Why America Can’t Test Like Europe
Except for maybe pasta and work-life balance, no topic makes liberal Americans wish they were European more than health care. So when President Joe Biden announced a plan earlier this month mandating that private insurers reimburse people for rapid coronavirus tests that they take at home, some commentators cried out that his plan was not enough. The new rule won’t help everyone, and getting reimbursement will still take legwork, critics crowed—and plus, the Europeans have a better solution!
One of the biggest holes in of Americans, to pay for the tests. For now, only insurance plans that people get through work or the Affordable Care Act exchanges will be required to cover the swabs. To get reimbursed, privately insured Americans will have to go out and buy the tests, then file claims with their insurer. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom people bags of tests for free. At a recent White House press conference, NPR’s Mara Liasson why America can’t do the same.
