While COVID-19 testing and vaccination are free, getting infected is not

Testing and vaccination for the coronavirus is free thanks to laws passed last year. Treatment isn't, however, and may be about to get more expensive.

New vaccines are in production, millions of doses are being administered daily and President Joe Biden says there will be enough vaccines for 90% of U.S. adults by April 19. That's great news. But there's still a risk of getting COVID-19 and facing medical bills.

Here's a primer on COVID-19 costs you could face should you contract the virus, how much insurers will pay and how to deal with medical bills.

What's covered under the law

COVID-19 tests and vaccinations are free for everyone, under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act. Two key rules to remember here:

• Private insurers cannot bill for vaccinations and generally aren't supposed to bill for a COVID-19 test. The same holds true if you're on Medicare or Medicaid. (There are some exceptions for testing, but vaccination is completely free.)
• If you don't have insurance, the law provides funds to cover testing and vaccination costs for providers so they shouldn't bill you.
  

Still, reports abound of people getting incorrectly billed for COVID-19 tests and related services. If you were billed for a free service, contact your provider to point out the mistake. You may have to follow up with your insurer.

If you are in a position to buy insurance or want a cheaper premium, this is a good time to shop. The American Rescue Plan makes health care more affordable through reduced premiums for exchange plans and fully paid premiums for laid-off workers to adopt COBRA coverage.

Waivers also help, but will not last

During the pandemic, many private insurers have voluntarily waived cost-sharing for COVID-19-related treatments, including copays, payments toward deductibles and coinsurance (what you pay after the deductible). But that could change soon.

The national public health emergency period — an official government declaration — ends April 21, although it may be extended by 90 days given that Americans are not out of the woods yet. Insurers could resume normal cost-sharing when the emergency period ends.

Even if your insurer has a treatment waiver now, you may face some costs depending on your plan, the care received and how your insurer defines COVID-19-related treatment.

"Most of these waivers still only apply to COVID-19 treatment received from in-network providers or facilities, and consumers who are treated out-of-network may be forced to pay the entire cost of their treatment," according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report published in November.

People may have lingering symptoms or conditions needing treatment, said Adam Fox, deputy director at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a nonprofit health advocacy organization.

"It's not easy to distinguish what may be COVID-related or not after somebody initially recovers," he said. "In most cases, insurance companies are not going to categorize follow-up care as COVID-related."

To see what costs your insurer has waived, check its website. America's Health Insurance Plans, a national association representing insurers, has a summary of waivers offered by major companies. For example, United HealthCare's Medicare Advantage waivers apply until March 31, while Humana's Medicare Advantage waivers apply throughout 2021.

Dealing with medical bills

Medical billing doesn't go smoothly in the best of times. Expect more issues as the pandemic continues, according to Fox. "Sometimes we are hearing from consumers anywhere from nine to 18 months after they have received care," he said.

Here's how to get ahead of potential costs and handle a medical bill:

• Ask for an itemized bill for Covid-19 treatments. This will help you spot errors like duplicate bill codes, Fox suggested. Compare the charges with your insurer's explanation of benefits to see if they are covered. By law, insurers must cover costs such as a doctor's visit fee that may have been added when you were tested. Medicare patients are mostly covered for COVID-19 treatments, but may have to pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance for hospital stays.
• Negotiate. You can always negotiate medical bills, said Jan Stone, a medical billing advocate at Stoneworks Healthcare Advocates in Austin, Texas. If you don't have insurance, ask your health provider upfront what services you'll be charged for. If you are on an exchange plan and received treatments it doesn't cover, you can negotiate that cost, Stone said. Drug costs are negotiable, too. "If your doctor prescribed a single drug and you can take multiple less expensive options that would do the same thing, you should ask your physician," she said. "People like the convenience of taking one pill."
• Ask for a payment plan. Talk to your health care provider about setting up a plan to pay over time. Also ask your provider or search online to see if your state has an assistance program to help with medical bills. You can even ask your credit card company for limited relief during a financial hardship.
• Get help. If you can, hire a medical billing advocate to negotiate complicated bills for you or seek claims assistance from professionals via Claims.org. If you have complaints about COVID-19 bills, contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hotline at (800) HHS-TIPS or tips.hhs.gov. You can also file a complaint with your state attorney general or insurance commissioner.

This column was provided to the Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.