MA Asks Health Insurers To Make Coronavirus Treatment Free

BOSTON — As the number of cases of coronavirus cases tick upward in Massachusetts, the state Division of Insurance has asked that insurance providers waive fees associated with coronavirus tests and treatment so as not to make the spread of the virus worse. Insurance companies have largely agreed, as the Boston Business Journal first reported.

The state Division of Insurance, which regulates insurers, told Massachusetts insurance companies they should forgo co-payments, deductibles or co-insurance for on any diagnostic testing, any future coronavirus vaccine and treatment related to coronavirus, both to in-network and out-of-network patients.

"Recognizing that members of the public may seek a variety of health care services in connection with the coronavirus, including laboratory testing and urgent care and emergency services, the cost of those health care services should not be a barrier for Massachusetts residents," Commissioner of Insurance Gary Andersen wrote in a bulletin with the guidance.

The guidance addresses concerns that some wouldn’t be able to afford testing or treatment and therefore not seek treatment, making the spread of the coronavirus worse.

When the state issues a bulletin with such guidance, it's considered industry standard to follow it. Insurers were broadly supportive of the state’s guidance on coronavirus costs, according to the Boston Business Journal.

As of Friday, eight people in Massachusetts had tested positive for coronavirus locally, including one confirmed by the CDC.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Don't miss updates about precautions in your area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters

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