Anthem Offers No-Cost, At-Home COVID-19 Testing Options
Anthem has shared information about additional testing options for employees with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19:
- At-home diagnostic COVID-19 testing kit. This test is available at no charge for diagnostic testing only and now available through anthem.com or the Sydney Health mobile app. A doctor’s order, while normally required for testing to be covered, is not required when ordering through this limited program. The test typically arrives in two business days or less and provides results in 10 minutes. This test is for employees who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This rapid diagnostic test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen is an over-the-counter (OTC) home test for use under an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for in vitro diagnostic use only. It is not being made available under FDA authorization for screening purposes. While Anthem does not normally cover at-home diagnostic COVID-19 testing kits unless ordered by a clinician, they have purchased a limited number of at-home testing kits for this temporary program.*
- OTC diagnostic COVID-19 tests. If employees can’t wait for a kit to come in the mail, they can check their local pharmacies and grocery stores for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at their own expense.
Proactively educating members about these testing options helps them feel supported and confident in their care. Inform your employees about the new at-home COVID-19 diagnostic testing kit option and that they can order it through the Sydney Health app on their smartphone or online at anthem.com. Members can also go to Anthem’s COVID-19 Resource Center and select Find a Testing Center to see local testing options, order an at-home COVID-19 testing kit, and check state guidance for the latest local COVID-19 recommendations.
Contact your Cornerstone representative with any questions.