Wellcare: COVID-19 Testing Update for Medicare Members

Wellcare will continue to cover COVID-19 testing, free of cost to the member, when performed in an official testing location, and/or when the test is ordered by a physician, non-physician practitioner, pharmacist, or other authorized health care professional.

Over the Counter (OTC) COVID-19 At-Home Tests

Please review the following information to learn more about member options for obtaining COVID-19 at-home tests.

Q. Does Wellcare cover over-the-counter COVID-19 at-home tests?

• Wellcare continues to carefully monitor the pandemic and evaluate how best to serve their members during these unprecedented times. At this time Wellcare is not reimbursing members for COVID-19 at-home testing kits purchased independently online, or from a retailer.
• CMS is launching an initiative in early spring 2022 that provides payment directly to eligible pharmacies and other entities that are participating in this initiative to enable people with Medicare to get up to eight free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests a month. All Medicare beneficiaries with Part B will be eligible to obtain eight (8) free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month through this initiative, whether enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or not.

Q. Where can members locate a free at-home COVID-19 test?

• Every home in the US is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Members can order tests now at https://www.covidtests.gov/
• Access COVID-19 tests through healthcare providers at over 20,000 free testing sites nationwide. A list of community-based testing sites can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites.