Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Monday gave a new warning related to reports of fake at-home COVID-19 tests being sold online during this surge of the coronavirus fueled by the omicron variant.
Her office’s consumer protection team is seeing an increase in calls and complaints related to at-home tests. The complaints are being reviewed to see if additional action is needed, according to a news release.
Tests are in huge demand as the virus spreads and cases and hospitalizations swell. On Monday, Michigan averaged about 14,841 new cases of coronavirus each of the last three days, according to state data.
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On Monday, the state set a new pandemic record for the number of people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
There were 4,674 people, including 94 children, hospitalized with confirmed cases of the virus in Michigan hospitals, according to state health department data. The previous record was 4,566 people on Dec. 13.
Beaumont Health said it is treating 857 COVID-19 patients at its eight hospitals, the highest since the pandemic began.
“As the pandemic continues to grip our nation, bad actors are finding new ways to take advantage of our current reality,” Nessel said.
“Right now, there is a huge demand for at-home COVID-19 tests, so it’s important to understand there will be attempts to capitalize on that demand. The best way to combat criminal attempts to defraud consumers is to educate yourself on the latest scams.”
Also Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that President Joe Biden’s administration is requiring insurance companies and group health plans cover the cost of over-the-counter, at-home tests so people with private health coverage can get them for free starting Saturday.
They’ll be required to cover eight free, over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual per month. For example, a family of four, all on the same plan, would be able to get up to 32 tests covered by their health plan per month.
People do not need an order from their health care provider and the tests will be covered without deductibles, copayments, coinsurance or prior authorization.
Most people with private health coverage can go online or to a pharmacy or store, buy a test and get it paid for up front by their health plan or get reimbursed for the cost by submitting a claim to their plan, HHS said.
It said there is no limit on the number of tests, including at-home tests, that are covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment, including for those who may need them because of an underlying medical condition.
It said when plans and insurers make tests available for upfront coverage through preferred pharmacies or retailers, they are required to reimburse tests purchased by consumers outside of that network, at a rate of up to $12 per individual test (or the cost of the test, if less than $12).
State Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) currently are required to cover FDA-authorized, at-home COVID-19 tests without cost-sharing.
Nessel said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Better Business Bureau recently released warnings related to fraudulent tests, and Nessel reissued a consumer alert for websites selling COVID-related products that are fake or never arrive.
Her team provides tips from the FTC if people are shopping online for COVID-19 tests and related items. They include:
- Make sure the test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Check the FDA’s list of antigen and molecular diagnostic tests before you buy to find tests authorized for home use.
- Check out a seller before you buy, particularly if you are buying from a site you don’t know.
- Search online for a website, company or seller’s name plus words like scam, complaint or review.
- Compare online reviews from a variety of websites. Get an idea about a company, product or service from reading user reviews on retail or shopping comparison sites. Think about the source of the review and ask yourself where it is coming from: an expert organization or individual customer.
- Pay by credit card. If you are charged for an order you never received or for a product that’s not as advertised, contact your credit card company and dispute the charge.
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More:Michigan attorney general issues consumer alert about COVID-19 scams
Last spring, Nessel warned about fake advertisements and treatments related to COVID-19.
Complaints may be filed online at michigan.gov/ag. If you have questions, call 877-765-8388.
Staff writer Kristen Jordan Shamus contributed to this report.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.
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