PHOENIX — Embry Health has announced it will begin charging uninsured Arizonans for COVID-19 tests starting Tuesday.
The new charges apply to those in our state, as well as Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New Mexico, and Washington.
Antibody and PCR tests will cost $100, which can be paid for online while making an appointment or at the testing site.
For those who are insured, "Patients with valid insurance at time of service will have that insurance billed for the cost of testing. If it is discovered the insurance is no longer valid, the patient will be sent a bill for the cost of testing," the Embry website says.
Embry says the “hard decision” was made due to “the recent change in the HRSA program and lack of funding.”
Last week, Embry warned they would likely be forced to end free testing due to federal funding limits.
Embry Health also told ABC15 that around 60 of their sites will close, hopefully just temporarily, but they are still offering testing at numerous locations around the Valley.
Along with Embry Health, Sonora Quest said as of April 4, they can no longer provide free testing to the uninsured because of the federal funds that have run out and have not been replenished.
For anyone who is currently uninsured, Sonora Quest also recommends seeing if any of these resources can help:
• Medicaid enrollment
• Healthcare marketplace enrollment
• COVIDtests.gov
• HRSA.gov – Find a Health Center
• Sonora Quest CarePayment (Patient Financial Assistance)
As of midnight on April 5, the federal program that reimburses providers for the free COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be reimbursed for those who don’t have health insurance.
The Maricopa County Public Health Department said they still offer free COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of insurance status. You can find out where here.
They also post updates on where you can get free COVID-19 tests here.