Common question
How many COVID-19 tests can I get reimbursed for?Health plans must cover 8 individual at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per person enrolled in the plan per month. That means a family of four can get 32 tests per month for free.
How much does a COVID-19 test cost?
The cost for testing should be covered by most insurance plans or through government-sponsored programs.For private pay patients, please contact your health care provider for cost to administer a COVID-19 test.
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 test up front?
See full answerThe Biden-Harris Administration is strongly incentivizing health plans and insurers to set up a network of convenient locations across the country such as pharmacies or retailers where people with private health coverage will be able to order online or walk in and pick up at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free, rather than going through the process of having to submit claims for reimbursement. Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if it provides direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through such a program or whether they will need to submit a claim for reimbursement. If you are charged for your test after January 15, keep your receipt and submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement.Jan 12, 2022
Can I still have COVID-19 symptoms and test negative?
“If you have symptoms and continue to test negative, the chances that you're infectious with Covid have gone down a lot,” said Dr. Robert Wachter, the chair of the medicine department at the University of California, San Francisco. “But you probably should wear a mask that day because you have something.”7 days ago
How accurate is the rapid COVID-19 test?
How accurate are my rapid test results? Positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a PCR test. Rapid tests are most effective one to five days after symptoms start.Apr 4, 2022
What are the risks of false negative COVID-19 results?
Risks to a patient of a false negative result include: delayed or lack of supportive treatment, lack of monitoring of infected individuals and their household or other close contacts for symptoms resulting in increased risk of spread of COVID-19 within the community, or other unintended adverse events.Jul 15, 2021
Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?
It is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative) in some people with COVID- 19. This means that you could possibly still have COVID- 19 even though the test is negative. The amount of antigen in a sample may decrease the longer you have symptoms of infection.Apr 4, 2022
What are some consequences of a false negative or a false positive COVID-19 test?
False negative tests provide false reassurance, and could lead to delayed treatment and relaxed restrictions despite being contagious. False positives, which are much less likely, can cause unwarranted anxiety and require people to quarantine unnecessarily.Aug 10, 2020
Are molecular or rapid COVID-19 tests more accurate?
Molecular tests are generally more accurate and mostly processed in a laboratory, which takes longer; antigen tests—or “rapid tests”—are processed pretty much anywhere, including at home, in doctors' offices, or in pharmacies.Jan 20, 2022
What does it mean if I have a negative rapid test result?
What does it mean if I have a negative rapid test result? A negative test result means that proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19 were not found in your sample. It is possible for this test to give a negative result that is incorrect (false negative).Apr 4, 2022
Are COVID-19 rapid antigen tests accurate if no symptoms are present?
Antigen tests are still fairly accurate, particularly when someone is experiencing symptoms and their viral load is very high. However, they can be less accurate when someone has a lower viral load, such as in someone without symptoms. This could lead to false negative test results.Dec 3, 2021