HomeTrendingDo You Need Health Insurance To Get Tested For Stds

Do You Need Health Insurance To Get Tested For Stds

When To Get Tested For Stds

STD Testing – How To Know If You Have An STD | Planned Parenthood Video

If you think you might have an STD, its best to get a complete STD panel. STDs dont go away if you ignore them theyll just get worse and could grow into more serious health consequences. If left untreated, some STDs can lead to issues like infertility and more serious infections. You can also spread STDs to sexual partners if you have an untreated infection.

Ask your health care provider for STD testing recommendations or follow CDC recommendations for STD testing.

Can I Take The Test At Home

Tests are available to detect chlamydia at home. Most at-home chlamydia tests are self-collection kits, which allow you to obtain a swab or sample of urine at home and return it to a laboratory by mail. If an at-home chlamydia test returns positive results, a doctor may suggest confirmation testing with a laboratory-based method.

Wouldnt Testing Everyone Stop The Spread Of Genital Herpes

We dont know. There is no evidence that diagnosing genital herpes with a blood test in someone without symptoms would change their sexual behavior and stop the virus from spreading. In addition, without knowing the benefits of testing, the risk of shaming and stigmatizing people outweighs the potential benefits. For these reasons, testing everyone for herpes is not recommended at this time.

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Sti Testing Without Insurance

Without either private or public health insurance, STI screening at a healthcare provider’s office or hospital can be pricey.

You may have to pay a healthcare provider’s visit fee in addition to paying for the test itself. In total, prices can range anywhere from $25 to over $200.

However, many public health clinics and centers offer low-cost or potentially free STI screening options for those without insurance. These can include:

  • Local health department STI clinics
  • Planned Parenthood health centers
  • College or university student health centers
  • Mobile clinics

Be sure to call ahead to ask about testing availability and cost if you’re interested in going to any of the clinics or centers listed above. Prices can vary depending on factors such as what tests you need, your household size, and your income level. They will give you details on how they charge for STI screening and if you qualify for a free screening test.

What You Should Expect During Std Testing

When to Get Tested for STDs and How Much It Costs

There isnt one test that detects all STDs. We may need to perform two or three tests, depending on whether we can narrow the suspected culprit down to a particular STD or need to test for several possible STDs.

These are the different types of STD tests:

  • Blood test, which may be done by drawing a sample from your arm or using a finger prick
  • Urine test, which uses the standard procedure of catching your urine in a cup
  • Fluid samples, which are obtained by gently removing a sample of vaginal discharge or fluids from sores
  • Pap test, which tests for HPV by taking a sample of cells from your cervix

No matter what type of test you need, you can depend on our experienced team to do it quickly and, in most cases, painlessly. If you need a blood test and youre sensitive to needle jabs or pricks, let us know so we can provide a topical anesthetic or take steps to ensure youre as comfortable as possible.

If you have any questions about STD testing or youd like to schedule an appointment, call Fred A. Williams, MD, or use the online booking system.

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Cost Of Sti And Std Testing Without Insurance

There are a variety of ways to get STD testing without insurance, from labs to at-home tests.

The options vary in price depending on the source and the specific test.

Below is a breakdown of common sources for STD testing and the average cost of the service.

Test Source:
$149 Measures Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis, HSV-2 & Trichomoniasis

Free and low-cost testing options are also available, depending on where you live. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a database of locations that you can search by your zip code at the GetTested site.

Which Std Tests Should I Get

If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STDs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.

Below is a brief overview of STD testing recommendations. STD screening information for healthcare providers can be found here.

  • Anyone who engages in sexual behaviors that could place them at risk for infection or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.
  • People who have had oral or anal sex should talk with their healthcare provider about throat and rectal testing options.
  • You can quickly find a place to be tested for STDs by entering your zip code in the form below.

    Find an STD testing site near you.

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    What Happens If I Test Positive

    If you test positive, instruction will be provided on how to obtain a free telemedicine consultation with a physician in your state. This physician may be able to prescribe treatment for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea or Trich. Depending on the infection, you may also need to retest after treatment to confirm the infection is gone.

    It is crucial that you inform your sexual partners of your test results, whether theyre positive or negative. Sharing this information will help stop the spread of any infection and will allow your partners to seek testing and treatment immediately if necessary.

    Keep testing. Just because youve tested once does not mean that you shouldnt test again. In fact, its common to get infected with certain STDs, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, multiple times. myLAB Box recommends that you test every few months, especially if youve received a positive result in the past.

    How Do I Pay The Sliding Scale Fee

    How To Talk About STD Testing & Screening | Planned Parenthood Video

    No payments will be collected at the clinic. Instead, please complete a check or money order payable to NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Please mail the check or money order to:

    NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Attn: Division of Finance 42-09 28th Street, CN32W Long Island City, NY 11101

    The check or money order should include the patients name, date of visit and patients ID number. Clinic staff will provide this information at the visit.

    The Health Department will not send you any bills, financial statements or receipts.

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    Where Can I Get A Std Test

    You can obtain an STD test at your physicians office, a health clinic, your local Planned Parenthood, or online from companies like Nurx. Depending on where you go, your insurance may cover your STD testing, though standard copays and deductible rates may apply. Even if you dont have health insurance, you may be able to acquire free or low-cost testing through government programs or at a local health care clinic that offers low-cost services for those with lower income.

    How Much Is An Std Test

    The cost of an STD test varies, depending on whether the patient has insurance. FastMed keeps our cost for STD testing as low as possible. In fact, if you choose to test using one of our convenient STD packages below, you can save even more money when you self-pay.* The price is well worth itthe effects of most STDs can be minimized if caught early, and prevented from spreading to others.

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    What Are Stds And Stis

    STIs are infections transmitted from one person to another during vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

    An STI is considered an STD a disease when it causes symptoms. Usually, an infection is the first step on the road to potentially developing a disease, but it hasnt yet turned into a disease and often doesnt cause any symptoms.

    Not all diseases start as infections. But in the case of STDs, they do.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 1 in 5 people in the United States had an STD or STI on any given day in 2018.

    Although common, most people dont realize they have an STI because most STIs have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.

    • genital warts or human papillomavirus
    • chlamydia

    While most STIs are contracted through vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse, some can be transmitted through nonsexual means, such as blood transfusions and shared products like needles and syringes.

    As such, its important that youre tested frequently and regularly.

    Minors Are Able To Consent To Sti Testing In All 50 States And Washington Dc

    HIV Testing

    And no state requires that the provider notify guardians about this service .

    However, 18 states which you can find listed here allow doctors and other HCPs to inform guardians that a minor sought STI services. Find out what the laws in your state or region are, and talk with a doctor or other HCP about how your information might be shared.

    If you have questions like Do I have ? or What to do if ?, the HCP doing the testing is your best bet.

    For more general information about STIs, check out:

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    Do Stds Show Up On Medical Records

    If you pay with insurance, your STD testing and results will be visible on your permanent medical records. You can avoid this by using cash, debit or credit cards, or other forms of payment besides insurance.

    Did you know that some private insurance companies raise their rates if you test positive for STDs? As you can see, theres no clear advantage to using insurance as a payment method unless you absolutely cant afford it otherwise.

    Thats why we dont accept insurance for our services. Your testing wont show on your bank statement eitherit will just have the symbols so we can protect your privacy, guaranteed.

    If My Health Insurance Provider Sends Me A Check For This Visit What Should I Do

    Please sign the back of the check and write Payable to NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene only under your signature. Make a copy for your records. Submit this signed check along with your Explanation of Benefits to:

    NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Attn: Division of Finance 42-09 28th Street, CN 32W Long Island City, NY 11101

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    Why Its Important To Get Tested For Stis

    Going untreated for an STI can cause major health problems down the line. It can increase your risk of other STIs, infertility and cancer, says Krishna Upadhya, MD. Shes vice president of quality care and health equity at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. All STIs are treatable, and many are curable. But you cant get treatment if you dont know your status, Dr. Upadhya says.

    And, yes, its possible to have an STI and not know it even for years.

    A common misconception is that people will know if they have an infection because theyll have symptoms, says Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD. Shes a professor in the department of general medicine, specializing in womens health, at UC Davis in Sacramento, California. But many times, sexually transmitted diseases have no obvious signs.

    Getting screened for STIs is a vital part of taking care of your body, says Dr. Upadhya. How often you should be getting tested depends on different factors. If youre under 25 and are sexually active, the general rule is to get tested every few months to a year. If youre 25 or older, you should be tested yearly if you have a new sex partner, multiple partners or a partner who has an STD. You can learn more about STI screening recommendations on the CDC website.

    What If I Do Not Have Insurance Or Do Not Want My Insurance Billed For The Visit

    Home #STD Testing: Why Get Tested & How It Works

    You can still receive services. The Health Department will ask you to pay a sliding scale fee based on your family size and yearly income. You will not be asked for proof of family size or yearly income. No payments will be collected at the clinic. You can mail payment after your clinic visit.

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    Best For Payment Options: Healthlabscom

    HealthLabs.com

    Type of Testing: Lab-based testing

    STD Tests Available: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, Hepatitis B & C, herpes type 1 and 2

    Time to Receive Results: 1 to 3 business days

    Cost: $129 to $444

    Like most lab-based testing companies, with HealthLabs.com you choose which STD tests youre interested in and order them online or by phone. That order is then sent to a lab near you, where you provide a urine and/or blood sample. This company has an option for HIV tests that can detect a new infection, and they also provide good information about appropriate testing windows for all of their options. You can use an FSA or HSA card to pay for these tests. They have specialists who will help you understand your results, and physicians are available for a consultation if your results mandate it.

    Can Urgent Care Really Help Me With An Std Test

    The short answer is, yes! Many people who are looking for routine or precautionary STD tests visit urgent care facilities instead of a private practice or their primary care physician. Urgent care facilities are a great option if you are concerned that you may have contracted an STD and need to see a physician.

    If you are sexually active, it is best practice for you and your partner to receive regular STD tests, even if youre both taking precautionary steps to avoid receiving and transferring STDs. Many STDs spread through body fluids, such as blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. While condoms are 98% effective in preventing transferring STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea that are spread through body fluids, they do not protect against STDs that spread from skin-to-skin contact, like genital warts, herpes, and syphilis. Some STDs hide in plain sight and do not show symptoms, so you may not know you have one. The best thing for you and your partner to do is to get tested once every three to twelve months, depending on your level of sexual activity to ensure that you are STD free.

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    What Are The Pros And Cons Of Std Testing Without A Doctor

    Not visiting a doctors office and heading directly into STD testing could save you time and money, especially if you dont have health insurance. In addition, during the pandemic routine, in-person medical visits are discouraged to protect patients from potential contagion and to allow hospitals to devote resources to the most urgent needs.

    However, deciding on the best STD test for you can be difficult theres a large number of available options, and it can be tough to identify precisely what tests you may need . The most common STDs that physicians screen for are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV.

    TheCDC recommends that all sexually active women who are younger than 25 years old be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women who are 25 years or older who have new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner with an STD should also be tested every year.

    HIV testing often falls into its own category. Testing and care on that front is more likely to be available in clinics but there are also newer tests that can enable sample collection and results at home from start to finish.

    Poor sample collection is always a risk in diagnostic testing, but it can be even more of an issue when it comes to collecting a sample by yourself. So be sure to follow the instructions precisely.

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    Which Stds Are Most Common

    Nashville STD Testing

    The most common STDs can be treated with antibiotics if caught quickly. If you think you might have an STD, connect with your doctor or see an urgent care physician. While some STDs do not have a cure, knowing how to manage themwith the help of your doctoris key.

    Listed below are some of the most common STDs you can get:

    If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, give us a call or walk-in to any of our three convenient locations. Our dedicated staff can help you start feeling better, today.

    If you are due for a regular STD, visit us at CityLife Health for a quick STD test for your peace of mind. We have all of the tools and tests needed to complete a check for the above STDs . If need be, we can get you started on treatment options as soon as possible.

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    Advantages Of Using Insurance For Std Tests

    If you suspect you have an STD, you may want to use your insurance coverage when you go for testing. The primary benefit of using insurance is that you wont have to pay the full testing fees.

    However, the amount you pay will depend on your specific coverage and which tests you need. For example, some insurance companies may require a small deductible, while others might cover the cost 100%. Another advantage of using insurance is that it usually covers testing both at an STD testing clinic or at your doctors office.

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