Clarification: This list of symptoms and recommendations was prepared with official information from health authorities. However, the CDC points out that the list of symptoms it is not entirely inclusive (i.e. there may be unreported symptoms related to the disease). It is recommended to consult your medical provider for any serious or worrisome symptoms.
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If a person has symptoms or someone in your family has them, you will surely try to find information on how to know if it is coronavirus and how to get them to do the test.
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In the internet search, many people ‘collide’ with thousands of articles and news about the death toll, statements by the authorities or the latest measures announced in the midst of the pandemic, but it is difficult to find information on how to get tested or who to call case of suspicion of contracting the disease.
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This short guide can help you if you are in that situation.
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First, the symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the institution leading the fight against the pandemic in the US, points out that positive cases of coronavirus so far “have varied” in the presentation of symptoms from mild to severe.
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The most common symptoms in all cases, report health authorities, are fever, cough, shortness of breath. They detail that symptoms can appear between 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
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Then who do I call if I have those symptoms?
The information may vary slightly from state to state, so the first thing you should do is go to the page of the Department of Health of the state where you live to have local information in your area on how to proceed.
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Here in this link there is a map to look for the numbers of the local health departments at the county level. In this other link there is a list with the telephones state by state.
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Step One: Call the Doctor
In general, the authorities ask that the first step is to call your health care provider, that is, your doctor. If there is a suspicion that you have been in contact with a person who has covid-19 or have recently traveled to or from an area with spread, you have to stay home and call the health care provider.
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If you have health insurance, you can call for information but they will also ask you to contact your doctor to give you instructions according to your case.
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This step applies to people who do not show serious signs, which do not are older adults and that do not have pre-existing diseases.
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What if the symptoms are severe or I am a ‘risk population’?
At first, risk groups Before the coronavirus – CDC reports – are people who have one or more of the following characteristics: they are older adults, they have pre-existing cardiorespiratory diseases, heart disease, diabetes or pre-existing lung disease. The CDC also points to other groups of “people who they can be at increased risk of serious illness, “which are those who have asthma, HIV or pregnant women.
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Then, Symptoms that should be considered severe are persistent chest pain or pressure, feeling confused, difficulty waking up and having a blue face or lips, the CDC reports.
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So:
⚠️If the person suffering from symptoms you have serious signs, you should go to the emergency directly.
⚠️If the person suffering from the symptoms is someone considered a risk population (older people and / or pre-existing diseases mentioned), they should contact their healthcare provider right away even if you have mild symptoms.
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Three scenarios
In summary, the steps to take according to the California Department of Health and other health authorities are basically these:
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- I have symptoms and I am not a risk population ➡️Call your doctor ➡️ He recommends you go to the ER ienden️ They attend you and take a sample with hyssop ➡️The samples are sent to the laboratory to determine if you have covid-19.
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- I have symptoms and I am not a risk population ➡️Call your doctor ➡️The doctor identifies mild symptoms and tells you to isolate yourself at home ➡️ You stay at home.
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- I have severe symptoms (or I am a risk population with mild or severe symptoms) ➡️Call your doctor ➡️You cannot communicate with your doctor ➡️Call 911 or go directly to the emergency.
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Will it cost me money to take the test?
Many are afraid of ‘surprise’ bills that come home after a visit to the doctor or an emergency. But According to the legislation that Congress passed days ago, it says that the coronavirus tests as well as the visit to the doctor or the emergency are free.
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Is it free for everyone or only if I have private health insurance?
All people, according to the text of the law, have the coronavirus test insured for free, regardless of their status in terms of health protection. The same law seeks to provide paid sick leave.
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In addition, several giant private insurance companies such as Cigna or Anthem also offered to forego charging their policyholders for the cost of the test. In this link You can see a summary of how large insurers are reacting to the pandemic.
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Government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are also covering costs while the people that do not they have health insurance they should also be able to be tested free of charge, according to the text of the legislation.
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“Medical care made available to an uninsured person … will be limited to medical care for any in vitro diagnostic product described in section 1905 … that is administered during any part of the emergency period …” , says the law.
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What if I’m sick, will I have to pay the treatment bills?
It is possible, since insurers have waived test earnings and certain pandemic-related out-of-pocket payments, it is not clear that they will waive charges if you use a medical provider outside of your network, or if you have to be hospitalized
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In general, the treatment for the disease will surely be treated by insurers like any other condition.
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President Donald Trump said in his speech to the nation on March 11 that health insurers would waive all copays for coronavirus treatments, But that’s not true. The companies said they will waive the costs of the tests but not the treatment.
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It is not yet known whether the government or insurers will seek solutions in the near future to cover these costs.
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What if I receive some of the famous ‘surprise invoices’?
Surprise bills are often the fear or nightmare of many after receiving medical care of some kind. Cheryl Fish-Parcham, from the nonpartisan consumer health advocacy organization Families USA, said you should not pay without first talking to your insurer or the hospital to see if it is not a mistake.
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However, Families USA, along with many other organizations, signed a letter asking Congress that this ‘practice’ of bills with unexpected health care costs should be discontinued in times of coronavirus.
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“As Congress considers solutions that will lower barriers to accessing health care and mitigate the economic impact … we urge them to include the end of (surprise bills) to ensure that families are not faced with more burdens financial and can prioritize the search for the necessary attention at this critical moment, “says the letter.
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