Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Testing
Most health insurance companies will waive co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles for COVID-19 testing. If you have questions about your health insurance coverage, contact your health insurance provider.
Visit the Division of Financial Regulation's insurance coverage for COVID-19 testing page for more information.
Beginning January 15, 2022, individuals with private health insurance coverage or covered by a group health plan who purchase an over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized, cleared, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be able to have those test costs covered by their plan or inurance. Insurance companies and health plans are required to cover 8 free over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual per month. That means a family of four, all on the same plan, would be able to get up to 32 of these tests covered by their health plan per month. There is no limit on the number of tests, including at-home tests, that are covered if ordered or administered by a health care provider following an individualized clinical assessment, including for those who may need them due to underlying medical conditions.
For more information, please see these Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-test-for-free.html.
Are You Feeling Sick
If you have COVID-19-like symptoms (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea) follow the steps below. If you are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease (some examples of severe disease are overweight, pregnany, older age, diabetes type 1 or 2, current or former smoker, cancer, substance use disorder, chronic kidney or liver or lung or heart disease), get tested as soon as you are symptomatic so that you can access treatment. If you live with someone or spend time with someone who is at risk for severe COVID-19 disease, consider getting tested if you have symptoms so that you can both make decisions about enacting safety precautions.
If you test positive and are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19, treatments are available that can reduce your chances of being hospitalized or dying from the disease. Medications to treat COVID-19 must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and started as soon as possible after diagnosis to be effective. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) now offers free telehealth visits statewide for those at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness through Color Health. Telehealth visit hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Consultation is offered in 17 languages. You can visit OHA’s COVID-19 treatments page or call Color at 833-273-6330 for more information.
Stay home and separate yourself from other people in your home. This is known as home isolation. It is important that you do not go out in public if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19. It is important not to spread this illness to other people. Do not travel, attend social gatherings, or go to work if you have COVID-19-like symptoms.
Call your medical provider or a medical clinic that is testing for COVID-19. Let them know you have COVID-19-like symptoms and ask to be tested for COVID-19. Your medical provider may want to see you in person, make sure to wear a mask to your appointment. Be sure to access medical care if you begin to feel worse or if it is an emergency.
Get tested. People with mild symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested to see if they have the virus, you can go through your medical provider or contact one of the health centers that is testing for COVID-19. Access the Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 Testing in Oregon website to find a testing center near you, call 211 Information.
Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands immediately. If you do not have tissues, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
Wash your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Wear a mask. When you leave your home to access medical care and when you go to get tested.
For urgent and life threatening-medical needs, call 9-1-1 right away.