I Have Covid-19 Symptoms. What’s Next?

Watch for Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.

What’s Next?

• If you are covered by Medicare or Medicare Advantage: Medicare covers the lab tests for COVID-19 with no out-of-pocket costs and the deductible does not apply when the test is ordered by your doctor or other health care provider. 
• If you are covered by Medical Assistance or CHIP: All lab tests, including tests for COVID-19, are covered without copayments or prior authorization.
• If you have health care coverage directly from an insurance company, the health insurance marketplace, or through your employer (including through COBRA): A test must be covered if your attending health care provider has assessed your individual situation and determined that it is medically appropriate (you have symptoms or have a known or likely recent exposure to COVID-19).

  Contact your insurance company to make sure your lab is in-network or check to see what provisions the insurer has put in place for out-of-network lab work. Hospitals and providers are expected to bill insurance companies for the fees associated with collecting the specimens, and labs are expected to bill insurance companies for the actual testing.

  If the test is recommended by your doctor or other health care provider, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CARES Act require coverage for the order for and administration of the test with no cost-sharing and no prior authorization or other medical management requirements for provider visits (office, urgent care, Emergency Room) that result in an order for or administration of a COVID-19 test.

• If you have coverage through the Pennsylvania Employee Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF): PEBTF/Retired Employees Health Program (REHP) medical plans will waive all deductibles, coinsurance and copays for diagnostic testing and in-network inpatient hospital care, emergency room or urgent care for COVID-19. The policy will cover the test kit for members who meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for testing in any approved laboratory location. 

Test for COVID-19

COVID-19 tests are available for current infection or past infection at MJA Healthcare facilities at in Pennsylvania at your own choice. See details and schedule your test here.