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Refer to the guidance
from the California Department of Public Health. And make sure to report your result
to Kaiser Permanente through an e-visit.
COVID-19 testing information
COVID-19 testing helps you find out if you’re infected with the virus. It can also help your care team decide the best way to treat it. There are different tests you can take. If you have symptoms, think you were exposed to the virus, or need a test for any reason, it’s useful to know which test to choose.
There are 2 kinds of COVID-19 tests: self-tests and PCR tests.
- Self-tests, also known as home antigen tests, look for antigens or proteins from the virus in your body.
- PCR tests look for the virus’s genetic material in your body. These tests are typically done at a lab.
How to order self-tests
Order self-tests from the federal government
The federal government has restarted its program to deliver 4 free self-tests per household.
Order from Kaiser Permanente
Depending on your health plan, you may be able to order self-tests from us at no cost and have them delivered to your home by mail. The tests will usually arrive within 3 to 4 business days.
Can I get self-tests at a Kaiser Permanente facility? Except for Medicare Advantage and certain employer-sponsored plan members, you can get self-tests at a Kaiser Permanente facility or pharmacy at no cost to you.* Or you may need to pay upfront and file a claim for reimbursement later.
Are the expiration dates on the self-test boxes accurate? The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates on some brands of COVID-19 self-tests. To see if your brand has a new expiration date, visit the FDA’s website and type the brand name of the self-test into the search field. If your brand has a new expiration date, that means your self-test is reliable up to that date if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to take a self-test
COVID-19 self-tests are highly accurate when you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Your test results are usually ready within 15 minutes.
Remember, a negative self-test doesn’t mean you don’t have the virus. So, if you have symptoms, you should treat them at home and wear a mask until they go away. Then take another self-test within a few days to make sure that you don’t have COVID-19.
Step 1: Collect your sample
Insert the cotton swab into one of your nostrils and swirl according to the instructions. Repeat this in your other nostril.
Step 2: Process your sample
Place the swab into the test tube and swirl it around according to the instructions.
Step 3: Test your sample
Squeeze a few drops of your sample onto the test strip according to the instructions, then wait 15 minutes.
Steps 4: Read your results
After 15 minutes, your self-test is ready. A positive test will show lines next to the “T” and “C.” Even a faint or fading line next to the “T” indicates a positive test. If there is visible line next to the “C” but not next to the “T,” the test is negative.
For most patients, antigen testing is appropriate and easily obtained. Occasionally, PCR tests may be recommended by your doctor or care team. When you take a PCR test at Kaiser Permanente, you can usually see your test results within 24 hours by signing in at kp.org
or our mobile app. Your PCR test results are automatically saved to your electronic health record, and you’ll get advice on what to do if you test positive
A negative COVID-19 test means the test did not detect the virus, but it doesn’t mean that you’re not infected. A positive COVID-19 test means the test detected the virus and you’re either infected or recently were infected.
About positive COVID-19 test results
About negative COVID-19 test results
A negative test result means COVID-19 wasn’t detected in your body at the time of your test. However, there’s still a chance you have the virus because you may have tested before the virus developed. An infection can develop up to 10 days after the last day of contact with someone with COVID-19.
If you tested negative while having symptoms and you followed the testing instructions correctly, it’s possible that you don’t have COVID-19. However, this negative result doesn’t completely confirm that you're free from infection.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for performing the test at home to increase the likelihood of an accurate result.
If you have concerns or if your symptoms worsen, visit kp.org/getcare or use our mobile app to access care, including an e-visit or video visit.
Refer to the guidance from the California Department of Public Health.
Exposure to COVID-19
For information on what to do if you come in close contact (less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with someone who has COVID-19, refer to the guidance
from the California Department of Public Health.
Reimbursement for testing
As a Kaiser Permanente member, you can get self-tests at no cost to you when you get them from our locations.
If you purchase a self-test from a provider who’s outside the Kaiser Permanente network, you may be able to get half of the cost reimbursed. This reimbursement doesn’t apply if you’re a member of our Medicare Advantage plan or of an employer-sponsored plan.*
If you’re a Medi-Cal member, you can get self-tests from outside the Kaiser Permanente network at no cost.
To submit a claim for reimbursement:
- Visit kp.org/billing.
- Go to the “Understand your costs” section.
- Click “Submit a claim.”
Your claim must include an itemized receipt with the test name, purchase date, price, and number of tests purchased.
When possible, we recommend you get your testing done with Kaiser Permanente so your care team knows you’ve been tested and can reach out to you with any necessary information if you have COVID-19.
If you get tested by a provider outside the Kaiser Permanente network, you may get up to half of the cost reimbursed, unless you’re a member of a Medicare Advantage or a self-funded employer plan. If the tests are administered as part of urgent or emergency care, you may be eligible for full reimbursement.
To submit a claim for reimbursement:
- Visit kp.org/billing.
- Go to the “Understand your costs” section.
- Click “Submit a claim.”
Your claim must include an itemized purchase receipt with the test name, purchase date, price, and numbers of tests purchased.
You can report your outside test result to us by completing an e-visit on kp.org.
Once completed, your test results will be saved to your electronic health record, and you will receive advice on what to do if you tested positive for COVID-19.
- Sign in to start an e-visit
- Select “COVID-19 and COLD Symptoms — Advice and Testing”
- Select “Report COVID-19 Antigen or PCR (non-Kaiser) Test Result”
*If you’re a member of an employer-sponsored plan, check your Evidence of Coverage or other coverage documents for details.
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