Starting on April 4, 2022, individuals with Medicare Part B can take advantage of a new initiative to receive up to eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests in April, with the option to obtain an additional set of eight free tests every subsequent month until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is important to note that these tests must be obtained prior to the end of each calendar month in order to take advantage of the initiative. This program aims to increase access to testing and provide individuals with the necessary tools to monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under this initiative, individuals can obtain over-the-counter COVID-19 tests from participating pharmacies or healthcare providers. It is recommended that you check with your local pharmacy or healthcare provider to confirm their participation in the program. If your provider is participating, they will bill Medicare on your behalf and provide you with the necessary tests. A partial list of participating pharmacies can be found at https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus. When obtaining your tests, it is important to bring your red, white, and blue Medicare card, even if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D plan. However, in some cases, the pharmacy may be able to obtain the necessary information to bill Medicare without the card. With these tests readily available, individuals can take proactive steps to monitor their health and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It is important to note that individuals do not need to be current customers or patients of a participating pharmacy or healthcare provider to obtain their free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. Eligible pharmacies and healthcare providers that voluntarily participate in this initiative can provide the tests to anyone who requests them, regardless of their status as a current customer or patient. Obtaining these tests will not impact any existing prescriptions or healthcare services in place. This allows for greater accessibility and convenience for individuals seeking to take proactive measures to monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under this initiative, eligible pharmacies or healthcare providers that participate will provide free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests to individuals. There is no out-of-pocket cost to the individual as long as they obtain the tests from a participating provider. It is important to note that Medicare will only cover up to eight over-the-counter tests per calendar month. If an individual obtains more than eight tests in a given month, Medicare will not cover the additional tests. The individual may be responsible for the cost of any additional tests obtained in that month, unless they have additional health coverage that may cover the cost. It is recommended that individuals with additional coverage check whether their plan will cover any additional tests obtained beyond the Medicare quantity limit. It is also important to note that tests may be packaged with more than one test per box, so the eight tests may come in fewer than eight boxes. By obtaining these tests through participating providers, individuals can take proactive steps to monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19, without incurring additional costs.

It is important to note that Medicare coverage and payment for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will begin on April 4, 2022. The coverage will be available for up to eight tests per calendar month that an individual receives from a participating pharmacy or healthcare provider after the initiative starts. Medicare will not provide payment for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests obtained prior to April 4, 2022. This means that individuals who obtained tests before this date will not be able to receive reimbursement for those tests through this initiative. By obtaining tests from participating providers after April 4, 2022, individuals can take advantage of Medicare coverage and take proactive steps to monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Under the initiative, individuals can receive up to eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests each calendar month starting on April 4, 2022. It’s important to note that if an individual receives eight tests within the current calendar month, they will have to wait until the next calendar month to get more tests. For instance, if an individual receives eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests on April 14, 2022, through this initiative, they will not be eligible for another round of eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests until May 1, 2022. It’s essential to remember that the number of boxes may not necessarily correspond with the number of tests available as multiple tests can come in a single box. By taking advantage of this initiative, individuals can take proactive steps to monitor their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 without having to worry about the costs associated with these tests.

Medicare beneficiaries cannot submit a claim for a COVID-19 over-the-counter test. However, participating pharmacies or health care providers can bill Medicare on behalf of the beneficiary for the test. It is essential to check if the pharmacy or health care provider is participating in the initiative before obtaining the test.