed. One can send a completed form and documents via email through a secure inbox or mail to Premera BCBSOA, and details are provided in the form (Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, 2022).
AlaskaCare
Effective January 15, through the end of the federal public health emergency period, AlaskaCare Health Plans pharmacy benefit will cover at home over-the-counter, FDA approved COVID-19 tests. The plan will cover eight tests per month per covered member. The new coverage requirement applies to the AlaskaCare Employee Plan. The AlaskaCare Retiree plan is exempted from these requirements, but the Division temporarily provides similar coverage for kits to retiree plans to support members during the emergency period (State of Alaska, 2022).
Employee Plan members can obtain at-home test kits at Sam’s Club Pharmacy or Rite Aid Pharmacy with no up-front payment. Members should thus go to the pharmacy counter, present their OptumRx pharmacy benefit Id card, and ask to submit the OTC test to their plan for coverage (State of Alaska, 2022).
If a member purchased an OTC test from other sources, they would need to pay for the test upfront and submit a claim to OptumRx for reimbursement. The plan will reimburse you up to $12 per test. Only tests purchased on or after January 15 will be eligible for reimbursement under the plan. Also, AlaskaCare does not cover OTC COVID-19 tests used for employment. Members can receive reimbursement no later than 30 days after receiving the claim. Members should submit their claims within one year of the purchase date, and a purchase receipt should be provided so that your claim can be processed (State of Alaska, 2022).
Moda Health
Moda Health members can now get free at-home OTC COVID-19 tests via the US government website: COVIDtests.gov. There will be a set of four free tests per individual.
Members with family and individual or employer group coverage can pick up the test at their in-network pharmacy. You are required to show your Moda Health member ID card to get a free test. The plan will reimburse members if the pharmacy cannot process the order. Members can buy the test online or at another in-person retailer and then use the plan claim form to get reimbursed. The plan will reimburse up to eight tests per member at $12 per test over 30 days. This only includes tests purchased after or on January 15 (Moda Health, 2022).
Summary
Private insurance companies in Alaska like the Premera blue cross blue shield of Alaska, Moda, and AlaskaCare have adopted the Biden administration guidance requiring them to cover at-home rapid tests. All these insurers cover FDA or EUA authorized at-home test kits purchased in or out of network for their members. In addition, all these insurers have stated where the test kits can be purchased either online or at in-person retailers or pharmacies.
The maximum amount that a member can be reimbursed under the mentioned insurers is $12 per test, and the reimbursement process can take up to 30 days after receipt of the form. Premera Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alaska has outlined specific guidelines for getting reimbursed for its members. Members should submit their completed form together with the purchase receipt as a proof of purchase.
References
Maguire, S. (2022). Alaska sees strong demand for at-home COVID-19 tests, with 25,000 coming to Anchorage. alaskasnewssource.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2021/12/24/alaska-sees-strong-demand-at-home-COVID-19-tests-with-25000-coming-anchorage/.
Moda Health. (2022). COVID-19: What you need to know. Modahealth.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.modahealth.com/community/COVID-19/.
Morris, C. (2022). How to get your free at-home COVID tests. Fortune. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://fortune.com/2022/01/18/how-to-get-free-at-home-COVID-tests-COVIDtests-gov-omicron/.
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska. (2022). Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska Response to COVID-19. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.premera.com/ak/provider/coronavirus-faq/.
State of Alaska. (2022). Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information and Resources for AlaskaCare Members. Doa.alaska.gov. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://doa.alaska.gov/drb/headlines/2020/03/coronavirus/index.html#hometest.
