COVID-19 Healthcare Options
September 18, 2020
With many Americans without health care coverage, there is understandably a lot of concern around lack of insurance and the coronavirus pandemic. Intelligent Partnerships has created this guide to help you understand what options you have if you think you may have COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with coronavirus and do not currently have health care coverage.
COVID-19 TESTING
Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, certain individuals may receive a free COVID-19 test, whether they have insurance or not.
According to the CDC guidelines, the following people should get tested for the coronavirus:
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Those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 case of COVID-19
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Those who have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed
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Those whose health care provider has referred them for a COVID-19 test
If you do not meet the criteria, your state might not provide a free COVID-19 test. However, there are many municipalities across the nation that have created programs to provide free testing to anyone who wants one.
For the latest information on COVID-19 testing in your state, you can visit your state’s health department or your local health department.
COVID-19 CARE
In the event that you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, you should follow the CDC Guidelines, which includes quarantining yourself for 14 days.
HOSPITALIZATION
If your illness requires hospitalization and you do not have health care insurance, you should still seek medical treatment. Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), you may not be turned away from any hospital due to
your insurance status. You are entitled to the same level of care and treatment as a person who is insured.
While you may have to pay for your hospital stay eventually, there are a few things that could possibly help:
• The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a $100 billion fund to help healthcare providers. This money was channeled through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHE Fund), through
which the Trump Administration said they “will use a portion of that funding to cover providers’ costs of delivering COVID-19 for the uninsured.”
• If your hospital does not elect to use the CARES Act for funding, many hospitals have programs for low-income patients. The hospital also will often provide financial counseling and options for bill payment.
• There may be financial assistance available through nonprofits. Your hospital might have more information on this as well.
Errors & Omissions Liability (E&O): Intelligent Partnerships, Inc. makes no guarantee that the statements, analysis, projections, estimates, graphs, reports, numbers, and any derivatives sourced from this resource are free of errors and omissions. This information is derived from publicly available sources and is intended to provide general information. Users should seek legal and medical expert validation independent of any resources provided here. The information is current as of the published date. Intelligent Partnerships, Inc. assumes no liability for erroneous outcomes derived from this information or its use.