H.R. 6213 – No Cost for COVID–19 Testing Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:21 AM UTC

The No Cost for COVID‑19 Testing Act requires health insurers and group health plans to pay for COVID‑19 testing and related medical visits at no charge to the patient. It eliminates deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and prior‑authorization requirements for approved diagnostic tests during the emergency period. The rule applies to anyone with group or individual health insurance, including grandfathered plans, and is enforced by HHS, Labor, and the Treasury.

Key Provisions

All group health plans and health insurers (including those offering individual coverage and grandfathered plans) must cover COVID‑19 diagnostic tests and the related office, urgent‑care, or emergency‑room visits without any cost sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
The coverage must be provided without prior‑authorization or other utilization‑management requirements during the declared emergency period for COVID‑19.
The covered tests are in‑vitro diagnostic products for detecting SARS‑CoV‑2 that have been approved, cleared, or authorized by the FDA under the relevant sections of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury are responsible for enforcing and implementing the rule through guidance or program instructions.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 11, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 11, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 11, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 11, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 11, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6213

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 11, 2020

Ms. Wilson of Florida (for herself, Ms. Schrier, Ms. DelBene, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Morelle, Mrs. McBath, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Trone, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Scott of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for coverage (without cost sharing or utilization management requirements) under group health plans and individual and group health insurance coverage of testing for COVID–19.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Cost for COVID–19 Testing Act.

2.

Coverage of testing for COVID–19

(a)

In general

A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage (including a grandfathered health plan (as defined in section 1251(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)) shall provide coverage, and shall not impose any cost sharing (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) requirements or prior authorization or other utilization management requirements, for at a minimum the following items and services furnished during any portion of the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act:

(1)

In vitro diagnostic products (as defined in section 809.3(a) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations) for the detection of SARS–CoV–2 or the diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID-19 that are approved, cleared, or authorized under section 510(k), 513, 515 or 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the administration of such in vitro diagnostic products.

(2)

Health care provider office visits, urgent care center visits, and emergency room visits relating to testing for COVID–19.

(b)

Enforcement

The provisions of subsection (a) shall be applied by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury to group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage as if included in the provisions of part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, part 7 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and subchapter B of chapter 100 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as applicable.

(c)

Implementation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury may implement the provisions of this section through program instruction or otherwise.

(d)

Health insurance terms

The terms group health plan; health insurance issuer; group health insurance coverage, and individual health insurance coverage have the meanings given such terms in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91), section 733 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1191b), and section 9832 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as applicable.