![]() It may be difficult to book appointments ahead of time, so prepare to wait if you go to a testing center that accepts walk-in customers. But starting this month, "the Biden administration is expected to start requiring private insurers to reimburse enrollees for the cost of rapid at-home tests.” As you navigate your way to a local health department, you will find state, county, and city sources of information, such as Los Angeles County’s COVID-19 testing page.Ĭalifornia alone operates 6,288 testing sites, which amounts to almost a third of the testing facilities in the U.S., according to the California Department of Public Health.įor free tests, “libraries, fire stations, and public health departments might be the easiest way,” says Cox at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “If you go to a test site operated by local governments, private companies including pharmacies and medical practices or not-for-profit organizations, check with the testing site and your insurer to make sure there isn’t a fee for the test,” New York State advises residents in advice that is also sound for other states.įor tests not covered by insurance, many states and local communities administer low- or no-cost COVID-19 tests, regardless of the reason, in medical facilities, labs, schools, churches, and pharmacies, as well as at temporary locations-sometimes as simple as parked vans or tables on the street, some available only for a few hours on a particular day.Ī good place to find testing sites is the Health Resources and Administration website, which allows you to search health centers by ZIP code or city, or this page on the HHS site. “If there are any out-of-pocket costs-for example, in the case of no or only partial coverage by private insurance-health centers will provide sliding fee discounts for eligible patients based on income and family size,” the Department of Health and Human Services says.īecause many test centers have been overwhelmed in recent weeks, try to research fees and schedules online before you arrive. “If you are getting the test because of a workplace requirement or for public health screening reasons, then your insurer is allowed to charge you for the test.”Ĭosts at public facilities vary. “If the test is for personal health reasons, like a suspected exposure or possible symptoms, then Americans generally should not have to pay for the test,” says Cynthia Cox, vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on health issues. ![]() ![]() Such tests include those for anyone who feels symptoms or has been in close contact with someone confirmed or suspected of having the virus.Īs beneficial as sun and relaxation in Hawaii might be to your health, a COVID-19 test is probably not medically necessary under that definition, so you may have to pay for the test if you just need it for travel purposes. ![]() The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act obliges insurers to pay whatever labs charge for “medically appropriate” COVID-19 tests. How much you end up paying to determine and document your COVID-19 status depends on your health insurance, income level, where you get tested, and other factors. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |