Source: AARP
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in the U.S., Medicare is increasing access to testing and treatment for older adults, who health experts say are most at risk for severe illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
In an AARP Coronavirus Information Tele-Town Hall event on Tuesday (March 11, 2020), Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), reiterated that Medicare beneficiaries will not be on the hook for out-of-pocket costs associated with coronavirus testing. Verma added that many Americans with private insurance will also see relief from cost sharing for services associated with the coronavirus.
“Anyone who feels like they need a test, we don’t want costs to be a barrier to getting that test,” she told the event’s moderators and listeners.
And with recently eased restrictions, more adults with Medicare now also have the option to connect with their doctor through telehealth technologies. “You can call your doctor, you can Skype with them, you can send them pictures — and all of those are covered services,” Verma explained.
To read the entire article from AARP, click here.
