What is my payment responsibility for COVID-19 testing?


Insured Patients

Your insurance plan ultimately determines whether you are responsible for any portion of the cost of your test and/or the related office visit.

The Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as amended by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), limits patient responsibility for co-payments, deductibles or other cost-sharing amounts for COVID-19 viral testing and related services. However, your insurer is responsible for determining whether you are responsible for these costs.

If your insurance plan determines that you are responsible for any portion of the charges related to COVID-19 viral testing or related services, you will receive a statement from Patient First. Patient First is required to follow the insurance plan’s determination of your responsibility, and we are not permitted to waive these amounts.

What has Patient First done to address this issue?

  • Patient First has followed the insurance plans' instructions about how to file claims for COVID-19 virus testing and related services, if such instructions were provided.
  • Patient First asked insurance plans that are insisting on patient payment responsibilities to reconsider their positions.
  • Patient First postponed mailing bills to patients for these services, so that we could address the matter with the insurance plans.

What should you do if you receive a bill from Patient First for COVID-19 virus testing and/or related services?

1. Please pay it. If your insurance plan fixes this issue, we will refund you any amounts paid by your plan.

2. If you have questions about your payment responsibility, please contact your insurance company at the member phone number on your card.

Uninsured Patients

If you do not have insurance, you will be responsible for the following charges for COVID-19 evaluation and testing. If additional services are provided, additional charges may apply; please visit the Self-Pay Program section of our website for more information.

Patients with Symptoms of COVID-19 or Exposure to a COVID-19 Positive Person:

  • $137 for office visit and evaluation;
  • $45 for a COVID-19 rapid antigen test; and
  • If the rapid test is negative, approximately $100 for a confirmatory PCR test collected at Patient First and sent to a reference lab. This amount will be billed separately by the reference lab.

Patients without Symptoms of or Exposure to COVID-19:

  • $137 for office visit and evaluation; and
  • Approximately $100 for a PCR test collected at Patient First and sent to a reference lab. This amount will be billed separately by the reference lab. Asymptomatic patients are not eligible for rapid antigen tests.

Patients Requiring an Antibody Test:

  • $137 for office visit and evaluation; and
  • Additional charges determined and billed by the reference lab for the test.