# Paying for covid-related tests and medical care

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [November 11, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311 "2020-11-11T12:48:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311/1 "2020-11-11T12:48:51Z")

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This a question rather than a debate about health insurance. I’m curious about how covid is impacting people in the US with regards to health insurance.

Is covid covered under insurance plans? Is there co-pay? What about people without health insurance? Do you have to pay for tests?

I appreciate everyone’s insurance is different, I’m just trying to ascertain how covid is impacting people financially and whether this is a debate topic in the US?

(Am in the UK, so covid tests and treatments are free).

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**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311/2 "2020-11-11T13:55:42Z")

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I’ve been to two drive up test sites and they were free. I was in the hospital last April for a non-Covid related incident and was tested 4 times whenever they moved from ER, ICU, standard room and release. Insurance covered it all.

Now I see that I can go get Covid test anywhere and insurance will cover it. I beleive part of the stimulus package was to help pay for testing, but that most likly has run out of money.

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**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311/3 "2020-11-11T16:01:22Z")

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When I had Covid, all my tests were free. My hospitalization and nursing home stay were all covered by my insurance.

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**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-for-covid-related-tests-and-medical-care/925311/4 "2020-11-11T17:34:30Z")

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I haven’t been tested for acute COVID yet (haven’t been exposed or felt bad), but I did have my annual physical exam back in August.

When it came to the blood draw part, my doctor said “Hey- want a COVID antibody test?” I replied with “How much is that going to cost?” He said “Should be free; Congress requires insurance carriers to cover tests 100% now.” So I agreed, tested negative, and never got a bill for it.

There are also a lot of other mandated coverage components:

> **[Does your health insurance cover you for COVID-19?](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-health-insurance-cover-covid-19-testing-treatment/)**
>
> Testing is free, but the cost of treating the coronavirus disease may depend on your insurer. Here's what to know.