Insurance To Cover At-Home COVID Tests In Plymouth-Canton

PLYMOUTH-CANTON, MI — Millions of people in the Plymouth-Canton area will soon have access to free at-home COVID-19 testing under a new Biden administration rule that will require insurance companies to cover the cost of tests.

Those in Michigan are covered by private insurance will have free access to over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests starting Jan. 15. Tests can be purchased online or at a pharmacy or store, and they will be covered upfront by a health plan or through reimbursement.

"We are requiring insurers and group health plans to make tests free for millions of Americans. This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp-up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests at no cost," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a news release Monday.

Under the rule, insurance companies and health plans will be required to cover eight free at-home tests per covered individual per month. A doctor’s note isn’t required to obtain the tests, which must be authorized, cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This means a family of four on the same insurance plan would be eligible for up to 32 free tests per month; however, there is no limit on the number of tests covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider.

The Biden Administration also said it’s "incentivizing" insurers and group health plans to set up programs allowing people in Michigan to get over-the-counter tests directly through preferred pharmacies, retailers or other entities with no out-of-pocket costs.

Looking for an at-home test in the Plymouth-Canton area? Here are some stores and pharmacies you can check:

• CVS, 1400 S Sheldon Rd.
• CVS, 45300 Cherry Hill Rd
• Rite Aid, 800 W. Ann Arbor Rd.
• Rite Aid 4151 S. Canton Center Rd.
• Walgreens, 2014 N Michigan St.
• Walgreens, 44300 Ford Rd.