Insurance To Cover At-Home COVID-19 Tests In Washington

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 testing is hitting an all-time high in Washington, and public testing sites have been struggling to keep up.

While state leaders are working to boost testing supplies — Gov. Jay Inslee last week announced the purchase of 5.5 million take home tests — long lines at public testing sites have made securing a test a trial. Recently, Pierce County had to close its longstanding Lakewood testing site, concerned that overcrowding was causing a safety hazard. Tuesday, the county opened a replacement site in Spanaway, which immediately saw a wait time of over one hour. Similar crowding concerns have also been reported in neighboring King County.

Fortunately, another free testing option will soon be available for some Washingtonians. Starting Jan. 15, Washingtonians with private insurance will have free access to over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests under a new Biden administration rule that will require insurance companies to cover the cost of tests. Tests can be purchased online or at a pharmacy or store, and they will be covered upfront by a health plan or through reimbursement.

"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," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a news release Monday.

Under the rule, insurance companies and health plans will be required to cover eight free at-home tests per covered individual per month. A doctor’s note isn’t required to obtain the tests, which must be authorized, cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This means a family of four on the same insurance plan would be eligible for up to 32 free tests per month; however, there is no limit on the number of tests covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider.

The Biden Administration also said it’s "incentivizing" insurers and group health plans to set up programs allowing people in Washington to get over-the-counter tests directly through preferred pharmacies, retailers or other entities with no out-of-pocket costs.

If you don’t have private insurance or coverage through a group plan, you still have access to free tests through mass testing sites. Here's how to find local mass testing sites in your area:

• COVID-19 testing sites in King County.
• COVID-19 testing sites in Pierce County.

Of the 5.5 million tests recently ordered by Gov. Inslee, 3.5 million will go to a new Amazon-powered web portal, which will allow all Washingtonians to order free rapid tests delivered straight to their door. The state has not yet said when that portal will go online, but promised it would launch sometime mid-month. When it does, all Washingtonians will also be eligible to receive tests through the program.

Related stories:

Washington Orders 5.5 Million COVID-19 Tests As Demand Surges

Omicron Spread Hits 'Mind-Boggling' Pace In King County

New COVID-19 Testing Site Coming To Spanaway