How will I be reimbursed for rapid COVID tests? And other FAQs

Consumers who are fortunate enough to get their hands on over-the-counter, rapid COVID-19 tests will soon be reimbursed by their insurers for the cost of such devices under new rules outlined by the White House this week.

The Biden administration on Monday said it will require private insurers to cover the cost of eight at-home tests per family member each month, in an effort to expand Americans' access to rapid testing. While it is widely seen as a step in the right direction, critics of the plan argue that tests still remain hard to come by, and that they should either be sent directly to Americans or be free at the point of purchase, to ensure equitable access to rapid COVID-19 tests that have become an integral part of the country's plan to contain the spread of the virus. 

That said, the initiative encourages insurers to make tests available at no upfront cost to members by setting up networks of preferred retailers that insurance plans will later reimburse.