Highmark announces process for obtaining no-cost rapid covid-19 tests
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Millions of Highmark members with prescription drug coverage are now able to obtain over-the-counter rapid covid-19 tests with no out-of-pocket costs.
Bob Wanovich, vice president of provider strategy for Highmark, said Monday that customers will now be able to get the tests at their regular pharmacy counter through a partnership with in-network pharmacists.
On Jan. 15, the federal government announced that it would make available four at-home tests for every household through the website covidtests.gov.
In addition, it created a requirement that health insurers cover the cost of at-home tests. Over the past two weeks, Wanovich said that Highmark has been processing claims for about 1,000 customers who paid for the tests up front and will be reimbursed.
The new process announced Monday will save Highmark members from having to pay anything.
“It will provide a more convenient, over-the-counter access to these tests,” Wanovich said.
He said the requirements for the new process are simple. Members can use any of tens of thousands of in-network Highmark pharmacies and check out at the pharmacy counter using their Highmark insurance or Highmark prescription benefits card.
Members also can use Highmark’s mail-order service, Express Scripts, in the same way they are used to.
“This is a new process for everyone,” Wanovich said. “It’s come together quickly.”
He urged members to be patient with their pharmacists and pharmacy staff.
“We know they’re already very overworked,” he said.
Highmark has about 6 million members, with the vast majority using prescription benefits, Wanovich said.
Although the new process announced Monday will make the insurance process easy, he said that Highmark does not have any ability to ensure local retail pharmacies have rapid tests in stock.
“It really is the responsibility of individual pharmacies and retailers to do the best they can to provide access to tests,” he said. “Supply continues to be an ongoing issue we have to continue to monitor. There’s not a lot the insurer can do.”
Anyone with questions can visit highmarkanswers.com.