Copays and deductibles for coronavirus testing waived by emergency order in Washington state

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an emergency order to Washington state health insurers requiring them to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Insurers also must:

• Allow a one-time early refill for prescription drugs.

• Suspend any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of COVID-19.

In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another provider within a reasonable distance at no additional cost, Kreidler’s staff said in a news release.

The order was effective as of Thursday and applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term limited duration medical plans until May 4, 2020.

© 2020 Cox Media Group