Insurers Pay Full Cost of COVID-19 Testing – Federal law now requires all health insurers (except short-term plans) to cover all costs associated with COVID-19 testing – without imposing any copays or deductibles, and regardless of whether the provider is in-network. This requirement covers the test and the visit that resulted in the order for the test, as insurers are required to reimburse out-of-network providers for these services.

Although the costs of COVID-19 testing are covered, The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires us to post our fees for COVID-19 screening and evaluation services.  The fees are:

• • Evaluation Visit: $97
  • COVID-19 Test Fee based on laboratory used:

• • • BioReference Lab: $100
    • Cayuga Lab: $277
    • Quest Labs: $100

What You Need To Know To Prevent Illness

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

The CDC recommends preventive actions to help avoid the spread of COVID-19:

• Clean your hands often.
  – Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  – If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  – Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  – Stay at home as much as possible.
  – Put distance between yourself and other people (6 feet).
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
  – New evidence recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
  – You can spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
  – Continue to keep 6 feet between yourself and others. Face covers are NOT a substitute for social distancing.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Use the inside of your elbow if you do not have tissues.
•  Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
  – This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider immediately.

The CDC updates their website regularly to keep the public informed.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html