Are tests with CVS Pharmacy acceptable to board in Brooklyn?

[hope2]

Ah thank you for the info, just have to keep fingers crossed. I am having nightmares about these tests in NYC. Good job my blood pressure doesn’t have to be checked to board!

[frankp01]

3 hours ago, hope2 said:

I am having nightmares about these tests in NYC.

Much like we did, in Southampton in December. But ours involved quarantining until we received our results! So I sympathize.

 

On that same trip in December, our London-based friend had to be tested in New York in order to fly home. He used Bloom Labs (https://www.bloomlabs.co). They only have one location, near Penn Station, but at least you know they take walk-ins and non-US nationals.  There's also a chain of walk-in clinics that can take non-nationals (PCR & COVID-19 Testing in New York | GoHealth Urgent Care (gohealthuc.com)  While I haven't had any personal experience with that chain, I have emailed them and they confirmed that they can take walk-ins, as well as non-US nationals.

 

One of the biggest issues you may face is that the results are often sent as a link in a text message. And the clinic may not be able to send a message to a non-North American number. You'll want to make sure that you can get your results on paper, while you're onsite.

[hope2]

That is really helpful,thank you.

[ace2542]

I finished up going to Bloom labs on west 36th came back negative.  The test was a joke I did the test myself while she watched me do it. Barely touched my noise and it was all clear. All they did was look at the dates on the the pieces of paper no QR code was scanned.

[ace2542]

On 8/25/2022 at 1:57 PM, hope2 said:

Ah thank you for the info, just have to keep fingers crossed. I am having nightmares about these tests in NYC. Good job my blood pressure doesn’t have to be checked to board!

The guy next to us got turned back and had to be tested again on site. He was not happy and I think saw 1 person slip money to the girl checking the paperwork. There was a look when she was checking this guy's paperwork like she felt it when she grabbed it and knew what it was about. The whole thing was a joke. We waited at least an hour in line to get through the test checking. The actual boarding was very quick.

[frankp01]

2 hours ago, ace2542 said:

I finished up going to Bloom labs

Did you not try the CVS you had in mind, after all?

[ace2542]

8 hours ago, frankp01 said:

Did you not try the CVS you had in mind, after all?

I tried it and the only supervised testing, testing done to you was drive through testing and there where no drive through testing sites in nyc. 

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

On 8/30/2022 at 3:58 PM, frankp01 said:

Did you not try the CVS you had in mind, after all?

 

Is it only me or it seems that CVS minute clinic does not propose on-site Rapid Antigen Testing anymore? The only options I see when I try to book a test are either:

- At-home rapid antigen tests at $9.99 (but I don't think you get a certificate for it and therefore can not be used for embarking

- In-person lab tests at $139 out of pocket for a PCR/NAAT lab test but you'll get your results in 1 to 2 days...

- Rapid-result (PCR) with results within hours but limited availability.

 

Nowhere I see that CVS is proposing the cheaper and faster Rapid Antigen Test. If I have to travel on the QM2 from NYC again, I think I'll try somewhere else unless you really want to have a PCR test done. But even if you want a PCR, CVS will either give you the results within 1 or 2 days (which can be problematic) or you won't be able to find a location where they give you PCR results within a few hours.

Edited September 12, 2022 by EuropeanAmericanTraveler

[frankp01]

2 hours ago, EuropeanAmericanTraveler said:

it seems that CVS minute clinic does not propose on-site Rapid Antigen Testing anymore?

There are three options when searching for tests: Lab Test with results in 2-3 days, Rapid Test with Provider Visit, and Rapid Test. Searching on just Rapid Test there were no sites within 100 miles. But there are 7 locations that will do a Rapid Test with a Provider Visit. "Provider Visit" gives CVS the chance to take your blood pressure and do a few other rudimentary health checks, meaning they can bill for a more expensive visit in addition to just the test.

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

17 hours ago, frankp01 said:

There are three options when searching for tests: Lab Test with results in 2-3 days, Rapid Test with Provider Visit, and Rapid Test. Searching on just Rapid Test there were no sites within 100 miles. But there are 7 locations that will do a Rapid Test with a Provider Visit. "Provider Visit" gives CVS the chance to take your blood pressure and do a few other rudimentary health checks, meaning they can bill for a more expensive visit in addition to just the test.

 

Hi, I believe that the 3 options you have listed correspond to the 3 options I had listed previously above:

- the Rapid Antigen test is the cheap and quick test you can do yourself at home but is not supervised and you don't get a certificate with it so you can not use this rapid antigen test at embarkation.

- the 2 other options are both expensive PCR tests, not rapid Antigen tests.

 

So unless you are fine with a PCR test that takes 1-2 days to get results or are willing to drive far to the few selected locations that offer the Provider consultation + rapid PCR test and pay $208 to $218, there is no supervised Rapid Antigen test with certificate at CVS.  

[frankp01]

I interpret their website a little differently. Here's the screen I see. Notice, there is a rapid Antigen test. Now, it may not be cheap, because it has to be part of an 'office visit' that incorporates more than just the COVID test. But supervised antigen tests are still available. For a test with no 'provider visit', like the following, no locations are found (at least in my area. That they make the option available it must be possible to get those tests somewhere).

 

But, with provider visit, there are quite a few locations. And notice that it does say 'Antigen' (which is what I've received on every visit). The 'Not accepted for all travel' is simply a disclaimer that Antigen tests usually aren't accepted for travel. But Cunard does accept them.

 

 

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

50 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

I interpret their website a little differently. Here's the screen I see. Notice, there is a rapid Antigen test. Now, it may not be cheap, because it has to be part of an 'office visit' that incorporates more than just the COVID test. But supervised antigen tests are still available. For a test with no 'provider visit', like the following, no locations are found (at least in my area. That they make the option available it must be possible to get those tests somewhere).

 

But, with provider visit, there are quite a few locations. And notice that it does say 'Antigen' (which is what I've received on every visit). The 'Not accepted for all travel' is simply a disclaimer that Antigen tests usually aren't accepted for travel. But Cunard does accept them.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the screenshots. It's weird because I don't get the same webpage when I do a research and there is no Rapid Antigen test options listed (with provider visit or without provider visit). Here is what I have instead:

Edited September 13, 2022 by EuropeanAmericanTraveler

[bluemarble]

1 hour ago, EuropeanAmericanTraveler said:

Thanks for the screenshots. It's weird because I don't get the same webpage when I do a research and there is no Rapid Antigen test options listed (with provider visit or without provider visit). Here is what I have instead:

 

I've found I have to answer "yes" to one of the test qualification questions to qualify for no-cost testing in order to get the screenshots @frankp01 provided which include "Rapid test" without provider visit.

 

Checking three major US cities, I happened to find one site offering such tests in New York City, one in Chicago and none in Los Angeles.

[frankp01]

3 hours ago, EuropeanAmericanTraveler said:

I don't get the same webpage when I do a research

As was discussed earlier in this thread, the testing options provided by CVS vary dramatically depending upon responses to the screening questions. In particular, I think the insurance question. If you say you have health insurance you get the screens I included above. If you say you are paying yourself, the number of options fall dramatically. I don't know why. When I was last getting tested (at a CVS) I specifically asked if I would have been turned away if I had been a private pay client. The technician said 'No', even though that location did not appear unless I said my insurance was footing the bill.

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

20 hours ago, bluemarble said:

 

I've found I have to answer "yes" to one of the test qualification questions to qualify for no-cost testing in order to get the screenshots @frankp01 provided which include "Rapid test" without provider visit.

 

Checking three major US cities, I happened to find one site offering such tests in New York City, one in Chicago and none in Los Angeles.

 

Could you please tell us what question needs to be answered yes in order to have the choice of Rapid Antigen test? Personally, the only question I answer yes to is if I have health insurance coverage.

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

17 hours ago, frankp01 said:

As was discussed earlier in this thread, the testing options provided by CVS vary dramatically depending upon responses to the screening questions. In particular, I think the insurance question. If you say you have health insurance you get the screens I included above. If you say you are paying yourself, the number of options fall dramatically. I don't know why. When I was last getting tested (at a CVS) I specifically asked if I would have been turned away if I had been a private pay client. The technician said 'No', even though that location did not appear unless I said my insurance was footing the bill.

 

I answer yes to the question asking if I have health insurance coverage and no to all other questions but still can't see the option of a Rapid Antigen test on-site.

[frankp01]

Try answering yes to this question and see what happens. I don't think insurance will cover the visit, otherwise.

 

 

 

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

13 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

Try answering yes to this question and see what happens. I don't think insurance will cover the visit, otherwise.

 

 

 

 

Bingo! It worked this time, thank you 😉

I have no idea why they make it so complicated to find the Rapid antigen test option and I don't see what this question has to do with it...  It makes no sense at all to me except that they might try to push the expensive rapid PCR tests and consultations...

[frankp01]

Glad we got to the bottom of it.

[frankp01]

On 9/14/2022 at 3:28 PM, EuropeanAmericanTraveler said:

I have no idea why they make it so complicated to find the Rapid antigen test option

Just FYI, I suspected the reason, but wasn't sure why. This entry, from a local chain if urgent care centers, perfectly explains it...

 

Why doesn’t insurance cover rapid COVID tests at vybe?

In the eyes of most insurance companies, it’s an issue of medical necessity vs. wellness screening.

Lab-based PCR tests at vybe can be covered by insurance because they typically include a physician evaluation. When someone has COVID symptoms and comes to us because they’re sick, our physician makes the decision if they should get a PCR test.

Rapid tests are usually not covered by insurance because they do not include a physician evaluation – especially if the person isn’t experiencing any symptoms and simply wants to know if they have the COVID virus.

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

On 9/21/2022 at 7:32 AM, frankp01 said:

Just FYI, I suspected the reason, but wasn't sure why. This entry, from a local chain if urgent care centers, perfectly explains it...

 

Why doesn’t insurance cover rapid COVID tests at vybe?

In the eyes of most insurance companies, it’s an issue of medical necessity vs. wellness screening.

Lab-based PCR tests at vybe can be covered by insurance because they typically include a physician evaluation. When someone has COVID symptoms and comes to us because they’re sick, our physician makes the decision if they should get a PCR test.

Rapid tests are usually not covered by insurance because they do not include a physician evaluation – especially if the person isn’t experiencing any symptoms and simply wants to know if they have the COVID virus.

 

Thanks for the info. It explains why the Rapid Antigen test is not covered by insurance but it does not explain why it is so difficult to book this option on the CVS website  In my case, although I have health insurance coverage in the US, I am willing to pay for a Rapid Antigen test because I find this option faster and more convenient (and also cheaper than a PCR test). But I noticed that on the CVS website, whether or not you answer yes to the question asking if you have insurance, it doesn't offer you the choice of the rapid antigen test. Only when one answers yes to the question you listed above ("Are you seeking a covid-19 test because of high transmission rates..."), it proposes the rapid antigen test. This does not make sense to me.

[frankp01]

17 minutes ago, EuropeanAmericanTraveler said:

This does not make sense to me.

I think the issue is CVS is primarily set up to bill insurance. And, therefore, the questions are designed to filter for the conditions under which they can bill an insurance policy. They can't bill for just a rapid test. But a rapid test along with an office consultation can be billed.

 

But if you're paying, there are cheaper places than CVS. In what location are you looking to get tested? In NYC, my London-based friend got a test at Bloom Labs. Here's a chain of COVID testing locations (with quite a few around the country), and they take cash at some of their locations:

COVID-19 Testing Services | Curative

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by frankp01

[EuropeanAmericanTraveler]

32 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

I think the issue is CVS is primarily set up to bill insurance. And, therefore, the questions are designed to filter for the conditions under which they can bill an insurance policy. They can't bill for just a rapid test. But a rapid test along with an office consultation can be billed.

 

I understand what you mean but after you answer no to the health insurance question and CVS knows they can not bill an insurance policy, it would make sense to display all the possible testing options and their price including the Rapid Antigen option, which it does not.

 

32 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

But if you're paying, there are cheaper places than CVS. In what location are you looking to get tested? In NYC, my London-based friend got a test at Bloom Labs. Here's a chain of COVID testing locations (with quite a few around the country), and they take cash at some of their locations:

COVID-19 Testing Services | Curative

 

 

If I embark on the QM2 in Brooklyn again, I think I will use Bloom labs as it seems to be fast and convenient. Thanks for the link with testing locations!