Members Can Get At-Home, Rapid COVID-19 Tests at No Cost From Their Pharmacy
Starting Monday, January 31, members of BadgerCare Plus and most Wisconsin Medicaid programs can get at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests from Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies without having to pay. This new benefit makes it easier for members to test for COVID-19 without having to go to the doctor. We will be providing members with this information by email (if we have their addresses on file), on the ForwardHealth COVID-19 webpage on the DHS website, and through our Member Services call line. We also are asking our health plans, providers, and partner organizations to help spread the word.
To get their no-cost test kits, members can go to their pharmacy or the pharmacy counter at their local grocery or drug store and show their ForwardHealth ID card. They can show their actual card, or show the digital version, which is available on the MyACCESS mobile app.
Please note: There is currently a nationwide shortage of at-home COVID-19 tests. The process described here will only work if members find a pharmacy that has tests available. They may want to call ahead and ask. If a member urgently needs to be tested, they should use one of the other options listed at the end of this message.
Are there any members who cannot get tests through ForwardHealth?
Yes, there are some people who cannot get no-costs tests by showing their ForwardHealth card:
- Members who also have private insurance will need to get kits through that coverage.
- Members of SeniorCare cannot get no-cost kits through that program. Under current state law and our program approval from the federal government, SeniorCare coverage is limited to drugs and vaccines only.
- Members who are part of limited-benefit programs like the AIDS/HIV Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) or the Wisconsin Chronic Disease Program (WCDP) are also not eligible to get free at-home COVID-19 tests through ForwardHealth.
- Members of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) cannot get test kits following these instructions. These members should contact their PACE care team for the options available for them.
Options available to anyone who needs a COVID-19 test are listed at the bottom of this message.
Where can members go to get free at-home tests?
To get test kits, members have to go to a pharmacy or pharmacy counter that can check their ForwardHealth coverage like they do for prescriptions. This may take a few minutes, like prescriptions do. Calling their pharmacy in advance and providing their information, like for prescriptions, may help speed up the process.
Members cannot go to the regular check out at stores, and they will not be able to get a free kit at stores that do not have a pharmacy counter.
Each person can get up to eight tests per month. Members cannot get their money back for tests that they buy.
How else can members get tested?
If a member is not able to get a free at-home COVID-19 test kit, there are still other options. They can:
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