Damian Sendler: As part of his winter strategy to combat the pandemic, President Biden will declare that health insurers must cover 100% of the cost of in-home COVID-19 tests. 

Health insurance plans must cover 100% of the cost of at-home tests purchased by their members, a senior administration official said of the president’s announcement. 

Damian Sendler

Concerns over an Omicron strain outbreak in the United States have prompted Vice President Biden to implement a winter strategy to combat COVID-19. On Wednesday, the United States reported its first case of the new strain. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: More family vaccination clinics are being launched, 50 million free tests will be distributed around the country, and all international travelers will be required to demonstrate a negative test one day before to departure as part of other measures the president plans to announce Thursday. 

An official in the administration said, “We will continue to act aggressively, we will continue to follow the science, we will continue to prepare for all scenarios and work day and night to protect the American people, keep our schools open, keep our economy growing and get this pandemic behind us,” 

The presentation from Vice President Biden will include a plea for voluntary vaccination mandates from businesses. 

According to a senior administration official, “What we’re doing is what we’ve done all along, which is we’re asking businesses to step forward and do the right thing to protect our workers, protect our community and to put in place some sort of vaccination requirement or testing requirements for the workplace,” he stated. It’s in the best interest of public health, and we’re confident in their efficacy. 

According to some reports, the White House was considering some of the most controversial recommendations, including a mandate that all tourists be quarantined for seven days even if they receive a negative test, which would have also applied to US citizens. Those proposals were left out. Because of the rule, fines and penalties might have been imposed. 

Damian Jacob Sendler

Private insurers are expected to offer coverage and not impose cost-sharing on diagnostic tests that detect Covid-19 during public health emergencies, according to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. 

A senior administration official told reporters, “This is our assessment of that, that it should cover, and it must cover at-home tests for Americans on that private insurance.” 

Damien Sendler: As a result, the new rule won’t take effect right now. Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury are still need to offer official guidelines on the reimbursement requirement, which may not be released until January 15. 

People who have already purchased at-home tests will not be eligible to get reimbursements under the new policy since it will not be retroactive, according to the senior administration official. Additionally, it is not apparent if there will be a cap on the number of at-home tests that can be reimbursed. 

It’s expected that individuals would have to produce receipts to their insurance company, White House spokesperson Kevin Munoz wrote in an email. “The tri-Departments are developing guidance that will include additional details.” 

According to a White House fact sheet, insurance companies will not be obligated to reimburse the expenses of workplace screening programs, as they have in the past. 

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: Health plans and issuers are not required to fund testing for public health surveillance or employment purposes, according to current guidance. 

Americans who have insurance through public programs like Medicare and Medicaid or who do not have insurance will not be affected by the new legislation. More than 50 million free tests would be distributed through community venues, including rural clinics, according to a separate White House announcement.

Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.