On January 15, 2022, the Biden/Harris Administration released a mandate where individuals with private health insurance coverage or group health plans can now purchase at-home Covid-19 test kits with no upfront costs or be eligible for reimbursement.
Insurance companies and health plans are now required to cover eight free at-home tests per covered member per month.
What Is an At-Home Covid-19 Test?
At-home Covid-19 test kits are diagnostic tests that detect specific proteins on the virus’s surface and are used to detect an active coronavirus infection.
If you have come into contact with someone or are showing symptoms of Covid-19, it is best to quarantine at home and wait 3-5 days before taking the test to ensure the virus will be detected.
How to Get Reimbursed for Your At-Home Covid Test Kits in Arizona
Aetna
Their test kit FAQ page states that if you have individual, employer-sponsored, or student health commercial insurance, you are eligible to get reimbursed for at-home Covid-19 test kits.
Aetna will cover up to 8 test kits per member per month through reimbursement only. They do not currently have an option to get the test kits free with no upfront cost.
To submit a claim for reimbursement, you need to do the following:
- Aetna member website and click, Submit a Claim for Reimbursement”.
If you have an Aetna Student Health Plan, log into your school account to submit a claim.
Note: This is not available for those with Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicaid, supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans.
Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Arizona
All BCBS members can receive reimbursement from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona for up to eight at-home Covid-19 diagnostic tests per month. You can find these tests over the counter at a pharmacy, retail store, or online store. To learn more, check out their at-home Covid-19 testing and reimbursement page.
To be eligible for reimbursement, you’ll need the following:
- reimbursement form that is printed out and mailed to the address provided.
Once the forms are received, they will be processed, and a check will be mailed back. This process could take up to 60 days.
Please note:
Cigna
Their Covid-19 resource page states that they will provide free Covid-19 test kits with no upfront cost when test kits are purchased from a location in their network.
Like all other health insurance companies, according to the new Biden-Harris mandate, Cigna will provide eight at-home test kits per member per month.
If you purchase a test kit and pay upfront for it, keep the receipt and the UPC code on the box and submit a claim for reimbursement. You can submit the claim through the mail or by faxing it.
Humana
Humana’s Covid-19 FAQ page states that Humana Commercial Group members are eligible to receive eight at-home Covid-19 test kits per member per month at no out-of-pocket cost. To receive this, each member must meet the following criteria:
Some FDA approved tests are:
- reimbursement claim, remember to have a receipt from the purchase and the UPC from the test packages.
For Humana Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members, the new mandate does not apply. However, those members with this coverage should contact their state Medicaid office for more information.
United Healthcare
According to United Healthcare’s resource page for over-the-counter at home Covid-19 tests, they state that members with an OptumRx logo on their ID card are now able to purchase at-home or OTC tests in two ways:
- here.
- myuhc.com or fill out a reimbursement form and mail it in.
Covid-19 tests can be reimbursed up to $12 or $24 for kits that contain two tests in one box.
If you do not have an OptumRX logo on your member ID, you are still eligible for reimbursement at both links provided above.
Reimbursement will be provided through the method of your choosing (direct deposit or check by mail) and is typically sent within 10-20 days
Additional Important Information
The government launched a website on January 19, 2022, where you can sign up to receive four free at-home test kits per household and receive them through the USPS.
For a full list of FDA-approved at-home testing kits click here.
You can also get free at-home tests from community health centers and Medicare-certified health clinics.
Click here for FAQs about at-home test kits for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS or Arizona’s Medicaid program).
Resources:
- Biden-Harris Administration Requires Insurance Companies and Group Health Plans to Cover the Cost of At-Home COVID-19 Tests, Increasing Access to Free Tests | HHS.gov
- Where to get at-home tests for COVID-19 in Arizona and what to know about them (yahoo.com)
- At home and rapid COVID -19 testing in Arizona (azcentral.com)
Hyperlinks included in the article:
- https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families/member-rights-resources/covid19/otc-in-home-test-faqs.html
- https://member.aetna.com/MbrLanding/RoutingServlet?createSession=true&custNumSel=A&serviceName=home&ae_ptparam_cmpId=int_aetnaco
- https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/en/main/your-member-website.html/?cid=site_m_323
- https://www.bcbsm.com/index/common/important-information/covid-19.html
- https://www.bcbsm.com/content/dam/public/shared/documents/coronavirus/covid-testing-member-reimbursement-form.pdf
- https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/
- https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/coronavirus/covid-otc-med-claim-form.pdf
- https://www.humana.com/provider/coronavirus/testing-faq
- https://docushare-web.apps.external.pioneer.humana.com/Marketing/docushare-app?q=cXxg3INYrceo9abvlmEMLw%3d%3d
- https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/covid-19/coverage-and-resources/covid-19-at-home-testing-coverage
- https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/covid-19/coverage-and-resources/covid-19-at-home-testing-coverage/preferred-retailers
- https://member.uhc.com/coronavirus?q=Covid+test+reimbursement&_gl=1*19owp2*_ga*MTc1NDY5OTg4Mi4xNjQzNDE2NzE1*_ga_HZQWR2GYM4*MTY0MzQxNjcxNS4xLjEuMTY0MzQxNjc1OC4w
- https://www.uhc.com/content/dam/uhcdotcom/en/memberresources/forms/PDF-UA-Over-the-Counter-OTC-At-home-COVID-19-Test-Reimbursement-Form.pdf
- https://www.covidtests.gov/
- https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas
- https://www.hrsa.gov/coronavirus/testing-supplies
- https://azahcccs.gov/AHCCCS/AboutUs/covid19FAQ.html#Testing
