April 14, 2020 - We received a call this morning from someone with symptoms of COVID-19 who wanted to know how they could get tested without health insurance coverage.

COVID-19 Testing Without Health Insurance in Seattle Metro

Many people have lost their health insurance during the last few weeks due to layoffs by employers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. If you are experiencing symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, coughing, diarrhea and/or loss of smell, and wish to get tested for the virus but do not have health insurance, you can go to:

Downtown Public Health Center  (link)
2124 – 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98121  (same as Cinerama block – tests are done at the outside parking lot between Blanchard and Lenora streets). No appointment needed. Walk-up hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Symptoms may develop 2-14 days after exposure to the virus as per the CDC. Please note, not everyone needs to get tested per CDC guidelines. According to the WA State Department of Health “There are currently no restrictions for who can be tested for COVID-19 in Washington State. However, our guidance to healthcare providers (PDF) directs them to focus testing on people with COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath. The guidance makes recommendations about who is at highest priority for testing. While anyone can ask a provider to be tested for COVID-19, testing is provided at the provider’s discretion.”

 

Get Health Insurance Coverage Now

Washington State offers insurance through the Healthcare Exchange to anyone that lost their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage recently. A special enrollment period is currently underway through May 8, 2020.

• Check out the WA Health Exchange Center website at https://www.wahbexchange.org/ and their
• FAQs at https://www.wahbexchange.org/coronavirus-faqs/.
• Find a navigator/counselor to get you through the options available for you through https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/_content/find-expert-advice.html

 

COVID-19 Testing With Health Insurance in Seattle Metro

If you are experiencing symptoms of fever, shortness of breath, coughing, diarrhea and/or loss of smell, you should call your doctor first. Every healthcare system has its own drive-through or other facility testing available to patients already seen at that system (UW, PacMed, Swedish, Kaiser, etc.). You can view the frequently updated COVID-19 test site list provided by the Seattle Times.