COVID-19 Testing

When providers order a COVID-19 test, they will indicate if the test is needed for surgery or a procedure. In these cases, COVID-19 testing before your surgery or procedure will be billed to your insurance company. You will not experience any out-of-pocket cost for this type of testing. If you do not have insurance, you will not be billed for this test.

There are many other reasons why you may need or want a COVID-19 test. While many insurance companies will cover the cost of COVID-19 testing, each insurance carrier may have a different policy. Insurance carrier’s coverage for COVID-19 testing may differ depending on the reason for testing. Please check with your insurance carrier before scheduling your appointment at a Yale New Haven Health testing site.

Depending on your insurance policy and benefit plan, you may be responsible for some portion of your testing costs (such as a deductible, co-pay or co-insurance). If your insurance company denies coverage for your COVID-19 test, you will receive a bill for testing. Our business office will determine the test cost at that time.

Self-testing with a home antigen kit for COVID-19 may be appropriate and convenient for you. This may also be an option when you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19. Consult your provider if you have questions about this.

Please contact your insurance carrier with questions regarding the cost of a test. Staff at our testing sites are happy to assist you, but they are not able to answer questions about specific costs or insurance policy benefits.

Please use our Patient Estimator to get an estimate of the cost of your test.

Please use our Patient Estimator to get an estimate of the cost of your test.

Other testing resources may be available in your area. Please visit these state-supported websites for additional information or testing resources:

Connecticut

Rhode Island

New York

Hospital Emergency Departments do not provide COVID screening tests. If you need a COVID-19 test and have an order from your provider or our call center, you are able to make an appointment at one of our community blood draw locations.

If you have an order from your provider or from our call center, you may schedule an appointment by logging into your MyChart and selecting “Schedule an Appointment” or call 833-ASK-YNHH for assistance in scheduling.

Yes, we perform COVID-19 testing on all ages.

Results are typically available within 1-2 days.

All results will be released into YNHHS Epic MyChart and will include the laboratory CLIA#, address, and phone number. Negative results may be reported as “Negative” or “Not Detected” depending on the test used. Regulations will not allow the result to be changed from one to the other.

All results will be generated by a sensitive viral RNA test using PCR or an equivalent gold-standard method. These tests are the highest quality tests because of their superior accuracy in detecting COVID-19, even in people who are asymptomatic. We are not able to honor requests for a specific type of test to be run.

Repeat PCR testing is NOT generally indicated within 90 days of a positive test, especially among patients with symptoms of COVID-19. If you are required to test for return to school or work, consider home testing with an antigen test if your employer’s or school’s policy allows this.

Yes, it is important to continue to be tested if you are experiencing symptoms or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, even after vaccination. Please do not attribute your symptoms to allergies or a cold simply because you have been vaccinated. There continues to be transmission of COVID-19 by people who do not have symptoms or who do not know they are infected. Timely and frequent testing will help identify and prevent the unintentional spread of COVID-19 throughout our communities.

Continuing to be tested for COVID-19 helps the entire population by detecting variants and preventing transmission. It is also critically important to continue testing for the health of our families, friends and communities.