(WXYZ) — Michigan has secured agreements from nearly all of the state's health insurers to waive all out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing and treatments through the end of 2020.
This includes co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance.
“Ensuring access to appropriate testing and medical treatment without financial concern is an important part of fighting this virus,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release . “We’re continuing to work around the clock to slow the spread of this virus and keep people healthy, and I am thankful that Michigan’s health insurers have continued to step up to do their part.”
Additionally, the governor's office said consumers with these individual and group health plans will not be charged cost-sharing for medically appropriate COVID-19 related medical treatment, like primary care visits, diagnostic testing, emergency room visits, ambulance services and FDA-approved medications and vaccines when they become available.
The insurers who have agreed to waive cost-sharing are:
- Aetna Better Health of Michigan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network
- HAP, Alliance Health
- Humana
- McLaren Health Plan
- Meridian Health Plan
- Molina Healthcare Michigan
- Paramount Care of Michigan
- Physicians Health Plan (PHP)
- Priority Health, Priority Health Insurance Co.
- Total Health Care
The waived cost-sharing applies to commercial health insurance products from the insurers named in the state agreement. Consumers seeking COVID-19 testing or treatment should contact their insurance company to find out about their coverage.
Under the U.S. Families First Coronavirus Response Act, consumers with health insurance through Oscar, UnitedHealthcare, and other insurers not named in the state agreement currently have COVID-19 coverage without out-of-pocket costs during the federal public health emergency, which is currently set to expire in late October.
These insurers may extend their coverage with no out-of-pocket costs so consumers should contact their agent or call the number on the back of their card to ask about their coverage before incurring costs for COVID-19 testing or treatment.
In accordance with federal law, consumers with Medicaid or Medicare may also receive a no-cost COVID-19 test and related services provided by a health care provider.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.