Medicare Now Covers Free Covid-19 Home Tests

Medicare coverage for COVID-19 tests depends on the type of test and whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Table Of Contents

1. Lab-Based Tests (PCR & Antigen)
2. At-Home (Over-the-Counter) Tests
3. Antibody Tests
Summary

As of February 2026, the following rules generally apply:

1. Lab-Based Tests (PCR & Antigen)

Coverage: Medicare Part B covers FDA-authorized COVID-19 diagnostic tests (like PCR tests) when they are performed by a laboratory, pharmacy, or doctor’s office.
Cost: You usually pay $0 (no deductible or coinsurance) if the test is ordered by a doctor or other authorized health care professional and the provider accepts Medicare.
Requirement: Since the end of the Public Health Emergency in 2023, a doctor’s order is typically required for Medicare to cover the cost.

2. At-Home (Over-the-Counter) Tests

Original Medicare: Medicare no longer covers the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) at-home test kits. The initiative that provided 8 free tests per month ended with the Public Health Emergency.
Medicare Advantage (Part C): Some Medicare Advantage Plans may still offer coverage for at-home tests as a supplemental benefit. You should contact your specific plan provider to see if they cover OTC kits and if there are any out-of-pocket costs.

3. Antibody Tests

Coverage: Medicare covers FDA-authorized COVID-19 antibody (serology) tests if they are used to help diagnose a current or past infection.
Cost: You usually pay $0 for these tests when ordered by a healthcare provider.

Summary

Test Type	Original Medicare	Medicare Advantage
Lab PCR/Antigen	$0 (with doctor’s order)	$0 (may vary by plan)
At-Home OTC Tests	Not Covered	Check with your plan
Antibody Tests	$0 (with doctor’s order)	$0 (may vary by plan)

Note: If you are looking for free at-home tests, you can check with your local health department or community health centers, as some state or local programs may still distribute them even though Medicare does not pay for them directly at retail stores.

If you are one of the 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B and those enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan, you may be interested in the Biden-Harris Administration’s update announcing access to over-the-counter Covid-19 home tests starting this spring at no cost.

If you have Medicare, you can get up to 8 home tests per calendar month from any participating pharmacy or healthcare provider throughout the current health crisis. You can even continue ordering tests at covidtests.gov after the two sets of four free home tests.

If you have Medicare, you can get more information by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus.

In addition to over-the-counter tests, it is part of a plan to deliver 250 million at-home rapid tests to Americans who need them. Before this update, you needed to be a Medicaid recipient, or your private insurance may cover the tests. This would be the first time Medicare and elderly beneficiaries have covered an over-the-counter self-administered home test at no cost.

Participating partners include Albertsons Companies, Costco, H-E-B Pharmacy, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Kroger Family of Pharmacies, Rite Aid Corp, Shop & Stop, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Additional Options Available to Access COVID-19 Tests

Request home delivery of over-the-counter home tests at covidtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. can get two sets of four at-home COVID-19 tests.
Access to tests through health care organizations; you can find them here.
Access to lab-based PCR tests and antigen tests performed by a lab when ordered by a physician or authorized healthcare professional at no cost.
In addition to the COVID-19 laboratory test ordered by a healthcare professional, if you have Medicare, you can also access one lab-performed test without an order and cost-sharing during the public crisis.

CMS urged recipients to get free over-the-counter home tests via covidtests.gov. This comes in a little over a week in response to a group of Democratic senators writing a letter to the agency about Medicare covering the tests; the senator pointed out that seniors are especially at-risk for COVID-19 and that the tests are crucial.

If you qualify for Medicare but don’t know where to start, we have licensed insurance agents ready to answer your questions and help you enroll in Final Expense, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Prescription Part D plans.