Despite countries across the globe dropping pre-flight COVID testing requirements, the US has no plans to do so:
White House COVID Advisor Jeff Zients says "there are no plans to change the international travel requirements at this point." pic.twitter.com/UHSQSmkhfT
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 5, 2022
Everyone 2 and older needs to take an antigen or PCR test within 1 day before a flight to the US. I’ve written about my experience using eMed tests to fly from Iceland to the US. And I used them again to fly from South Africa to the US without issue.
Since 1/15, US health insurance has been required to cover the cost of at-home antigen tests.
eMed’s website confirms that their tests are eligible for this reimbursement. 6 tests cost $150, which comes out to $25 per test.
If your health insurance provider has a special deal with local pharmacies or stores to pickup free antigen tests, then they must reimburse you for $12 per test that you purchase elsewhere, such as from eMed. That would drop the cost per test to just $13.
If your health insurance provider does not have a deal with local pharmacies or stores to pickup free antigen tests, then they must reimburse the entire cost of antigen tests that you purchase elsewhere, including from eMed!
You can contact your health insurance provider to see if they provide free tests at local stores and for information on claiming reimbursement.
But either way, traveling with eMed tests when flying abroad is a no-brainer. You’ll be able to test from the comfort of your hotel room and have the results back within 15 minutes.
Have you use eMed tests before flying back to the US?
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51 Comments On "With No US Plans To Drop Pre-Flight Testing Requirements, Don’t Forget To Order And Claim Insurance Reimbursement For eMed Travel Antigen Tests!"
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Does this work when flying back from Israel?
How do you get a negative certificate
Sure.
You get it in the app as I described here:
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/travel-tips/experience-using-emed-abbott-telehealth-antigen-test-entry-us/
The other post says Israel requires a PCR to leave, so this test won’t help unless you also get a antibodies test or recently had covid etc..
No, that’s PCR for entry.
Israel does not currently have an exit requirement.
I think you should to your poll “Depends on who wins the White House in 2024”
or off course amex now covers adobe subscription….vd”l
Are children <5 required to test when traveling back to the USA?
2 and older are required to test.
I have medicaid. Would medicaid cover those tests ?
Wondering about Medicaid too?
Flying from Canada to USA, starting what age are children required to test?
2 and older are required to test.
be warned that insurance companies are NOT reimbursing for the sales tax on these items.
Mine reimbursed me for the tests and sales tax.
Call them up?
Can 6 different people use these 6-pack tests?
Yes.
How long are these shelf life?
Cigna calls out that “TeleMed” tests are not covered … weird https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/
can i administer test myself and get results or do i have to use phone or web?
No, it has to be done over the web with a proctor watching.
plus $18 for shipping overnight! No other option for shipping.
Is the insurer also required to reimburse the shipping fee?
I agree with @frecountry that the question really is will the republicans who back in 22 and 24
fyi i just called horizon blue cross NJ the omni silver plan wont cover any test for travel or not related to illness
see below
https://www.horizonhealthnews.com/horizon-now-covers-the-cost-of-at-home-covid-19-tests/
In addition, effective January 15, 2022, eligible Horizon members are covered for up to eight at-home, FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests every 30 days for diagnostic purposes. This means you are taking a test because you have COVID-19 symptoms or because you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19. Claims for diagnostic testing are covered by your insurance with no out-of-pocket costs. A doctor’s order is not required.
The Horizon benefit does not apply if you are testing to go to work or school, for travel or for a reason not related to illness (called “surveillance tests.”) Surveillance tests are not covered by insurance. The Federal government free tests are not limited to diagnostic purposes.
You never know if you’re exposed to COVID-19…
they only reimburse for 4 tests per month @12.00 per test so your getting back 48.00 so your paying 37.50 after reimbursment
No, it’s 4 tests per person.
Does elal accept this
Yes.
What about un-insured or self pay? Are there any govt programs that reimburse?
How are the emed antigen tests different than the other cheaper ones out there that are FDA approved, like On/Go or IHealth? They are fully covered under the $13
eMed includes a proctor and verified result good for travel.
You can however just buy a proctoring session for $20 and use a FlowFlex test that you can buy for $9 at CVS
https://www.azova.com/covidtests/index.html
Much simpler….while insurance will reimburse you for emed – we had to chase multiple times (and no shipping reimbursed).
Moreover, the expiration dates from EMED stink, so unless you have a need for 6 tests in the next 6 months, you will likely be throwing some away.
How is that much simpler?
Because if you only have 1 trip coming up you don’t have to buy 6 tests that will likely expire until your next trip.
And presumably people have these tests at home (or can get immediately at a drugstore) so you don’t have to plan ahead…you just pay the $20 proctoring fee as needed.
iHealth seems proctored as well. Anyone have experience? https://ihealthlabs.com/products/ihealth-verified-covid-test-service
I purchased COVID tests from Emed on 1/15.
Still have not been reimbursed my insurance.
Now they say sometime this month they’ll get to my claim. Initially, I was told there was no price limit on the tests. Now, they’ll only cover $12/test.
If they weren’t set up to have free tests on 1/15, they should have to pay full reimbursement. I would fight that.
I continue to do so……
It seems you need a NAVICA account for the actual test? Can a family of 6 use one NAVICA account or does each person need to make a separate account?
My insurance offers free tests from optum store
Does anyone know if these are also good for travel from Israel into USA?
https://store.optum.com/shop/products/uhg-ongo-10-minute-covid19-antigen-selftest/
Cigna seems to specifically exclude it (see below). Does anyone have experience with them?
If they have to cover it by law, how can they exclude?
On this page: https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/
Tests you purchase on or after January 15, 2022 are eligible for reimbursement. However, the following are not reimbursable under this program:
The BinaxNOWTM test with “Telehealth Proctor Supervised” in the attributes column
The Cue+ EssentialTM membership
The Cue Reader
Will these work if we have a stopover in Germany? (ie will they recognize it for transit passengers?)
We are flying Lufthansa? Will they accept it?
Emed doesn’t do tests on kids under 4
Incorrect.
So, we’re flying back from Israel to the US on Saturday night motzai Pesach. Since its YomTov for the 2 days before the flight and the US requires within 1 day, we have no idea how we would test in time somewhere, with all the hundreds of people who will be in the same predicament.
Will this be a solution?? We are 2 adults and 3 kids. Where, how and when would we use this to test? Will the foreign airlines such as Turkish accept these results? This could be a huge solution for anyone traveling back that night.
Does anyone have experience with Cigna covering this?
They specifically exclude it on their website.
Anthem denied my claim. Say all COVID tests have to be ordered by physician
That’s nonsense and against the law. Call and fight it.
Will they ship out of the country?