Throughout the epidemic, health insurance companies have worked to ensure that patients have access to the COVID-19 tests they need. However, recent data from AHIP shows that price gouging on COVID-19 tests by some providers is still a common issue, putting patients’ access to necessary testing at risk.
- Survey: Between May and June of 2021, AHIP conducted a survey of health insurance providers in the commercial market to gather information on prices charged by out-of-network providers for diagnostic, antibody, and antigen tests for COVID-19. This builds upon results from previous AHIP surveys on COVID-19 testing.
- New data: On average, a COVID-19 test in the commercial market costs $130. The new data demonstrate that the share of tests charging 50% to 100% above the average costs has doubled (from 18% to 36%) between early in the pandemic and more recently during the current public health emergency.
- Deliberate steps: “As the nation continues to address the pandemic, affordable testing is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19,” said Jeanette Thornton, AHIP’s Senior Vice President of Product, Employer, and Commercial Policy. “COVID-19 testing price gouging threatens the progress we are making against this deadly virus, and we urge the Administration, Congress, and policymakers to take deliberate steps to ensure testing is accessible and affordable for all Americans.”
- Covid-19 tests: The share of COVID-19 tests at high-cost locations (hospitals and emergency departments) have declined from 18% in the first quarter to only 5% in the fourth quarter of the pandemic. AHIP’s latest data includes a share of COVID-19 tests performed by out-of-network providers, the percent of high-priced out-of-network tests, and the reported testing sites for out-of-network COVID-19 tests.
- Healthcare coverage: AHIP is the national association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make health care better and coverage more affordable and accessible for everyone.
