Can the CDC help me get a refund for travel expenses if I delay travel because of testing or vaccination requirements for COVID-19?

CDC does not reimburse or help travelers get reimbursements for travel expenses as a result of canceled or delayed travel because of testing or vaccination requirements for air passengers flying to the United States or other issues related to COVID-19.

Will the CDC reimburse travelers for COVID-19 testing fees?

CDC is not able to reimburse travelers for COVID-19 testing fees. You may wish to contact your insurance provider or the location that provided your test about payment options.

Do I need to get tested for COVID-19 when traveling?

ALL Travelers Get tested for current infection with a viral test if your travel involved situations with greater risk of exposure such as being in crowded places while not wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator.

How much does a COVID-19 test cost?

The cost for testing should be covered by most insurance plans or through government-sponsored programs.

For private pay patients, please contact your health care provider for cost to administer a COVID-19 test.

Do I need to quarantine while waiting for my COVID-19 screening test result?

People without symptoms and without known exposure to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine while awaiting screening test results. If a person tests positive on a screening test and is referred for a confirmatory test, they should quarantine until they receive the results of their confirmatory test.

What are consequences of a false negative COVID-19 test?

Risks to a patient of a false negative test result include: delayed or lack of supportive treatment, lack of monitoring of infected individuals and their household or other close contacts for symptoms resulting in increased risk of spread of COVID-19 within the community, or other unintended adverse events.

How long does it take for symptoms of COVID-19 to appear after exposure?

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 test up front?

The Biden-Harris Administration is strongly incentivizing health plans and insurers to set up a network of convenient locations across the country such as pharmacies or retailers where people with private health coverage will be able to order online or walk in and pick up at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free, rather than going through the process of having to submit claims for reimbursement. Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if it provides direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through such a program or whether they will need to submit a claim for reimbursement. If you are charged for your test after January 15, keep your receipt and submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Does CVS offer COVID-19 testing?

CVS provides laboratory-based nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and rapid point-of-care (POC) testing at no cost to consumers at over 700 locations in 44 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. Locations include community testing sites and some CVS pharmacies.

How many COVID-19 tests can I get reimbursed for?

Health plans must cover 8 individual at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per person enrolled in the plan per month. That means a family of four can get 32 tests per month for free.

Do I need to get a COVID-19 test before traveling to the United States?

When you travel to the United States by air, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before you board your flight.

Is it mandatory to get a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to the US during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines.

Can I travel during the coronavirus disease pandemic?

Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel internationally. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself from severe disease and slow the spread of COVID-19. People who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines should follow additional recommendations after travel.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

What if I can’t afford to pay for the at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 test(s) upfront?

Health plans and insurers are strongly incentivized to set up a network of convenient options across the country, such as pharmacies and retailers, where people will be able to order online or walk in and pick up at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free rather than going through the process of having to submit claims for reimbursement. Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if it is providing direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through such a network of preferred pharmacies or retailers.

You can also access free testing in the community. A list of community-based testing sites can be found here. COVID-19 tests are also available without cost-sharing to covered individuals when administered by a health care provider like a nurse, doctor, or pharmacist, without limitation.

Can COVID-19 spread through sexual intercourse?

Although COVID-19 has been detected in semen and feces, currently we do not think that the virus is spread through the sexual act. But, given that the virus is spread through respiratory droplets—which are much more likely to be shared when in close contact with another person—many sexual acts will be considered high risk. So, as the New York City Department of Health details in its safer sex and COVID-19 fact sheet, minimizing risks by exploring other avenues of meaningful interaction is suggested and recommended.

How accurate are rapid COVID-19 tests?

Positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a PCR test. Rapid tests are most effective one to five days after symptoms start.

Can I have COVID-19 if I have no symptoms?

It is good that you have not noticed any symptoms. It can take between 1–14 days for COVID-19 symptoms to show up, and in some instances, people with COVID-19 do not show any obvious symptoms, but they can still spread the virus.

What can you take to help with COVID-19 symptoms?

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. If you are worried about your symptoms, the Coronavirus Self-Checker can assist in the decision to seek care. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), to help you feel better.

Do all COVID-19 tests require a prescription and do they need to be ordered by a physician?

A: Some COVID-19 tests require a prescription and others do not. COVID-19 tests authorized for use without a prescription include the attribute "DTC" (for direct-to-consumer home collection tests) or "OTC" (for over-the-counter at-home tests) in the EUA tables on the In Vitro Diagnostics EUA page.

Where can I find a location that has at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests?

Consumers can visit stores online or in-person. The Biden-Harris Administration is also strongly incentivizing health plans and insurers to set up a network of convenient options across the country like pharmacies or retailers, including online retailers, where people can get COVID-19 tests for free at the point of sale, rather than having to submit claims for reimbursement. Consumers can find out from their plan or insurer if it is providing direct coverage of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through such a network of preferred pharmacies or retailers.

What is Paxlovid used for?

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral pill that can be taken at home to help keep high-risk patients from getting so sick that they need to be hospitalized. So, if you test positive for the coronavirus and a health care provider writes you a prescription, you can take pills at home and lower your risk of going to the hospital.

What are some of the first symptoms of COVID-19?

Early symptoms reported by some people include fatigue, headache, sore throat or fever. Others experience a loss of smell or taste. COVID-19 can cause symptoms that are mild at first, but then become more intense over five to seven days, with worsening cough and shortness of breath.

What are some of the most common presenting symptoms of COVID-19?

Initial presentation — Among patients with symptomatic COVID-19, cough, myalgias, and headache are the most commonly reported symptoms. Other features, including diarrhea, sore throat, and smell or taste abnormalities, are also well described (table 3).

Who is considered a close contact to someone with COVID-19?

For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was less than 6 feet away from you for a combined total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. An infected person can transmit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, starting 48 hours (2 days) before they have symptoms or before they were tested.