FRIDAY, Jan. 4, 2022 (HealthDay Information)
Medicare will quickly supply as much as 8 loose COVID speedy exams a month to seniors enrolled within the govt medical health insurance program, the Biden management introduced Thursday.
The brand new coverage for the over the counter exams will take impact in early spring. The at-home exams might be to be had at pharmacies and different places for purchasers with Medicare’s “Section B” outpatient get advantages, which about 90% of enrollees have.
This would be the first time that Medicare has lined an over the counter check without charge to recipients, the Related Press reported.
Get right of entry to to loose COVID speedy exams may also be to be had to other people with Medicare Benefit, a non-public insurance coverage possibility utilized by 4 in 10 Medicare enrollees. The ones plans can already quilt over the counter COVID-19 exams as a supplemental get advantages, the AP reported.
Medicare will proceed to offer loose lab-based PCR checking out, however the ones exams must be ordered through a clinician or a licensed well being care skilled, White Area officers stated.
Final month, the Biden management advised non-public insurers to offer as much as 8 loose at-home exams a month for his or her purchasers.
Thursday’s announcement that Medicare will do the similar used to be applauded through the AARP, an advocacy crew for older other people.
“AARP applauds lately’s announcement that can ensure get admission to to at-home over the counter COVID-19 exams without charge for Medicare’s 64 million beneficiaries… Expanded get admission to to no-cost checking out will lend a hand give protection to seniors who’ve been hit toughest through the pandemic and make sure they are able to stay attached with their family members and group,” Nancy LeaMond, an AARP government vice chairman and its leader advocacy and engagement officer, stated in a observation.
“Each and every American will have to have a very easy option to get at-home COVID exams. We all know that individuals 65 and older are at a lot higher chance of significant sickness and demise from this illness — they want equivalent get admission to to equipment that may lend a hand stay them protected,” she added. “The price of paying for exams and the time had to to find loose checking out choices are obstacles that might discourage Medicare beneficiaries from getting examined, main to bigger social isolation and endured unfold of the virus.”
Earlier than Thursday’s announcement, Medicare enrollees may get loose at-home exams through inquiring for 4 loose exams for domestic supply via covidtests.gov or choosing up loose exams up from group places comparable to libraries or senior facilities that distribute them. The ones choices will stay to be had whilst the brand new coverage goes into impact, the AP reported.
Additional information
Seek advice from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Regulate and Prevention for extra on COVID exams.
SOURCE: Related Press
Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
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