Contact: Yeraldin Deavila, Public Information Officer
Phone: (775)
687-0772
E-mail: ydeavila@doi.nv.gov
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE– September 14, 2020
Division of Insurance reminds consumers health insurance
covers the cost of testing in Nevada
Carson City, NV –
Consumers who purchased health insurance coverage on their own through the
individual health insurance market such as Nevada Health Link or have coverage sponsored
by their employers on the small or large groups markets are able to obtain free
testing for COVID-19.
Nevadans covered by health insurance policies regulated by
the Nevada Division of Insurance (individual health plans, small group plans,
large group plans, and catastrophic plans) are able to obtain certain medical
services and testing related to COVID-19 without being responsible for co-pays
or the actual cost of the test itself.
This means insurance companies are required to cover—with no
out-of-pocket cost—testing for COVID-19 and the visit to a provider’s office,
an urgent care center, a center for emergency medical care, an emergency room, or
a COVID-19 screening or testing site when the purpose of the visit is to be
tested for COVID-19 for a symptomatic individual.
“The cost of COVID-19 testing should not be a deterrent for
Nevadans to seek medical care if they have been exposed,” explained Insurance
Commissioner Barbara Richardson. “As we have learned testing is essential to
limit exposure to others and to obtain any needed medical attention or
treatment.”
Consumers who have health insurance and need to get tested
for COVID-19 should start first by calling their doctor’s office and alert them
that they may have been exposed regardless if they have symptoms or not and ask
for a referral on how, where, and when to get tested.
Consumers who do not have health insurance or are covered by
other policies not regulated by the Division are also encouraged to get tested.
There are a number of testing sites set up by the health department and medical
centers, being offered at no cost to anyone, whether they have symptoms or not.
Nevada Health Response developed a look up tool to help
Nevadans find a testing location near them at https://NVHealthResponse.nv.gov/find-covid-19-testing-in-nevada/.
For more information about insurance and COVID-19, visit the
Division’s website at
http://doi.nv.gov/News_Notices/Emergency_Notices/.
About the
Nevada Division of Insurance
The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a Division of the
Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada
consumers and regulates Nevada’s $14 billion insurance industry. The Division
of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2019, the Division
investigated more than 2,750 consumer complaints, answered over 10,700
inquiries, and recovered over $6.3 million on behalf of consumers. For more
information about the Division of Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.