Members are not taking advantage of requirements that payers must cover at-home COVID-19 tests, and signs point to reimbursement woes as a key contributing factor, according to TMJ4.
Since the Biden administration rolled out the rule in January, there has been little consistency in how payers will cover the tests or reimburse their members.
"The feedback I've received is that a lot of people don't want to mess around with the reimbursement," Sadie Tuescher, founder of Wisconsin Health Insurance Advocate, told TMJ4.
While covering $12 per test for up to eight tests seems hefty for some consumers, Ms. Tuescher encouraged members not to worry about paying higher premiums down the road if they seek reimbursement.
"Insurance companies are working in the billions of dollars and the main cost in insurance is unchecked hospital prices of significantly bigger numbers," Ms. Tuescher told TMJ4. "So, I think we'll see a tiny impact, but I don't think we'll see a big impact."