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The COVID-19 pandemic is still going strong, which means that when you get sick and have COVID-19 symptoms, you need to take a COVID-19 test. However, how much does a COVID-19 test cost if you don’t have insurance?
A COVID-19 test typically costs between $15-$250 without insurance. Some can cost as much as $850 without insurance. However, it is relatively easy to get a free COVID-19 test. The cost of a COVID-19 test is influenced by the type of test that is administered and where it is administered.
The range of how much a COVID test costs is huge, and there are many factors that affect how much a COVID test costs. For instance, if you have your COVID test administered by a medical professional, it is going to cost more than if you were tested at a drug store. Continue reading to learn more about where you can get the cheapest COVID test without insurance.
Factors that Influence the Price of COVID-19 Tests
There are several factors that affect how much a COVID test will cost. To get a good estimate of how much a COVID test will cost, you need to consider all the hidden fees. Here are some of the hidden costs.
Types of Covid Tests
There are several different kinds of COVID tests. The three main ones are antigen tests, PCR tests, and anti-body tests. Each of these kinds of tests costs different amounts of money because of the materials needed to manufacture the test, lab processing requirements, and equipment needed to run the test.
Location
The location where you get your COVID test also has an impact on how much it is going to cost. If you buy a COVID test to take home, you will pay less than if you had taken the test at a hospital because you will not have to pay an administrator’s fee. It will also be cheaper to do a drive-by COVID test than a hospital test because the process is shorter.
Lab Processing Fee
If you do your COVID test at a clinic, there is a possibility that they need to run the COVID test through a lab. Labs have their own rates, which means that the cost of your COVID test is going to largely be dependent on the rates of the lab that your test is sent to.
Government Subsidies
The government is very concerned about COVID-19 because the illness brought the entire world to a halt for more than a year. This concern has motivated the government to create subsidies to help lower the cost of COVID tests. The government has worked with hospitals and clinics to pay for some of their COVID tests. The government also gives away free COVID tests to those who want them during seasons when COVID-19 is rampant.
Volume Discounts
If you work at a medical facility and are trying to buy COVID tests in bulk, you might be able to get some discounts. Many manufacturing companies will give discounts to those who buy a lot of COVID tests at once to incentivize you to buy them in bulk.
Types of COVID Tests
Antigen Test
A COVID antigen test is a diagnostic test that detects specific proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory specimens. They involve nasal or throat swabs. This test is designed to detect the presence of the virus in a person’s body and is used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection.
Unlike the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which detects the genetic material of the virus, the antigen test detects specific proteins that are unique to the virus. The antigen test is a rapid diagnostic test that can produce results within 15 to 30 minutes, making it a useful tool for screening large groups of people or for providing quick results to individuals who need to know their COVID-19 status quickly.
However, antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests, and false-negative results are more common. Therefore, a negative result from an antigen test may need to be confirmed with a PCR test if there is a high level of suspicion of COVID-19.
Due to how easy the antigen test is to perform, manufacturing companies have made antigen tests available for the public to purchase to perform in their own homes. These tend to be cheaper because you can take the test at home and do not have to pay lab processing fees. The average COVID antigen test will cost you around $20, making it the cheapest of the three testing options.
PCR Test
A COVID PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is a diagnostic test that detects the genetic material (RNA) from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory specimens. This test is designed to detect the presence of the virus in a person’s body and is used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection.
The PCR test amplifies the viral genetic material through a series of chemical reactions. The test is highly sensitive and can detect even small amounts of viral genetic material, making it a highly accurate COVID-19 test.
The PCR test typically requires a laboratory to perform the test, and results can take several hours to a few days to be processed depending on the testing capacity of the lab.
The PCR test is considered the best COVID test available. However, it will not be as cheap as the antigen test due to the need for laboratory testing equipment. On average, taking a PCR test without insurance will cost $130.
Anti-Body Test
A COVID anti-body test, also known as a serology test, is a diagnostic test that detects antibodies in the blood that are produced in response to a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibodies are proteins that the immune system produces to help fight off infections.
Unlike the COVID PCR and antigen tests, which detect the virus itself, the antibody test is used to determine if someone has been infected with the virus in the past. The test is typically performed on a blood sample, and results can be available within a few days.
It’s important to note that the COVID anti-body test is not used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection, and it cannot determine if someone is currently contagious. The test is also not recommended for individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been recently exposed to the virus.
The COVID anti-body test can provide valuable information about a person’s immune system response to the virus and can help determine the prevalence of the virus within a population. It can also be useful for identifying individuals who may have had a mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in the past.
The COVID anti-body test, much like the PCR test, needs to be tested at a laboratory. The average anti-body test costs $64 without insurance.
Price Based on State
Different states charge different amounts of money for COVID tests because of tax laws and the average cost of living in each state. Below is a list of all 50 states and the average cost of a PCR test in said state.
| State | Cost of a COVID-19 Test |
| Alaska | $128 to $201 |
| Arizona | $128 to $141 |
| Arkansas | $128 to $240 |
| California | $128 to $143 |
| Colorado | $128 to $146 |
| Connecticut | $128 to $137 |
| Delaware | $115 to $128 |
| District of Columbia | $128 to $249 |
| Florida | $128 to $129 |
| Georgia | $128 to $198 |
| Hawaii | $128 to $226 |
| Idaho | $125 to $128 |
| Illinois | $128 to $188 |
| Indiana | $128 to $176 |
| Iowa | $128 to $143 |
| Kansas | $128 to $147 |
| Kentucky | $128 to $142 |
| Louisiana | $128 to $174 |
| Maine | $128 to $215 |
| Maryland | $62 to $128 |
| Massachusetts | $128 to $169 |
| Michigan | $128 to $134 |
| Minnesota | $128 to $175 |
| Mississippi | $128 to $158 |
| Missouri | $128 to $161 |
| Montana | $122 |
| Nebraska | $128 to $173 |
| Nevada | $111 to $128 |
| New Hampshire | $128 to $190 |
| New Jersey | $128 to $302 |
| New Mexico | $128 to $172 |
| New York | $128 to $175 |
| North Carolina | $128 to $140 |
| North Dakota | $128 to $141 |
| Ohio | $128 to $161 |
| Oklahoma | $128 to $174 |
| Oregon | $128 to $141 |
| Pennsylvania | $128 to $166 |
| Rhode Island | $91 to $128 |
| South Carolina | $113 to $128 |
| South Dakota | $128 to $161 |
| Tennessee | $128 to $140 |
| Texas | $100 to $300 |
| Utah | $128 to $149 |
| Vermont | $128 to $169 |
| Virginia | $122 to $128 |
| Washington | $128 to $185 |
| West Virginia | $128 to $161 |
| Wisconsin | $128 to $151 |
| Wyoming | $128 to $149 |
Cost of COVID-19 Tests Administered by Medical Centers
Different medical centers also charge different fees based on how much money they think the test is worth. The cost for COVID tests at medical centers can vary from location to location and from state to state, as seen above.
Usually, a medical center will charge an average of anywhere from $20 to $850. Another online source reports a COVID test may cost between $25 to $486. The cost will be higher if the patient does not have insurance, but oftentimes, people can find fairly affordable options.
Home COVID Tests
There are also at-home COVID tests that will be cheaper than any clinical COVID test you will get. This is because you will not have to pay for the doctor who will take your COVID test. Here is a list of COVID tests and how much they will cost without insurance. Some locations sell at-home tests in two packs that cost around $34 without insurance. Most at-home tests cost $24 to $38 per test and are all antigen tests.
The more affordable at-home tests are sold for under $100, while the more expensive ones cost between $100 to $120. Some at-home COVID tests are performed by the patient by testing either a nasal swab, a saliva sample, or by collecting these samples at home and mailing them off to be tested in a lab. Below is a table of various COVID tests sold by different companies for different prices.
| Types of Covid Tests to Buy | Average Cost of the Test |
| Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc.: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test | $24 |
| Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough, Inc.: BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test | $24 |
| Access Bio, Inc.: CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test | $30 |
| ACON Laboratories, Inc: Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test | $6 |
Free COVID Tests
Luckily, if you don’t want to pay to get a COVID-19 test, there are several ways to get free COVID-19 tests. Here are some of the ways you can get a free COVID test.
- Testing Sites: Many state and local governments have set up free testing sites that are available to the public. These sites may be drive-thru or walk-up, and they may offer PCR, antigen, or antibody tests. Check with your local health department or go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to find a testing site near you.
- Healthcare Providers: Many healthcare providers, such as doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals, offer free COVID-19 testing. Check with your healthcare provider to see if they offer free testing and what types of tests they provide.
- Community Organizations: Some community organizations such as churches and non-profit organizations may offer free COVID-19 testing to their members or the public.
- Employer-Sponsored Testing: Some employers may offer free COVID-19 testing to their employees.
- Government Programs: The federal government and some state and local governments have established programs to provide free COVID-19 testing to certain populations, such as low-income individuals or essential workers. Check with your local government to see if you qualify for free testing through one of these programs.
- At-Home Test Kits: Some companies offer free at-home COVID-19 test kits. Check with your healthcare provider or visit the CDC website for information on companies that offer free test kits.
It’s important to note that the availability of free COVID-19 tests may vary depending on your location and the type of test you need. Check with your healthcare provider or local health department for information on testing availability and eligibility requirements in your area.
Overall, it is relatively easy to find a cheap COVID-19 test even if you don’t have health insurance. You just need to know where to look.
No Insurance?
When it comes to your healthcare, most people think that their only options are to pay for expensive Health Insurance or try out your luck being uninsured.
The great news is that you have a third option; You can join a Health Share plan that is affordable and meets your needs! Health Sharing programs are one of the most effective and affordable alternatives to Health Insurance.
If you don’t know what a Health Share is, you can start here to learn how it works and why it’s a great alternative to health insurance. If you are looking for affordable healthcare, I highly recommend checking out my article about the Best Health Share Plans.
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