Where uninsured patients still can find free COVID tests, vaccines in Charlotte
Some health care providers will continue to offer free vaccines, tests and treatments for COVID-19 for people without insurance in Mecklenburg County.
Federal funding for COVID health care reimbursement is running out — raising fears uninsured patients may get billed for future COVID tests, vaccines or treatments or forego the medical attention they need.
Providers will no longer be reimbursed by the federal program for providing COVID care, such as hospital stays, for uninsured patients. The Health Resources and Services Administration stopped accepting claims for COVID testing and treatment from health care providers last week due to the dwindling funds. And on April 5, the program will stop accepting claims for COVID vaccines.
Locally, Mecklenburg County Public Health and StarMed Healthcare say they’ll still provide COVID care at no cost.
The county health department will continue offer free COVID vaccines as well as free rapid antigen tests for pick up at health department facilities and local libraries, county spokeswoman Rebecca Carter told the Observer in an email. The county is waiting on guidance from the state Department of Health and Human Services for additional support for providing COVID PCR tests, Carter said.
And StarMed will cover all costs for COVID testing and treatment of uninsured patients going forward, the company said on Twitter.
At Novant Health, COVID testing, vaccines and treatment will now be eligible for coverage through the hospital system’s financial assistance policy, according to a spokesperson. Novant’s financial assistance policy provides free or reduced care to uninsured patients who have a household income of up to 300% the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that’s roughly $79,500 household income.
Other uninsured patients who do not qualify will be offered a discount similar to insurance prices, the hospital system said.
Anyone who has not previously been approved for financial assistance would need to apply, according to Novant. Patients can apply online.
Atrium Health is reviewing the regulations, spokesman Brian Hacker told the Observer in an email. Atrium will not bill any patients until finalizing a plan for COVID care payments, he said.
This story was originally published March 31, 2022 at 12:57 PM.
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