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S. 3499 116th Congress Senate

Free COVID–19 Testing Act

Official title: A bill to amend coverage requirements to ensure that no person incurs cost sharing when receiving a test to confirm a COVID-19 infection.

Introduced: March 12, 2020 Introduced by: Tina Smith Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov
Health AppropriationsCardiovascular and respiratory healthChild healthDepartment of Health and Human Services
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Disaster relief and insuranceEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsExecutive agency funding and structureHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth programs administration and fundingHealth technology, devices, suppliesIndian social and development programsInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedicaidMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicareMinority healthState and local finance
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 12, 2020
Introduced in Senate
Mar 12, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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 Latest action March 12, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Free COVID–19 Testing Act

This bill requires specified public health care programs and private health insurance to cover testing for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) without imposing cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments) for the duration of the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020. This coverage includes the cost of administering such approved tests and related visits to health care providers.

Specifically, these requirements apply to COVID-19 testing and office visits for individuals covered through (1) Medicare, (2) Medicare Advantage, (3) Medicaid, (4) the Children's Health Insurance Program, (5) the Department of Defense (i.e., TRICARE), (6) the Department of Veterans Affairs, (7) the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or (8) the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs may cover COVID-19 testing and related visits for uninsured individuals during the emergency, and the Department of Health and Human Services must reimburse laboratories for the cost of such tests.

 Related & companion bills 7
  • HR 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • HR 6213 No Cost for COVID–19 Testing Act
  • HR 6214 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing unde…
  • HR 6232 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Disaster Medical System, to provide for cer…
  • HR 6244 To amend titles XVIII and XIX to provide for coverage at no cost sharing of COVID-19 testing under the Medicaid program…
  • HR 6261 To provide for coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing for Indians receiving health services through the In…
  • HR 6263 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to waive cost sharing under the Medicare program for certain visits rel…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 31
All 31 Democratic 29 Independent 2
D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Mar 17, 2020
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Mar 17, 2020
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Mar 12, 2020
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Mar 12, 2020
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Mar 12, 2020
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Mar 12, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3499: Free COVID–19 Testing Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3499/
MLA
"S. 3499: Free COVID–19 Testing Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3499/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3499, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3499/.
Markdown link
[S. 3499: Free COVID–19 Testing Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3499/)
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