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“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.
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Get tested again if symptoms appear.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.
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Although self-tests are usually faster, they are not as good at detecting the virus as PCR tests, meaning you might get a false negative result.These are different from laboratory-based PCR tests or self-collected samples that are sent to a laboratory these may take days to return your result.
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They give you results in 10-15 minutes and are usually antigen tests.Self-tests detect current infection and are sometimes also called “home tests,” “at-home tests,” or “over-the-counter (OTC) tests.”.Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere.
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