LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — At home COVID-19 tests are now free to everyone.
Private insurance already covers the cost, plus everyone can order four at-home tests on the government website, COVIDTests.gov.
With Omicron and a COVID surge, at-home COVID tests have been flying off pharmacy shelves.
“People just want the freedom just to be able to check instantly, you know, instant gratification,” said pharmacist and owner of Smith Pharmacy in Little Chute.
Smith Pharmacy is still trying to work out some of the kinks of being able to bill COVID tests to insurance, while keeping them in stock.
At this point, some pharmacies aren’t yet able to bill COVID tests to insurance, so it’s highly recommended that you keep your receipt to submit to insurance on your own.
“It kinda got thrown at us fast; it got thrown at everyone fast,” said Smith. “It’s difficult, because a lot of insurance companies don’t recognize it yet; they don’t have the pieces in place for us to properly bill them.”
There’s only been two days at Smith Pharmacy throughout this at-home COVID demand where tests were nowhere to be seen. But Smith says, fortunately, the shortage seems to almost be resolved now,
“Our cost for COVID tests have been as cheap as $6 to $7 a test, and as high as over $20 a test, so the prices of the tests have went down,” he said.
And, while it may be easier for us to now get our hands on a test for free, isn’t this bad for business for pharmacies? Smith Pharmacy doesn’t see it that way.
“There’s very, very minimal markup on the tests – we charge, basically, what we pay to get them in; we have 10% -15% markup on it, so the tests themselves are not profitable for us,” said Smith.
For those with insurance, if they purchase a COVID test after Jan. 15, they can be reimbursed up to $12 per test. There is a limit of eight tests per person per month doing it that way, though
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