Coronavirus: Massachusetts officials ask health insurers to forego copayments, deductibles for necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has asked insurers to forego copayments for medically necessary coronavirus testing as concern swells around new cases of respiratory illness in the state and across the world.

In a bulletin sent Friday to commercial health insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts and health maintenance organizations, the division laid out a number of expectations related to the coverage of testing and treatment of COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus.

“Recognizing that members of the public may seek a variety of health care services in connection with the coronavirus, including laboratory testing and urgent care and emergency services, the cost of those health care services should not be a barrier for Massachusetts residents,” the bulletin reads.

The division wrote that it expects carriers to forego cost-sharing, like copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance, for medically necessary coronavirus testing, counseling and vaccinations at in-network doctors’ offices, urgent care centers or emergency rooms, as well as out-of-network services for urgent testing or treatment when it’s not available in-network.

The same measures should apply to copayments for medically necessary coronavirus treatment, the bulletin read.

All testing and treatment should be in accordance with state Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements.

Additionally, the bulletin asks carriers to relax out-of-network requirements and procedures when it comes to urgent testing or treatment; promote telehealth options; and establish dedicated helplines to respond to calls about coronavirus.

As of March 6, there are eight people infected with coronavirus in Massachusetts and 249 under quarantine. Seven of the cases are presumptive, while one has been confirmed by the CDC.

The CDC as of March 6 has reported 164 total cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., with 11 deaths and 19 states reporting cases of the illness. Of those 164 cases, 36 are travel-related, 18 are from person-to-person spread, and 110 are under investigation, according to the CDC.

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