Washington, D.C. - This morning, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that people in either Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring. Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. This new initiative will enable payment directly to participating pharmacies and other participating entities to allow Medicare beneficiaries to pick up tests at no cost and without needing to be reimbursed.
"It's welcome news the Biden Administration heeded our calls to make free over-the-counter COVID-19 testing available to those on Medicare," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "COVID-19 tests range greatly in cost and can pose a significant financial burden, especially for older residents or those with a disability who are most at risk. This is an important step forward to protect the health of Granite Staters, and I continue to urge the administration to do more to bring down the cost of testing and ensure testing is widely accessible."
In January 2022, Congressman Pappas called for Medicare to cover the cost of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests without cost sharing, after the Biden Administration announced that private insurance and group health plans would be required to do so, and that individuals on private or group plans would be able to receive eight over-the-counter tests per month at no cost.
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