One reassuring part of this year’s cold and flu season is the growing access to COVID-19 tests. Testing—along with handwashing, vaccines, masking, and distancing—continues to help the Penn community reduce risks and overcome the recent case surge.

Now, in addition to on-campus COVID testing and free at-home tests delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, Penn faculty and staff can get over-the-counter (OTC) tests through Penn’s CVS Caremark benefit. This coverage is part of all Penn healthcare plans.

Eight Test Kits a Month

Penn benefits cover up to eight (8) rapid-response test kits per month for enrolled plan participants—no prescription required.* For example, a two-person household may get up to 16 tests while a family of four would be eligible for 32 tests this month. If you buy a multi-pack of tests, each test in the package counts as a single test.

Two Ways to Get Your Test Kits

Plan participants have two options to get the no-cost OTC COVID tests. You can obtain them from an in-network pharmacy without paying upfront or you can pay up front and submit your receipt online and be reimbursed up to a maximum of $12 per test purchased, regardless of the cost.

Zero Out-of-Pocket Cost In-Network

Penn health plan participants can obtain eligible OTC COVID-19 tests* with no upfront out-of-pocket cost directly from in-network pharmacies. Simply present your prescription benefit card to any in-network pharmacy that elects to offer COVID-19 tests through this program. (Be sure to present the CVS Caremark prescription card, not the discount card that generates all those coupons.) The following kits are the only ones available for this option.

The CVS Caremark network includes non-CVS pharmacies such as Walgreens and Rite-Aid. To find an in-network pharmacy, visit the CVS Caremark website at www.caremark.com and click on the Pharmacy Locator link near the top of the home page.

The Reimbursement Option

Penn health plan participants can also get reimbursed up to $12** per test for approved OTC COVID tests purchased at pharmacies and stores outside the CVS Caremark network, as well as online retailers. Penn’s plans will reimburse enrolled members for purchases made from January 15, 2022 through the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Before you submit a claim online at www.caremark.com/covid19-otc, have your receipts ready as proof of purchase and register as a member using your 10-digit Penn ID number. You can also submit claims using the CVS Caremark mobile app (available for Android and Apple) or submit a paper claim for reimbursement.

Download the CVS Caremark reimbursement guide for more details.

Play it safe this cold and flu season. Protect yourself, your family, and your community with over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. For more information visit COVIDtests.gov and the Penn Public Health Guidance page.

If you need assistance, please contact Penn’s Benefits Solution Center at 1 (866) 799-2329.