Cigna Medicare Advantage plans currently do not pay for or reimburse your costs for the purchase of at-home COVID-19 tests. However, you do currently have these other options for COVID-19 testing:
- Visit HHS.gov to find a community-based testing site near you
- Purchase at-home test kits on your own
Through the end of the declared Public Health Emergency (PHE) period, Cigna Medicare Advantage plans fully cover the costs of COVID-19 tests done in a clinical setting. That means your Cigna Medicare plan covers COVID-19 testing without any out-of-pocket costs when it’s ordered by your doctor or done in an approved facility.
In addition, on January 14, 2022, the White House announced a plan to ship up to four rapid COVID-19 tests to residential households for free. Since January 19, you can order the tests online at COVIDtests.gov. The tests are expected to ship 7 – 12 days from the order date. If you have trouble going online or need help placing an order, call 1 (800) 232-0233. Help is available in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages. And this call line is open 8 am until midnight Eastern Time, 7 days a week. If you’re hearing impaired, you can use their TTY line, 1 (888) 720-7489.
Also, on February 3, 2022, CMS announced a new initiative for free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. Starting in early spring, anyone with Medicare Part B will be able to get up to eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month, whether enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or not. The tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. This policy will apply to COVID-19 over-the-counter tests that are approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And Medicare will pay the eligible pharmacies and entities directly.