Fewer free COVID testing options for the uninsured as BA.2 variant spreads in Washington

An important heads up - some free COVID testing options are going away. Federal funding has run out for certain programs, which means the uninsured will have to pay out of pocket for PCR tests, depending on the location.

The changes will not impact public Washington State-supported testing sites for at least a couple of months, according to the WA Department of Health. However, some private testing locations no longer have free testing for people without insurance.

The changes are happening as the state sees an increase in COVID cases caused by the new BA.2 variant. The variant is officially the dominant strain in Washington, making up 51.4% of tests run by UW Medicine’s Virology Lab.

“The proportion of BA.2 is rising, so we are bracing ourselves for a slight increase in the number of cases,” said Pavitra Roychoudhury, Ph.D., who heads genomic sequencing with UW Medicine’s Virology Lab.

The uptick is already being seen in King County, where COVID cases increased 42% from last week. Still, the county only sees about 250 cases per day compared to more than 6,500 daily cases during the omicron peak.

“We’re very cautiously optimistic. We are so glad the numbers are low,” Roychoudhury said.

The improved pandemic situation means funding battles in Congress. Money to cover the cost of COVID testing for people without insurance has already dried up.

Quest Diagnostics, which is inside many Safeway pharmacies, says it’s notifying clients and partners that a lab test for people without health insurance will cost about $125.

“The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) stopped accepting claims for testing and treatment for uninsured patients due to a lack of sufficient funds. We have begun to notify our clients and partners that we no longer expect to be reimbursed for testing through this program unless additional funding is allocated,” a spokesperson for Quest said in an email.

“It’s a little upsetting,” said Alis Adams, a UW student. “I hope there is some sort of subsidization that can cover the testing, honestly.”

Public Health Seattle-King County says, for now, the funding problem will not impact partner testing locations like the UW Medicine test sites. But that could change in the long term.

The Washington State Department of Health says it has enough money to keep testing free for the uninsured at least until June.

But the city of Seattle says it knows some providers have started charging for tests again on a sliding scale.

What happens next depends on Congress -- and a $15 billion package on the line.

“I think it’s of concern, but I think with a bit of luck, maybe Congress will be motivated in the correct direction. There’s always hope for our government,” said John, a Seattle resident.

The DOH says if you’re insured and unsure if your test will be free, check with the test site first, so you’re not surprised by a bill.

You can still order free rapid tests from the state through the Say Yes program.

The changes so far do not impact people with health insurance, including Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.

The city of Seattle provided this additional information on testing:

• The city transferred over its four major COVID testing locations to the UW Labs in Spring 2021. These locations are currently billing insurance for those who have it and covering the cost for uninsured patients. However, these costs are being evaluated.

• The city is working with its healthcare providers to evaluate the impact the end of this funding will have on their communities. There are some providers in the City that have had to shift and reimplement their sliding scale policies.

• The city is in communication with our local health jurisdiction, the state and federal staff, to discuss and advocate for funding to support uninsured patients in getting tested and vaccinated.

• For a listing of free COVID-19 testing and vaccination resources please see the King County resources at testing and vaccination sites

• Also, for uninsured people, you can still get free at-home tests from the state through the Say Yes program, or from the federal government

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