Individuals with private health insurance coverage or group health plans can now obtain at-home Covid-19 test kits with no upfront charges or be eligible for reimbursement under the Biden/Harris Administration’s mandate, which went into effect on January 15, 2022.
Insurance companies and health plans must now cover eight free at-home testing per month for each covered member.
What Is an At-Home Covid-19 Test?
At-home Covid-19 test kits are diagnostic tests for active coronavirus infections that detect particular proteins on the virus’s surface.
If you have come into contact with someone who has Covid-19 or is experiencing symptoms, you should isolate yourself at home and wait 3-5 days before getting the test to guarantee the virus is discovered.
How to Get Reimbursed for Your At-Home Covid Test Kits in Georgia
Ambetter from Peach State Health Plan
As of January 15, 2022, Ambetter Meridian members can receive Covid-19 at-home testing kits at no cost.
The best way to get a testing kit for free is to purchase one from a pharmacy in Ambetter’s network. To see a list of in-network pharmacies, click here.
If you choose to purchase an at-home Covid 19 testing kit outside of the network, you can still get it reimbursed by filling out the member reimbursement form.
To learn more about Ambetter’s policies regarding this new mandate, click here.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem has a section in the Covid-19 Resource Center titled, Individual & Family and Employer Group Plans, listing coverage information for Covid-19 Testing.
They state that the type of plan you have will determine whether you can directly order an at-home test from Anthem.
If you want to be reimbursed for over-the-counter tests, you will need to save your receipts, log into your anthem account online and submit a claim in the Claims and Payments section.
Bright Health
Bright’s FAQ Covid-19 Resource page states toward the bottom that they will cover at-home Covid-19 test reimbursement according to the mandate.
Starting January 15, Bright HealthCare will cover diagnostic at-home tests for members under their individual, family plan, and small group members.
Members can purchase FDA-approved tests either online or through a pharmacy or store. You will need to pay for your test upfront, but you will be reimbursed for the actual cost of the test.
To submit a reimbursement claim, you need to fill out the form and include your proof of purchase and mail it to the address provided on the form. Or you can visit the Member Hub and send a secure message with the reimbursement form and proof of purchase online.
CareSource
According to CareSource’s Covid-19 Information and Resources page, there are two different ways members can receive free at-home tests:
- in-network pharmacy near you, grab an FDA-approved test and take it to the pharmacy counter, where they will use your Express Scripts ID to check you out. For more information on this process, check out this brochure.
- Express Scripts online, click “Order at-home Covid-19 tests,” and submit your order. Tests will be shipped to your home. For more information regarding this process, click here.
If you could not get your FDA-approved test for free with no upfront cost, you are still eligible for reimbursement of up to $12 per test. To file a reimbursement claim, click here.
Cigna Healthcare of Georgia
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 on the box and submit a claim for reimbursement. You can submit the claim through the mail or by faxing it.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente’s Covid-19 testing resource page states that they offer reimbursement. To submit a reimbursement, click here.
To be eligible to submit a claim, you need to do the following:
- Purchase an FDA-approved at-home test.
- Keep your receipt and test kit box (for the UPC)
You can submit your reimbursement claim online or by mail.
Oscar Health Plan of Georgia
Oscar’s at-home Covid test reimbursement FAQ does not state that you can get free at-home testing kits through their in-network pharmacies upfront. They do, however, state that “you may be able to present your member ID and ask them to bill your insurance just like you would a medication at no cost to you.” (HIOSCAR.com)
To check which pharmacies are in their network, click here.
If you have a test, you would like to get reimbursed, visit Caremark.com, sign in, select Plan & Benefits, and request reimbursement.
To be eligible for reimbursement, you must be an active member enrolled in individually purchased health care or a small group plan, bought an FDA-approved test, and have the receipt from the purchase.
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:
- For no upfront costs, members must visit an in-store pharmacy counter at a pharmacy that is in-network. To see a list of in-network pharmacies, click here.
- For reimbursement, you can purchase an FDA-approved test in-store or online and submit your receipt online at 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.
Resources:
Hyperlinks used in the article:
- https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/01/10/biden-harris-administration-requires-insurance-companies-group-health-plans-to-cover-cost-at-home-covid-19-tests-increasing-access-free-tests.html
- https://guide.ambetterhealth.com/
- https://ambetter.pshpgeorgia.com/content/dam/centene/peachstate/ambetter/PDFs/AMB-GA-Mbr-RMCF-COVID-Test.pdf
- https://ambetter.pshpgeorgia.com/coronavirus/covid-19-home-testing-kits.html
- https://www.anthem.com/coronavirus/blog/prevention-and-getting-care/coverage-over-the-counter-kits/
- https://www.anthem.com/login/
- https://brighthealthcare.com/covid-19
- https://cdn1.brighthealthplan.com/docs/covid_19/covid_otc_test_reimbursement_evolent.pdf?_ga=2.8002930.1119154873.1644614590-1416111415.1644614590
- https://www.caresource.com/ga/members/tools-resources/covid19/marketplace/
- https://www.caresource.com/members/tools-resources/find-my-prescriptions/find-a-pharmacy/
- https://www.caresource.com/documents/multi-exc-m-1144551-esi-covid-otc-test-communications_final/
- http://www.express-scripts.com/register
- https://www.express-scripts.com/covid-19/resource-center
- http://www.express-scripts.com/covid-19/resource-center
- https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/
- https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/coronavirus/covid-otc-med-claim-form.pdf
- https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/georgia/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/testing
- https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/content/dam/kporg/final/documents/forms/member-reimbursement-covid-claims-form-wa-en.pdf
- https://www.hioscar.com/blog/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement
- https://www.hioscar.com/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement
- https://www.hioscar.com/member/search/results/facilities?specialty_id=3336C0003X&search_query=Retail%20Pharmacy
- http://caremark.com/
- 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
