PROMISED FREE COVID-19 TESTING. SOME AMERICANS ARE GETTING HIT & WITH HEFTY FEES AFTER VISITING &
CLINICS AND EMERGENCY ROOMS TO &
GET TESTED JOSH WATERMAN TAKES &
A LOOK. &
>> I DON’T THINK $536 IS FREE. &
I AM A GRAD STUDENT. &
THAT IS TWO WEEKS OF MY
PAYCHECK. &
>> Reporter: TWO WEEKS OF PAY &
FOR A CORONAVIRUS TEST. &
ONE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE FREE
ANYWHERE IN AMERICA BY LAW, &
PASSED BY CONGRESS AS THE &
ECONOMY WAS SHUTTING DOWN. &
EVEN EARLIER, MANY STATES &
ORDERED FREE TESTING. &
SOME LARGE INSURANCE COMPANIES &
PLEDGED NO COST IN WEST &
VIRGINIA, SHE GOT A BILL
ANYWAY. &
SHE WENT THROUGH A DRIVE THRU
TESTING SITE>> THEY JUST PULLED
MY BRAIN OUT THERE MY NOSTRILS.
IT IS DONE. &
I AM NOW TESTED FOR COVID-19. &
>> Reporter: WHEN THE BILL &
CAME, IT WAS NOT FOR THE COVID-&
19 TEST ITSELF. &
FOR A BATTERY OF OTHER TESTS &
FOR THE FLU. &
WITH TEST IN SHORT SUPPLY, HER &
DOCTOR HAD TO RULE OUT OTHER &
THINGS FIRST, BEFORE SHE COULD &
GET THE COVID-19 TEST. &
LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS THE &
ONLY REASON YOU HAVE THE TEST &
DONE WAS BECAUSE THE DOCTOR WAS
CONCERNED YOU MAY HAVE &
CORONAVIRUS AND THEY HAD TO DO &
THE TEST FIRST IN ORDER TO GET &
YOU THE CORONAVIRUS TEST YOU &
STILL GOT BUILD MY THE $500. &
>> IF I DO NOT MEET MY &
DEDUCTIBLE IT WOULD’VE BEEN &
OVER $1000.
>> Reporter: CVS HEALTH ALLEGED
TO WEIGHT PANS FOR ALL &
DIAGNOSTICS TESTING RELATED TO
COVID-19. &
THE DOCTOR SAID THE INITIAL &
TEST CANNOT BE BILLED UNDER THE
COVID-19 BILLING CODE. &
AFTER NBC NEWS CONTACTED AT &
NOT, THE INSURER FOLLOWED UP. &
THEY ARE WAIVING THE COSTS
PROACTIVELY. &
EDNA SAID HERS WAS AN UNUSUAL &
INSTANCE AND THEIR COMMITMENT &
TO WAIVING MEMBER COSTS FOR &
TESTING AND TREATMENT RELATED &
TO COVID-19 HAS NOT CHANGED. &
MOST PEOPLE WE SPOKE TO DID NOT
GET CHARGED FOR COVID-19 TESTS.
IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO A U. S. &
HOSPITAL YOU KNOW THAT MEDICAL &
LIEN IS COMPLICATED THE
SURPRISE BILLS ARE NOT
SURPRISING. &
>> IS THE LAW THAT INSURANCE IS
SUPPOSED TO COVER IT 100%. &
IF YOU ARE UNINSURED THERE ARE &
PATHWAYS TO GET A FREE TEST. &
>> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENS IF &
YOU GO IN WITH SYMPTOMS OR &
CONCERNS? &
THEY EVALUATE YOU AND DETERMINE
YOU DO NOT NEED TO CORONAVIRUS
TEST. &
>> YOU MAY GET CHARGED FOR THE &
VISIT.
THE LOT IS NARROWLY WRITTEN. &
>> I STARTED TO FEEL BETTER &
WAITING FOR THE RESULTS. &
TWO WEEKS LATER I GOT A BILL IN
THE MAIL FOR $857. &
FOR LAB WORK. &
THE ACTUAL TEST WAS OVER $1000.
MY INSURANCE DISCOUNT DOLLARS &
TO $857. &
I DO NOT MEET MY DEDUCTIBLE. &
MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, THEY MADE
A MISTAKE. &
>> Reporter: HE GOT HIT WITH A &
BILL FOR UPPER RESPIRATORY THE &
VEGETABLE BEFORE THE COVID-19 &
TEST LACROSSE BLUE SHIELD &
PLEDGED TO COVER FULL COSTS FOR
COVID-19 A SPOKESMAN TELLS ME &
MEMBERS CAN BE CHARGED FOR &
OTHER TESTS THAT WERE ORDERED. &
THEY ARE PREPARED TO MAKE &
CHANGES AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
COSTS MEET THE BAREA. &
BY THE TIME SHE WAS TESTED NEW &
MEXICO WAS DOING TESTING FOR &
FREE. &
>> I WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF &
TOWN AND WAITED 10 HOURS TO GET
TESTED. &
I DROVE OFF AND CAME BACK HOME.
TOOK HER BILL WAS $200. &
THE BILLING OFFICE SAID HER &
BILL SHOULD HAVE GONE TO HER &
INSURANCE COMPANY. &
>> I HAVE NO IDEA OF MY &
INSURANCE OR THE STATE PAID FOR
IT. &
>> Reporter: THE MOST IMPORTANT
QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR
TEST? &
>> IT WAS NEGATIVE. &