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Vice President Mike Pence announced during a press briefing that coronavirus testing would be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance as an essential health benefit.
Published March 9, 2020
Follow our Medicare Coronavirus News page for related information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on Medicare beneficiaries.
Vice President Mike Pence announced during a March 4 press briefing that the test for COVID-19 (coronavirus) will be covered by Medicare and Medicaid, in addition to private insurance.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assigned testing for coronavirus as an essential health benefit. And under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance plans are required by law to provide coverage for essential health benefits.
As an essential health benefit, the test must also be covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
“HHS has already denominated a test for the coronavirus to be an essential health benefit, which ensures that it will be covered by people’s private health insurance. It will be covered by Medicare and Medicaid,” Pence said during the briefing.
A coronavirus test will be covered by Medicare Part B when ordered by a doctor or health care provider. As a clinical diagnostic laboratory test, beneficiaries should expect to pay nothing for the test.
Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) are required by law to offer the same benefits as Original Medicare, so Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries will also receive Medicare coverage of coronavirus tests.
Unlike other mandated diagnostic tests such as mammograms, testing for coronavirus may require patient cost-sharing for those with private (non-Medicare) health insurance plans.
As of the time of Pence’s announcement, there were at least 138 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, across 13 U.S. states. That total included 11 deaths. More than 1,200 people in the U.S. have been tested for coronavirus.
Medicare’s coverage of the test will be instrumental in fighting the disease, as the death rate for coronavirus has thus far been significantly higher among older adults. Medicare eligibility begins at age 65 and is also available to those under age 65 who have a qualifying disability.
Just days before Pence’s announcement, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Medicare to cover a vaccine for coronavirus. A vaccine for coronavirus is still being developed, with no current timetable for when one might be readily available for widespread distribution.
If you are eligible for Medicare or nearing the age of Medicare eligibility, you may be able to compare Medicare Advantage plan options available where you live.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything that Original Medicare covers, and most Medicare Advantage plans also offer prescription drug coverage, which Original Medicare doesn’t offer. Some Medicare Advantage plans may also cover things like routine dental and vision care as well as non-emergency medical transportation.
You can compare the costs and coverage of Medicare Advantage plans in your area by calling to speak with a licensed insurance agent. You can also compare plans online for free, with no obligation to enroll.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
..Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
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