COVID Testing

Our PCR tests are the most accurate form of COVID testing. We offer rapid PCR tests and tests that we send to an outside lab for processing. The rapid tests are completed in our clinics so that you can receive results within an hour of testing. The tests we can send to an outside lab receive results in 2-3 days and are less costly than the rapid tests. These PCR tests are suitable for international travel purposes. This test is a nasopharyngeal swab. 

Antigen tests are less accurate than the PCR tests and are suitable for confirming an active COVID virus. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and wish to confirm a positive result, our providers recommend receiving antigen tests because they are more cost effective. The positive results of antigen tests are extremely accurate, whereas the negative results are about 80% accurate. These tests are most widely used for testing patients after they have been confirmed positive so that they can assure whether or not they still have the active virus in their system in order to return to work or school. This test is a nasopharyngeal swab.

Most COVID tests that are sent out to a lab for processing can be covered by your healthcare insurance. Unfortunately the higher priced rapid COVID tests are not usually covered by insurance as they are not recognized as medically necessary. Our rapid PCR tests cost $125 if you have healthcare insurance that is accepted by MedNOW and $200 total if you do not have healthcare insurance or if your health insurance isn't accepted at MedNOW. The PCR tests that are sent out to a lab for processing are $75 for patients that do not have healthcare insurance accepted by MedNOW. The rapid antigen tests are $50 if you have healthcare insurance, and $125 total if you do not have healthcare insurance.

If your health insurance plan assigns a specific primary care doctor for you, this provider must be a MedNOW provider in order for your insurance to cover COVID testing at our clinic. If your assigned PCP is not a MedNOW provider, you will have to pay the self-pay price of $200 per rapid test or $75 per send out test.Our PCR tests are the most accurate form of COVID testing. We offer rapid PCR tests and tests that we send to an outside lab for processing. The rapid tests are completed in our clinics so that you can receive results within an hour of testing. The tests we can send to an outside lab receive results in 2-3 days and are less costly than the rapid tests. These PCR tests are suitable for international travel purposes. This test is a nasopharyngeal swab. 

Our COVID testing requires that each patient meets with the medical provider via a telehealth appointment prior to receiving testing. This is to ensure the highest quality care for our patients. In completing this meeting with the provider, we are better able to treat you. This telehealth visit will be charged to your insurance. 

The rapid PCR tests that MedNOW offers take about 1 hour from swab to result. You do not need to wait at the clinic for your result. We will upload a letter for the rapid PCR testing directly to your patient portal online so that you can access your results from home. 

We allow online scheduling to streamline the process of scheduling and payments for COVID testing appointments. You can schedule a COVID send-out test at any clinic location for anytime between 8am and 5pm daily. Some of our offices have restricted hours on Saturdays. Because the rapid tests take about an hour for results, the last rapid test that we can schedule each day is at 3:30pm. If you schedule online for a rapid PCR test after 3:30pm, you will be called and asked to reschedule.

Once our office registers your email for our online portal through AthenaHealth, you will receive an email invitation. The email will have a button to "Create Account" - click here and set up your password and security questions. Once you are in the patient portal, you must go to My Health (left hand side) and then click "Medical Forms"to access your COVID letter. 

***If you are using the mobile version of the patient portal, be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and click "Full Site" so that you can view the Medical Forms section of the portal.***

Also note: our online patient portal is not accessible internationally. Please download your COVID test result while you are still in the U.S. so that you can be sure that you can still access it while out of the country. 

MedNOW Clinics accepts all major insurance carriers, including United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Anthem BCBS, Humana, Bright Health, Oscar, Medicaid, and Medicare. Plans that MedNOW does not accept are Tricare, Denver Health Medicaid, Fridays, and Kaiser Permanente plans. 

If your health insurance plan assigns a specific primary care doctor for you, this provider must be a MedNOW provider in order for your insurance to cover COVID testing at our clinic. If your assigned PCP is not a MedNOW provider, you will have to pay the self-pay price of $200 per rapid test or $75 per send out test.

If you ARE vaccinated: 

• If you were exposed to COVID-19, you should get tested at least 5 days after exposure even if you don't develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.
• If you were exposed to COVID-19, you do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. Wear a mask around others for 10 days following the exposure. Avoid travel and avoid being around people who are at high risk. 

If you ARE NOT vaccinated:

• If you were exposed to COVID-19, you should get tested at least 5 days after exposure even if you don't develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. 
• If you were exposed to COVID-19, you need to stay home and quarantine for at least 5 full days. Watch for symptoms until 10 days after exposure. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested. 

PCR tests detect viral RNA from the Coronavirus. PCR tests will likely continue to come back positive for weeks after contracting COVID. These tests are extremely sensitive and test for both inactive and active forms of COVID-19. If you test positive again with a PCR test a month after being sick, it likely does not mean that you still have the active virus and are contagious. PCR tests can come back positive for 6 weeks or more after contracting COVID. 

Antigen tests detect the proteins on the surface of COVID. They will only come back positive if you still have the active virus in your system. These tests are less sensitive than the PCR tests, but they are useful if you have symptoms and want to see if you have COVID or just a cold. They are also useful for testing after you have gotten COVID and want to return to school or work. Usually 5-10 days after you develop symptoms from COVID, the antigen tests will no longer come back positive because you no longer have the active virus in your system and aren't contagious any longer. 

Many insurance companies do not recognize rapid COVID tests as "medically necessary", so insurance will likely only cover the regular COVID tests (not rapid). In addition to this, the rapid testing requires our clinics to purchase equipment and supplies to run these tests on-site. Unfortunately, purchasing these tests is expensive and we also wish that they were more accessible and affordable for all. 

Many COVID testing sites are experiencing shortages. Our clinics periodically run out of the rapid testing materials if they are on back-order from our supplies. If this happens, you will receive a phone call from us as soon as we know we will be running out of tests without replacement supplies. Because many industries, not just healthcare, are experiencing staffing shortages right now, this means that even if the COVID tests are available, sometimes we can't receive them because of transportation and shipping issues! Please be patient during these times and we will always reimburse you the cost of the rapid testing if we are unable to currently provide rapid COVID tests.