Federal government will not require insurers to pay for most coronavirus testing

Health insurance companies will not have to pay for most coronavirus testing, according to guidance released by the Trump administration Tuesday.

Testing has increased as states have reopened their economies, potentially putting insurers on the hook for significant costs. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, passed by Congress in March, requires insurers to pay for tests without patient co-pays. But the guidance released today states that only applies if a healthcare provider deems the test “medically appropriate.”