$140 for an appt, $170 for a test, 5 days and counting for results?

[Dem2]

We have no coordinated system for dealing with this pandemic in this country. It's a colossal disaster.

We are slow at work, so my coworker is working part time. She has no health insurance. She moonlights as a bartender so she can pay the rent. As you might expect, she was exposed to a person with Covid at her bartending job. 9 days after exposure, she got a call that she was exposed to a person who tested positive (they have 4 positive tests and counting currently.) She immediately gets a doctor's appointment ($140) and they recommend a test (next day, $170). She got the lab test due to the well published lack of accuracy of the quick-test (assuming the quick test was even offered.)

Currently I am in quarantine 5 days later waiting patiently for her result. By the time the result comes in, it'll be pointless. I have had to curtail ANY interaction with people (shopping, bringing mom stuff etc) since last Tuesday. IF she tests positive, then that puts a whole new set of events into motion (all essentially too delayed to make any difference.)

Am I wrong to be livid at how utterly inept our system is 9 months into this pandemic? Why are poor people who are barely making ends meet paying for tests? Why are doctors charging $140 just to give permission to take a test? Why are results so delayed as to have essentially no usefulness? Our entire company is on hold waiting for this result. We're honestly not much better than a 3rd world country at this point, it's no wonder our response to this pandemic has been a disaster. Obviously we would be much batter off if we had an actual coordinated government response, which starts at the top. Worst president ever. Biden can't get into office fast enough.

[Dem2]

8. That's insane

I don't get it - why aren't we opening new labs and hiring more lab workers? Shouldn't our government be prioritizing this? The obvious problem being, we have NO government. Ugh.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Part of it is ignorance (lack of an educational campaign)

this is the coordinated response.

I've had two tests using it - both free, both prompt (results within5 business days from when I requested the test).

We're so used to going to our doctors - and the free direct alternative hasn't been publicized either by the government or by our doctors and insurance plans.

https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html#:~:text=COVID-19%20tests%20are,available%20in%20your%20area.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. One reason. One person. GDMFSOB DJT is no leader.

[SheltieLover]

3. This!👆

[lapucelle]

4. City MD LI, NY; 45 minute wait; No charge; MD-administered nasal swab; Results in 36 hours.

They did ask for an insurance or Medicaid/Medicare card.

[Dorian Gray]

43. NEW YORK

has had a lot of urgent care places and pop up testing sites covered by insurance. And there are a lot of non-insurance people who will come to you for a price.... and the test itself is covered by your insurance.

But this past week, all the City MDs and NYC Health and Hospital sites and the Care Cube site have all had 2, 3., 4 hour waits. And the 25 hour turnover time has increased to 2-3 days. Which shows they weren't prepared for the uptick in the system.

Was hoping that the increased testing would mean percentages were lower, but that's not the case, either.

(This is Brooklyn, specifically.... but I think it's true city wide.)

[lapucelle]

45. NYS data as of the latest update

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-updates-new-yorkers-state-s-progress-during-covid-19-pandemic-0

[Arne]

5. My Pillow said just drink some Oleander, then go back to sleep.

[barbtries]

6. you're not wrong to be livid.

it is absurd.
any symptoms for either of you? hopefully you've escaped it.
it's so wrong that she had to pay even a penny for starters, and then for the results to be delayed, fuck that. honestly, i'm livid too. if it doesn't show all the time it's only because being livid for years at a time is exhausting.

this pandemic + trump = perfect storm

tragic, and largely unnecessary. i hope to see him brought up before an international tribune for crimes against humanity and depraved indifference, both for the stolen babies in cages and for his pandemic response.

[Dem2]

10. So far, none of us who works with her has symptoms

I was concerned since I noticed she had bad congestion/runny nose this past week at work.

I always wear a mask, but neither she nor my other coworkers do, and they smoke and hack all the time, so I'm right to be concerned and definitely can't visit my 86 year old mother until I find out (we both wear our masks 100% when I visit.)

[barbtries]

15. such a drag.

especially for you and your mother. it's gobsmacking to note how selfish and history-deprived people are. i hope you have a video chat option in the meantime, or at least can talk on the phone.

[BainsBane]

7. That sucks

I've been tested twice and never had to pay, but I do have good insurance.

[Ms. Toad]

9. There are many free places to test.

My daughter was exposed a week ago yesterday. She got test results Wednesday, from a Monday test. I got results Saturday from a Wednesday test. Both were free.

Try here: https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/ (they didn't even ask about insurance.)

My daughter's was free, through a mail-in site, associated with her insurance.

I'll be getting a second test through work on wednesday.

Here's another source for free tests: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html#:~:text=COVID-19%20tests%20are,available%20in%20your%20area.

[Dem2]

11. Thanks, I'm sure this will help somebody here

My coworker doesn't drive and lives in a rural area, her options are few.

I have good insurance and I paid $90 for a consult early on (March) and was told I didn't qualify for a test.

As I said, there's NO coordination and too much depends on one's social/economic status and sophistication. It shouldn't be this way!

[Ms. Toad]

14. Except in areas where they are completely overwhelmed, everyone qualifies now.

Free testing is available 30 miles away from the rural town I grew up in (just as an example) - it's the town most people drive to for any significant shopping.

There are also mail-order tests. My daughter ordered hers on Saturday, it came on Monday, she had results by Wednesday.

Your right - there should be better general education about the availability of free testing.

No one should be left scrambing on their own - or paying a second time for tests that our tax dollars have already paid for.

[Alex4Martinez]

12. Maybe it's harder in some states. Got a free test in May on a Sunday, results next morning.

Friends got free tests at a CVS but had to wait ten days.

I recommend calling around, looking for a clinic or even urgent care facility, but I also know that some directions have been issued that you should get your family practice physician to refer you.

Good luck!

[spinbaby]

16. Mine was free

But took too long. I called my doctor on a Friday and the next available opening was Tuesday. It took two days to get results. By the time I got results, I was feeling better, but still quarantined.

[NotAPuppet]

17. Please,

please don't call your doctor's office and shout at the staff. They can't expedite the results and they have to work with what is available right now in terms of testing. The wait can be very frustrating for patients, but it is equally frustrating for the medical staff. Just a little reminder to be kind to our healthcare workers. Which I am sure most of you are.

[Dem2]

18. At least that part is done online

She has sent us photos of the screen showing "no results". lol.

[BannonsLiver]

19. Sounds like a rip-off job to me.

[Dem2]

20. Welcome to "healthcare-for-profit"

You'd think 9 months into a pandemic, there'd be a simple, single point of contact to get tested.

[sprinkleeninow]

28. Lookit who's running the show

into the ground.

The workers of iniquity.

I keep reminding myself of President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. What if we had gotten the unthinkable reverse...

[Dem2]

31. It's going to be an uphill climb

If there's any regular Joe who I think can get it done, however, it's Joe Biden.

Even if he can't get the Senate to do anything, he can sign executive orders and actually show a little empathy for most of us who simply want to believe our country cares about our wellbeing.

[sprinkleeninow]

38. Truth, integrity and goodness is known to overtake lies, destruction and depravity. 💙

[niyad]

21. When a friend was exposed a couple of months ago, she and her husband got in the car, went through

the drive-thru test site, were back in an hour. Results via email in four days.

[DallasNE]

22. We Have Heard Hundreds Of Times That The Tests Are Free

Back in May my daughter caught the stomach flu, which has overlapping symptoms. She got tested and after 4 1/2 days we found out she was negative. The lab was in network but insurance didn't cover any of the costs, which were $240.

Is there any wonder that we have the worst record in the industrialized world with such a slipshod system in place? It just begs to end up in failure.

[PatrickforO]

23. Just four words: Medicare for All Americans. nt

[IrishEyes]

24. I was tested for free in NYC. I got the results by email three days later.

I was in and out of the testing site in 15 minutes.

[Volaris]

25. One of my jobs is at skilled nursing and phys rehab. Because the infection rate is above 10% here,

They test us twice a week on instants screens; results in 15 min and they're paying for it. Not sure the accuracy of the test overall, but grateful to show up on my day off and have it done.

Sorry for your friend, sorry for the delay. Yeah, it's stupid it's not this easy for everyone:/

[Dem2]

26. Yeah, it does suck

I get the feeling that in this "I, me, me mine" country, there isn't a lot of sympathy for poor rural people, or people of lesser means and or intelligence. It's too bad and perhaps something we should think about as Democrats?

[Volaris]

27. At least as far as enacting the policies that would address your concerns,

Its easier if those people are willing to help us do that. I'll even take 'Not actively working against us', in order to get even part of that done.

Seems so far, they're not all that willing.

[Dem2]

29. She's apolitical, just poor and less educated

I don't know why we paint with such a wide brush?

[Volaris]

30. Then she would fall into the 'not actively working against us' category, AFAIC,

And truly my heart goes out to her. And yes, those are a lot of the people we need to be writing good policy FOR.

[Dem2]

33. I know of almost no unmarried women of any social status who we can't get on our side

I have a feeling Biden will do something about this - he's smart and compassionate.

[Volaris]

36. I agree with this statement:)

[Ron Green]

32. One risk pool is a health care system. Multiple risk pools is an investment scheme.

We have enough investment schemes in this country; we need a health care system.

[paleotn]

35. +1000

[Dem2]

37. Amen!

For profit "healthcare" is not a sustainable scheme.

[rickyhall]

34. Worse than a 3rd World Country

Viet Nam seems to be handling it pretty well, I understand.

[paleotn]

39. We know how to do this.

We have plans upon plans on how to do this. There's simply no will in this administration and a quarter million people are dead because of that fact.

[MerryBlooms]

40. Are you in Oregon, because there have been for profit testing sites pop up here.

They're legit, but expensive. However, they aren't required to report their results and aren't figured into our total Covid numbers.

[Dem2]

41. "Live free or die"

So basically "you're on your own".

[Crunchy Frog]

42. If it was a workplace exposure, why wouldn't worker's comp pay for the testing?

Totally fucked. Sorry.

[Dem2]

44. Well, since someone kicked this - she tested negative!

Update this morning is that she's negative.

Coworkers thought there was little chance she could be positive, even though 4 people tested positive at the tested person's other workplace.

They seemed shocked that I wouldn't visit my 86 year old mother before knowing if she was negative!

When I noted that she suddenly had bad congestion the week after exposure (they can't even acknowledge that people spread it without symptoms), I started overhearing talk of "allergies" - something she's never had or talked about, never mind that it's mid-November. THIS is why it's spreading wildly - people are in denial.