2020 has been a trying year. With the onset of the pandemic, many people faced financial and social issues that went beyond the emerging health crisis. Many people found themselves isolated from support systems, suffering from financial losses or even losing stability in their everyday life. The costs of medical care are just one of the few considerations that have plagued the average person.
However, the costs of getting tested for COVID-19, regardless of your health insurance, should not be a key source of concern. Read on to find out more about what getting tested entails and the different options that you can have with COVID-19 testing kits.
Costs to Get Tested
Different coronavirus tests have different costs. The cost of a PCR coronavirus test might be different from the cost of a rapid coronavirus test. Furthermore, getting your healthcare service provider to administer a test may involve other services that they consider necessary. This means that the billing amount will change from clinic to clinic, depending on your physical condition. Other options include prescription at home tests and an over the counter test kit, and the price varies as well.
Government Aid
Over the past year, Congress has passed policies that mandate that should a healthcare provider deem a COVID-19 test medically necessary, it will be done at no cost to the patient regardless of your health insurance. This means that there should be no out-of-pocket costs, co-pay, deductibles for your coronavirus test even if you have no insurance. This is following the CARES Act as well as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
There are, however, limitations to this. If the test is required by someone other than a healthcare provider, it will not be covered by the FFCRA. The test is free, but it does not mean that there will be no bill whatsoever for your medical treatment. This could either be because of administrative mistakes that you will need to address with your insurance provider, Medicare or Medicaid, or due to other diagnostic tests that were needed to determine the level of care needed for your condition.
Similarly, not all at home and over the counter test kits are covered by the FFCRA and CARES act. It is therefore important to check that your prescription or choice of DIY kit is on the accepted list before purchase to ensure that you will be able to receive reimbursement.
Schedule a Consultation Today
There are many options for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and different policies and aids to leverage on for financial aid. If you are feeling overwhelmed, contact us today and our friendly customer service representatives will be able to advise you on which test kit is most suitable for you. If you are feeling unwell or have been exposed to someone who is confirmed to have tested positive, do make sure to get a test done to protect yourself and those around you.
