Are Covid-19 tests free?

costs and feescoronavirus testing costsCovid-19 testing

Sep 2

Good news: The federal government mandates free testing for COVID-19 for all Americans, insured or uninsured. That means if you get tested for COVID-19, the cost of both your visit and the test should be covered.

The federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act requiring private insurers to pay for certain test-related services and items at no cost to the patient. The second piece of legislation is the CARES Act, which expanded the list of tests and services that insurances must cover at no cost. The CARES Act also requires insurances to reimburse out-of-network providers for their services.

Bad news: There are gaps in these legislations that may expose patients to unexpected medical bills. The guidelines state that insurers are required to cover an appointment only if the doctor orders or administers a COVID-19 test. So essentially, without a test, even if the patient shows symptoms and receives other care related to the coronavirus, he or she still may be on the hook for the cost of the visit. Furthermore, if you require any care or treatment beyond the diagnosis, you or your insurance will likely be picking up the bill for those costs. For example, the cost of an emergency room or hospital stay, which may be necessary due to sickness, would most likely have to be covered by your insurance and you.

Even though the tests are supposed to be free, some hospitals or clinics might charge you for the co-pay until they bill your insurance to know for sure that your test is fully covered. Some people had to put up a fight against their insurance companies. Unless it’s an emergency, it's worth calling your insurance company to inquire what is or isn’t covered.

What can you do?

Experts recommend that people educate themselves about their health care plans.
Go to an in-network provider whenever possible.
Call the insurance company to find out exactly what your COVID-19 care covers. Several insurance companies have pledged to waive cost-sharing for treatment.
Uninsured individuals may be able to get a free COVID-19 test in several ways. For instance, if you go to an outpatient testing area at a facility that received relief funding, the provider there cannot pass through any cost onto you for care related to the coronavirus.
See if you can go through Medicaid. States may now use this program for the economically disadvantaged and disabled to cover the cost of testing uninsured residents who qualify.
Try to go to a provider from the National Disaster Medical System. That network of health care providers charges the federal government for their services, not the patients. However, it may be difficult to find a provider who participates in the program.
Free COVID-19 testing is most likely available at many locations across your state. Check your city and state health department websites for testing resources. I went on Google and searched for “COVID-19 testing resources in NJ” which led me to this site: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing, which led me to information on free COVID-19 testing in New Jersey.