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End of federal public health emergency means COVID-19 will be covered like other illnesses. |
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Starting May 12, tests for COVID are covered by your medical and prescription drug plans in the same way other illnesses are. The COVID federal public health emergency ends May 11.
Here’s what changes May 12:
- You will pay for part of the cost of the visit and COVID test you get at your primary care clinic, urgent care, emergency room, or hospital. How much you pay depends on four things:
- If you’ve paid the full deductible yet. That’s the amount you need to pay before insurance starts to pay.
- The cost level of the clinic you chose this year.
- Where you get the test. Emergency rooms are more expensive than your primary care clinic. It’s free at clinics in grocery stores, drug stores, etc.
- If you’ve reached the cap on the amount you have to pay this year for care.
- At-home COVID antigen tests you get from drug stores in your network are no longer free. And CVS Caremark will not pay you back for at-home COVID antigen tests you buy.
- You can no longer refill prescription drugs 30 days early. Refills will be possible 10 days early like they were before the COVID emergency changed the timeline.
Here’s what stays the same:
- A visit that includes testing is free at clinics in grocery stores, drug stores, and other retail locations in your network. There is no charge for care at these convenience/retail clinics.
- COVID shots (vaccines and boosters) are paid for like other preventive care. They remain free.
- Prescription drugs that treat COVID, such as Paxlovid or Lagevrio, will be covered as they are now.
- You can get paid back for tests and other care if you have money in a Medical/Dental Expense Account.
- There are no changes to vision or dental insurance.
Questions? Call the Member Services number on the back of your insurance ID card.
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Stock up on
at-home tests by May 11
You and family members under your plan may get up to eight free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests every 30 days. Here’s how to get tests by May 11 if you qualify:
Pick up tests at a drug store in your network. Show your CVS Caremark insurance card. You won’t be charged. Or buy tests online or from a drug store outside your network. You can get paid back up to $12 per test. (Per test, not box. Some boxes have one test, others have two.) Save your receipt. Sign into caremark.com or use the Caremark app. Follow the steps under “At-home COVID-19 test reimbursement.”
Remember tests expire. Watch the dates when you use them in the future.
Call Caremark at 1-844-345-3234 if you have questions about free antigen tests.
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Note: Here’s general information about your health plan. For the detail, go to the Summary of Benefits document. It describes your medical and prescription drug coverage. The summary, not this email, decides what gets paid for and how. |
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