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January 11, 2022
2022-0055

Biden Administration issues FAQs requiring insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests

On January 10, the Biden Administration issued highly anticipated guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) aimed at clarifying a requirement announced late last year that insurance companies and group health plans cover the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) at-home COVID-19 tests throughout the duration of the public health emergency (PHE), beginning on January 15, 2022. "Under President Biden's leadership, we are requiring insurers and group health plans to make tests free for millions of Americans. This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp-up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests at no cost," said Health and Human Service (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra in a press release. "Since we took office, we have more than tripled the number of sites where people can get COVID-19 tests for free, and we're also purchasing half a billion at-home, rapid tests to send for free to Americans who need them. By requiring private health plans to cover people's at-home tests, we are further expanding Americans' ability to get tests for free when they need them."

Additional information is available in the attached Tax Alert.

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Contact Information
For additional information concerning this Alert, please contact:
 
Washington Council Ernst & Young
   • Heather Meade (heather.meade@ey.com)
   • Laura Dillon (laura.dillon@ey.com)

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COVID-19 at-home testing

 

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