Does my insurance cover COVID-19 tests?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom issued a directive requiring health insurance companies to waive member cost-sharing amounts for screening and testing for the COVID-19 disease. The federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which also offers waiving of patient co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles for COVID-19 screening and testing. This FFCRA only applies to COVID-19 screening and testing, not to other services rendered.

If someone has antibodies to the coronavirus, what does that mean? When and for how long after infection would someone produce antibodies?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 A positive test shows that you have antibodies that may have resulted from COVID-19 infection. It could also be a false positive test from a cross-reaction with antibodies from a related coronavirus or other virus. (Numerous other common coronaviruses also cause mild upper respiratory infections.) Antibodies can appear approximately one week after infection and typically peak four to six weeks after symptoms begin. Most people develop antibodies two to three weeks after infection. Some patients, particularly those with immunocompromising conditions, don't produce a detectible antibody response. How long antibodies remain in the body after COVID-19 infection is not known. Antibodies to most viruses remain detectable for months or even years after infection. We don't know yet whether antibodies to this virus offer immunity against future infections. More studies will have to be done to determine whether the presence of antibodies means you can't be reinfected – so decisions about returning to work or school should not be based on antibody test results. Also keep in mind that antibodies are not the only aspect of the body's immune response that protects you against a virus. Certain types of B cells and T cells also provide protection but are hard to measure. In other words, no longer having antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 doesn't necessarily mean that you're no longer protected.

If I've been infected with COVID-19 and have a positive antibody test, does that mean I can no longer infect anyone else?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 Not necessarily. Antibodies may become detectable before an infectious virus has been cleared by the body, so a positive antibody test does not mean you can't spread the virus to other people.

I've heard mixed information about various medications and their effectiveness against COVID-19. What does UCSF think?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 Lots of information is being shared on social media and in other forums, and not all of it is scientifically sound. Medical professional societies are reacting in real time to developments and sharing recommendations. The best available data indicate that it's safe to keep taking your regular medications, including blood pressure medicines such as the ACE inhibitor and ARB classes of drugs, cholesterol medicines such as statins, and blood thinners such as aspirin. We do not recommend starting to take such medicines in hopes of preventing COVID-19. Some people are interested in vitamin regimens as a preventative measure. It's unknown whether any specific vitamin can prevent COVID-19 disease, but taking vitamins is usually harmless, as long as you stick to the recommended dose. Be sure to check with your medical team before taking vitamins, as some can interact in a harmful way with medicines. We also don't recommend the use of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, or ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. Using these medications inappropriately has been shown in some studies to be harmful to patients. Similarly, we don't recommend the use of steroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone, except in more severely ill patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19.

Where can patients who have recovered from COVID-19 donate blood for convalescent sera treatment trials?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 Researchers are currently investigating whether convalescent sera (blood plasma from recovered patients that contains COVID-19 antibodies) is beneficial to patients who are critically ill from COVID-19. Whether this approach is truly beneficial requires rigorous study. Recovered patients interested in donating can contact the Red Cross or Vitalant .

How can I get a COVID-19 test at UCSF, and how does it work?

Reviewed February 25, 2021 UCSF Health is doing testing at various locations, including drive-through sites, Respiratory Symptom clinics and our emergency room. We perform these tests using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique similar to that used in testing for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PCR allows scientists to detect very small amounts of virus in a sample obtained with a swab from a patient's nose and throat. Typically, test results can be provided in 24 to 72 hours. Test results are published in MyChart, and we will telephone you if the results are positive. You'll receive an automated call if the result is negative.

How to Get a COVID-19 Test

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Last updated 8/30/21

UCSF's COVID-19 hotline: (415) 514-7328
Hours: M-F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat-Sun, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Please note: COVID-19 testing through UCSF is for UCSF patients and requires an appointment.

What to know about COVID-19 testing at UCSF

COVID-19 testing is free for all our patients. There's no charge or co-pay regardless of your insurance plan or status, thanks to a state directive and the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Call our COVID-19 hotline to ask about testing. If you think you might have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone who does, call our hotline. Please see details below.
UCSF Health offers COVID-19 testing to our patients at various locations. These include drive-through sites, respiratory screening clinics and our emergency room.
Test results typically come back in 24 to 48 hours. This is the time frame for PCR tests, which take longer than rapid antigen tests but provide more accurate results. (Rapid tests are available for asymptomatic patients who need to be tested before a procedure.) We'll call you if your result is positive, and you'll get an automated call if your result is negative. Your test results will also appear in MyChart.

COVID-19 hotline for UCSF patients

(415) 514-7328
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you think you might have COVID-19, call our hotline to discuss your symptoms with a nurse before coming to a hospital or clinic. Do not walk in without an appointment or use online appointment scheduling.

If you feel ill, you can also use the online symptom checker on the CDC website or in MyChart to help determine your next steps. To access the MyChart symptom checker, log in to your account and click on the menu.

When you call the hotline, a nurse will ask a series of questions to assess you for COVID-19 infection. Depending on your answers, you may be directed to one of these options:

Testing for COVID-19 at a testing center or drive-through location
A video visit with one of our health care providers
An in-person visit to a respiratory screening clinic or the emergency department for examination and testing

If a COVID-19 test is recommended, it will be scheduled for either the same day or the next day. If you have a video visit and the health care provider recommends a test, it will be scheduled for no later than the end of the following day.

COVID-19 testing locations for UCSF patients

For adults and children with symptoms or a confirmed exposure:

Laurel Heights campus
3333 California St.
White drive-through tent in front parking lot
Mon-Sun, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For adults and children with no symptoms or known exposure:

Mission Bay campus
Asymptomatic Testing Center
Precision Cancer Medicine Building
1825 Fourth St., Fourth Floor
M-F, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Parnassus campus
Asymptomatic Testing Center
1 Irving St.
Radiology Science Center, AC 109
M-F, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. (closed noon - 1 p.m.)

Our testing obligations

To slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, the city and county of San Francisco calls for health care facilities to meet certain requirements related to COVID-19 testing. Accordingly, UCSF Medical Center must:

Provide same- or next-day COVID-19 testing to any patient who seeks it through UCSF Health. Facilities that aren't open seven days a week may offer testing by the end of the next business day but must provide information on whom to contact in the event of an emergency or worsening of symptoms.
Notify patients about how and where they can get tested and that the testing is free (no co-pays required).

For more information about our obligations, see the Order of the Health Officer. If you feel UCSF Health has not met these requirements, please contact our Patient Relations team.

Related resources

COVID-19 vaccines at UCSF Health
Visitor policies and COVID-19-related restrictions at UCSF Health
UCSF's COVID-19 information hub