Courtesy of Medicare
People with Medicare can request free over-the-counter tests for home delivery at covidtests.gov.
By Forum Staff
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) announced on Thursday that 3.7 million New Yorkers enrolled in Medicare will have rapid COVID-19 tests covered through their insurance.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced that people in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month at no cost and without need for reimbursement.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Gillibrand
“As cities and towns across the state continue grappling with the impacts of this pandemic, it’s vital that everyone has free and easy access to testing—not just those with private insurance,” Sen. Gillibrand said.
The announcement follows a successful push from Gillibrand and her colleagues via a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator ChiquitaBrooks-LaSure urging them to require Medicare to cover this cost for beneficiaries. Now, an additional 61 million Americans enrolled in Medicare and Medicare Medicare Advantage and 3.7 million New Yorkers, including those at highest risk of severe illness, have equal access to testing amidst a surge in Omicron cases and hospitalizations across the country, Gillibrand noted.
“This announcement is great news for the nearly 4 million New Yorkers enrolled in Medicare who are set to be covered for rapid COVID-19 tests,” Gillibrand said. “As cities and towns across the state continue grappling with the impacts of this pandemic, it’s vital that everyone has free and easy access to testing—not just those with private insurance. Today, we are one step closer to reaching this goal and I am thrilled the Biden administration has expanded its guidance to require Medicare to cover the cost of over-the-counter COVID tests for all beneficiaries.”
Until benefits start this spring, people with Medicare can access free tests through a number of channels, including requesting free over-the-counter tests for home delivery at covidtests.gov.
