Medicare offers up to 8 free Covid-19 tests per month

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers FDA-authorized COVID-19 diagnostic tests (coverage could change when the public health emergency ends).

You pay nothing for a diagnostic test during the COVID-19 public health emergency when you get it from a laboratory, pharmacy, doctor, or hospital, and when Medicare covers this test in your local area.

Medicare now covers up to 8 over-the-counter COVID-19 tests each calendar month, at no cost to you.

  • This coverage continues until the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.
  • Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) will cover these tests if you have Part B. (Medicare won’t cover over-the-counter COVID-19 tests if you only have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage, but you may be able to get free tests through other programs or insurance coverage you may have.)
  • If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you won’t get this benefit through your plan, but will get it like you would if you weren’t enrolled in the plan.
  • You might need to show your red, white, and blue Medicare card to get your free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests (even if you have another card for a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part D plan).

 

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