RE: The FFS comment that Medicare A/B won't cover at home tests. "The rules-heavy program bills enrolled providers like hospitals, doctors, labs and pharmacies directly for expenses. It doesn’t reimburse patients the way a flexible spending account or a commercial insurer sometimes does." So if a person does not choose to pay the premi…
RE: The FFS comment that Medicare A/B won't cover at home tests. "The rules-heavy program bills enrolled providers like hospitals, doctors, labs and pharmacies directly for expenses. It doesn’t reimburse patients the way a flexible spending account or a commercial insurer sometimes does." So if a person does not choose to pay the premiums to have an Advantage Plan there are many other things they have to pay for out of pocket also. That is a choice they make. Are there Advantage plans that will heed the "encouragement" to cover these tests? Maybe. But I think we still struggle with the most logical use of these tests. The article says so 65 year olds can decide if they can safely gather. Wasn't this an issue even with trump - rapid tests being used as a "free to gather" card and then the next day people in the "safe" gathering ended up sick anyway. Not a epidemiologist and don't play one on TV either - but have a family with people in late 80s to young great grandchildren. Christmas day we planned a get together. We had purchased at home tests and everyone except the 2 in their late 80s took a test. One great grandchild tested positive - even tho no symptoms. That whole family stayed away from the party. Her symptoms started the following day - so really glad we did this. But I still took both elders to the drive through covid testing site 5 days after the party - because a negative at home test is not a guarantee. So realistically - can Biden sign an executive order and magically make tests reimbursable with medicare? A cumbersome government program that is not easily adjusted? Not likely - but he can make free tests available - which he has - and maybe needs to look lifting the cap of 4 per household if this continues. Also would be interested in knowing how many of those medicare recipients are republicans who don't give a rats ass about testing anyway.
RE: The FFS comment that Medicare A/B won't cover at home tests. "The rules-heavy program bills enrolled providers like hospitals, doctors, labs and pharmacies directly for expenses. It doesn’t reimburse patients the way a flexible spending account or a commercial insurer sometimes does." So if a person does not choose to pay the premiums to have an Advantage Plan there are many other things they have to pay for out of pocket also. That is a choice they make. Are there Advantage plans that will heed the "encouragement" to cover these tests? Maybe. But I think we still struggle with the most logical use of these tests. The article says so 65 year olds can decide if they can safely gather. Wasn't this an issue even with trump - rapid tests being used as a "free to gather" card and then the next day people in the "safe" gathering ended up sick anyway. Not a epidemiologist and don't play one on TV either - but have a family with people in late 80s to young great grandchildren. Christmas day we planned a get together. We had purchased at home tests and everyone except the 2 in their late 80s took a test. One great grandchild tested positive - even tho no symptoms. That whole family stayed away from the party. Her symptoms started the following day - so really glad we did this. But I still took both elders to the drive through covid testing site 5 days after the party - because a negative at home test is not a guarantee. So realistically - can Biden sign an executive order and magically make tests reimbursable with medicare? A cumbersome government program that is not easily adjusted? Not likely - but he can make free tests available - which he has - and maybe needs to look lifting the cap of 4 per household if this continues. Also would be interested in knowing how many of those medicare recipients are republicans who don't give a rats ass about testing anyway.