With the Covid-19 public health emergency in the U.S. officially ending Thursday, consumers may be hit with higher health care costs related to testing, experts say.
"The end of the public health emergency essentially brings a return to how the American health system worked before the pandemic," said Cynthia Cox, vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "That means coverage and costs can be complicated and hard to navigate."
Here's what to expect in terms of financial effects.
An end to free at-home tests
Insurers were required to reimburse consumers for as many as eight at-home Covid tests a month during the public health emergency.
After Thursday, those with private insurance may no longer be eligible for the free tests, though some insurers may voluntarily still cover them.
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Older Americans with Medicare will no longer be guaranteed free at-home tests either. However, Covid tests at a doctor's office should still be fully covered for those with traditional Medicare, said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. But there might be costs for the medical visit, she added.
Those on Medicaid will still be able to get free at-home Covid tests through September 2024, Cox said.
Price of average over-the-counter test is $11
The new costs for Covid tests will depend on your plan, but the average price of an at-home rapid test is around $11, the Kaiser Family Foundation found.
Yet the cost can be as high as $150 if it is associated with a doctor's appointment visit, Cox said.
"It might help to look at your health plan benefits to know what your plan covers or how much tests or other services might cost," Cox said.
Since the price of over-the-counter Covid tests can vary, "people should shop around," Corlette said. You should also make sure any in-office test you are getting is from a doctor within your network, she added.
You can also search for a location near you that offers no-cost Covid tests, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
It is also worth checking if your state has its own coverage rules around Covid tests.
In California, for example, recent legislation will continue the free test mandate on certain insurers beyond the end of the public health emergency.
Covid vaccines, including boosters, should remain free for most people.
The costs of Covid treatments will continue to vary depending on your health insurance plan. Those on Medicaid shouldn't have to pay anything for virus treatments through September 2024.