WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King is welcoming the announcement that the Biden administration will direct Medicare and Medicare Advantage to cover the cost of at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests by early spring. The move comes after a recent push by Senator King calling for the change. Currently, most private insurance companies are required to cover the cost of up to eight over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests per person, per month, but the 61 million Americans and almost 400,000 Maine people enrolled in Medicare or private Medicare Advantage plans are not designated to get this reimbursement. Today’s policy shift will help Maine seniors – an especially at risk population – keep themselves and their loved ones safe, and slow the spread of COVID-19.

“With COVID-19 continuing to pose a threat to our communities, frequent testing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Senator Angus King. “As one of the most at-risk populations to the virus, testing is especially important for our seniors – which is why the fact that Medicare hasn’t been covering the same at-home tests as private insurers simply makes no sense. I’m glad the Biden administration listened to calls from me, my Senate colleagues, and others to implement this change, which will help thousands of older Maine people stay safe, see their loved ones, and slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Under the new initiative, Medicare will directly pay participating pharmacies and other participating entities to allow beneficiaries to pick up tests at no cost and without needing to be reimbursed. A fact sheet on the change can be found HERE. Medicare beneficiaries can still request free, at-home COVID-19 tests for delivery now at covidtests.gov.

Last week, Senator King and over a dozen of his Senate colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging them to expand Medicare coverage of free at-home rapid COVID-19 testing.

“Seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare are at the highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and people over 65 account for nearly three-quarters of all deaths from the virus. The current policy leaves them on the hook for potentially significant out-of-pocket costs,” said the lawmakers. “We share your commitment to making sure Medicare enrollees receive the highest quality health care, including access to free at-home rapid COVID-19 testing, and look forward to working with you to address this issue.”

Along with Senator King, the letter was signed by the following Senators: Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA),  Ben Cardin (D-MD),  Tammy Duckworth (D-IL),  Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA),  Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Representing one of the oldest states in the country, Senator King has consistently worked to address the issues facing Maine seniors. In the American Rescue Plan, which passed 50 to 49 last March, King secured $10 billion in broadband funding to help more Maine seniors access life-saving services like tele-health. The legislation also contained funding to quickly vaccinate older Americans, and to lower the costs of healthcare. Senator King has also worked to increase prescription drug price transparency, expand tele-health services, and recently spoke on the Senate floor in support of expanded homecare services in the Build Back Better bill. 

The letter can be found here.