Free home COVID-19 testing now available for Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Department of Insurance officials want Oklahomans to know that over-the-counter, at-home COVID-19 tests are now freely available to people with health plans.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Insurance (OID), group health plans and health insurance issuers that offer group or individual health coverage must cover over-the-counter COVID-19 tests starting at today, Saturday, January 15, according to the Oklahoma Department of Insurance (OID).

The new guidance states that the tests must be free or reimbursed by the insurance company.

“Like the rest of the country, Oklahoma is facing a new increase in omicron variation. Continuing testing is vital to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the health and safety of our community,” said Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready. “I encourage Oklahomans to leverage home testing and available local testing sites to help keep people safe with early detection.”

OID officials advised Oklahomans to keep their receipts and to ask their insurance company for a refund if they purchased an over-the-counter COVID test from a pharmacy, store or online retailer and were charged fee.

“If your plan doesn’t already establish a preferred network of stores, pharmacies, and online retailers where you can take the test at no extra cost, consumers will be refunded. refund the amount of the cost of the check,” an OID news release status.