By Keira Collin
Covid-19 took the world by storm in 2020. Covid-19 has affected many people in many different ways. Some people have caught it mildly and do not need hospital treatment, and some people catch it very severely. For those who catch it very severely, you may be wondering does Medicare cover the Covid-19 treatment? If you believe that you or a loved one has Covid-19, read below for the symptoms.
Covid-19 is an upper respiratory virus associated with the symptoms of:
- Fever or chills
- Congestion or runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Loss of taste or smell
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Muscle or body aches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Medicare’s Coverage of Covid-19 treatment
Medicare will pay for medically necessary services when you receive your care from a health care provider that accepts Original Medicare or is in your network.
First things first, if you believe you or a loved one has Covid, you will most likely go and get tested for the virus. Lab tests for Covid are covered at 100% for you under Medicare Part B. Therefore, you would not have any out-of-pocket costs for the Covid-19 test.
Suppose you have an inpatient hospital stay, skilled nursing facility stay, a home health visit, or a hospice care visit due to Covid-19. In that case, your services would be covered under Medicare Part A. Patients who need physician visits, infusion drugs, emergency ambulance transportation, and ER visits will be covered under Part B when medically necessary.
Continued care for Covid-19 patients
A patient’s post-care at a skilled nursing facility stay is covered by Part A after being an inpatient for three days. However, Medicare will not cover long-term services and stays. For extended hospital stays, you will pay a daily copayment when you are in the hospital past day 60. However, suppose a patient is in the hospital quarantining for an extended period. In that case, they won’t be required to pay a deductible additionally for quarantine.
Will Medicare cover the Covid-19 vaccines?
Medicare Part B covers preventative vaccines. In the CARES Act, the Covid vaccine is covered with no cost-sharing for beneficiaries under Part B. Regardless of whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, you will be covered. You can speak with your primary care doctor to get more information on the vaccine and see if it’s available and recommended for you.
Care services in your home
If you have a provider visiting your home to provide services, this will be covered under Medicare Part B. Other services you can do from home, such as phone calls, virtual check-ins, and online assessments, are also covered.
Prescription refills
Under Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D, you will be covered with up to a 90-day supply of prescription drugs if needed. However, there can be some safety limits on these drugs to avoid overdosing. In addition, you can always talk with your primary care provider to ensure you will be covered and have no surprises in the end.
Conclusion
Medicare pays for medically necessary services when you receive care from a provider that accepts Medicare or is in your network. Part B covers many coronavirus-related issues. It will cover your Covid test, physician visits, infusion drugs, emergency transportation, and ER visits. In addition, it will cover preventative vaccines. Under the CARES act, the vaccine is covered with no cost-sharing for a Medicare beneficiary under Part B.
Medicare Part A will cover your inpatient hospital stay, skilled nursing facility stay, a home health visit, or a hospice care visit during the time you have Covid-19. Make sure that your deductibles are planned for if you have not met them yet, and feel free to speak with your doctor if you have any questions regarding Covid treatment.
