Bill Overview
Title: No Surprises for COVID–19 Tests Act
Description: This bill extends the temporary period during which private health insurance plans must cover testing and related services for COVID-19 without cost sharing. It also temporarily applies certain consumer protections against surprise billing to such testing and related services. Finally, beginning on May 1, 2022, insurance plans without a negotiated price for COVID-19 testing services are no longer required to pay providers the published cash price for such services.
Sponsors: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Target Audience
Population: People requiring COVID-19 testing with private health insurance coverage
Estimated Size: 248250000
- The bill focuses on private health insurance coverage for COVID-19 testing.
- Given the global reach of the pandemic, many people worldwide are potentially affected.
- The bill especially impacts those who require COVID-19 testing regularly.
- Many countries have private health insurance sectors but the impact will vary based on local laws and insurance structures.
- It specifically aims to prevent 'surprise billing' for COVID-19 testing.
Reasoning
- The policy particularly impacts individuals who need regular COVID-19 testing, possibly due to high-risk jobs, frequent travel, or health conditions.
- A significant segment of the American population (about 248.25 million) has private health insurance, which is directly relevant to this policy.
- The financial budget of 11.5 billion over a decade likely constrains the number of people and duration of free testing services.
- The policy's positive effects on well-being are likely to be modest for those not directly affected by surprise billing threats.
- The commonness score helps understand how typical the described individual is compared to the general population.
Simulated Interviews
Corporate Consultant (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often worry about the extra costs of COVID-19 tests when traveling for work.
- This policy would reduce the hassle and stress, knowing my tests are covered without extra costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Healthcare Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's stressful to constantly deal with surprise medical bills, especially with frequent testing.
- This policy would definitely help ease my financial concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Given my freelance status, every unexpected bill impacts me significantly.
- The policy would relieve some financial pressure during the pandemic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The peace of mind without surprise testing bills is invaluable.
- The policy would likely improve our financial stability amidst all ongoing challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Logistics Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy helps ensure my team gets tested regularly without added financial burden or stress.
- As a manager, it is crucial to maintain both physical and mental health in the workplace.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although retired, managing healthcare costs is crucial.
- The policy would give retirees like me some ease regarding testing expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- COVID-19 testing costs can add up with my student budget.
- This policy would help a lot in easing costs while fulfilling test requirements for studying abroad.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Automotive Engineer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 48 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The health insurance policy offered relief from unexpected bills due to constant testing needs.
- Stability in health costs is critical for financial planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Restaurant Owner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Keeping costs down through this policy is beneficial for my business with so many staff.
- Available testing without surprises safeguards both my business and employees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy loosening on cost sharing puts me at an advantage whenever there's a new project requiring COVID-19 testing.
- It provides some predictability in costs amidst job uncertainties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5500000000 (Low: $4000000000, High: $7000000000)
Year 2: $6000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $7500000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The extent of COVID-19 testing demand as the pandemic evolves and new variants emerge.
- Insurance company's negotiation with providers impacting the cost efficiency under the bill.
- Public perception and understanding of consumer protections, impacting utilization.
- Long-term healthcare system impacts beyond the immediate cost implications.