WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends in the U.S. on May 11, the public will still have access to a range of tests with one major difference:

Who pays for the kits?

Patients may have to pick up some or all of the costs with the change, depending on insurance coverage and whether testing is done at home or at a doctor's office.

But there's still time to get some free test kits before the May 11 change, especially where there are existing supplies. The federal government, for example, is still sending free tests through the U.S. Postal Service to households that haven’t already received two shipments.

In addition, some old test kits may still be valid as the expiration date on the package may have been extended. The Food and Drug Administration's website provides a list to see which tests are still good.

Here's a look at what the end of the government's emergency declaration means for testing:

At-Home Tests

 

The biggest changes will be for over-the-counter tests, which account for the vast majority of screening in the U.S. today.

Since early 2021, the federal government has required all private insurers to cover up to eight COVID-19 tests per month. That requirement will soon go away.

A two-pack of tests typically costs between $20 and $24.

“What we will see is a hodgepodge of approaches by different insurance companies, which is going to make it difficult for individuals to know what they’re going to be paying,” said Christina Silcox, of the Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy.

Coverage is also scheduled to lapse for seniors in the Medicare program, though some members of Congress are pushing to extend that benefit.

Those enrolled in the government Medicaid program for low-income individuals and families can continue to receive free tests until September 2024.

In-Office Tests

 

With the change, Americans can expect to pay more for any COVID-19 tests performed at a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office.

While insurers will still cover basic testing costs, some people could face new fees for a portion of the test's price or for the services of the health professional performing it. Lab tests have typically ranged between $70 and $100 and some of that could be passed along to patients.

COVID-19 vaccines and drugs will remain free because they are not paid for through insurance, but by the federal government.

One concern is that uncertainty around testing costs could lead to delays in treatment. Current treatments for high-risk patients, like Paxlovid, generally need to be taken within the first few days of symptoms to be effective.

Testing Capacity

 

The U.S. struggled to build up its test manufacturing capacity during the first two years of the pandemic, with demand waning after each surge. Experts worry that the country could again be caught flat-footed after the federal government stops purchasing tests in bulk.

Only after the U.S. government said it would buy 1 billion tests did production stabilize, reaching a peak of 900 million monthly tests in February 2022.

As of September, manufacturers were still producing over 400 million tests per month, far exceeding U.S. testing levels, according to Duke researchers.

Companies including Abbott Labs say they will be able to ramp up test production as needed. But the company declined to discuss specific production targets or how they will be impacted by the end of the health emergency.

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