Everyone is always telling me about these people who think Covid is a
hoax. I wish I could meet these people for myself.
That's how it works. We are living in a time of mass hysteria. Everyone knows that the virus is real, but any disagreement on the details, the nature, the epidemiology, efficacy of treatments, etc. is considered to be a deliberate disinformation campaign by someone. And there's not a single party anywhere who isn't guilty of this.
One of my sisters has tested positive. She works at a detox center and usually if a person is admitted they probably are not taking good care of themselves as it is.
At the same time she has an adult daughter who has not problem to be out and about socializing and having a good time. "I am going away this weekend!!!!"
It is strange living in the middle of a mass hysteria. It makes me wonder if maybe at some point some grain with a fungus in it got into the world food supply.
But the stranger thing is that this mass hysteria, is evidence that one of the previous ones wasn't as much of a hysteria as the conventional wisdom would have us believe. (emphasis below mine)
https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/age-of-eisenhower/mcarthyism-red-scare
"In the early 1950s, American leaders repeatedly told the public that they should be fearful of subversive Communist influence in their lives. Communists could be lurking anywhere, using their positions as school teachers, college professors, labor organizers, artists, or journalists to aid the program of world Communist domination. This paranoia about the internal Communist threat—what we call the Red Scare—reached a fever pitch between 1950 and 1954, when Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin, a right-wing Republican, launched a series of highly publicized probes into alleged Communist penetration of the State Department, the White House, the Treasury, and even the US Army. During Eisenhower’s first two years in office, McCarthy’s shrieking denunciations and fear-mongering created a climate of fear and suspicion across the country. No one dared tangle with McCarthy for fear of being labeled disloyal."
Wed Jan 13 2021 13:53:27 EST from IGnatius T FoobarThat's how it works. We are living in a time of mass hysteria. Everyone knows that the virus is real, but any disagreement on the details, the nature, the epidemiology, efficacy of treatments, etc. is considered to be a deliberate disinformation campaign by someone. And there's not a single party anywhere who isn't guilty of this.
Yesterday I was at a locally owned HEALTH food store, the clientele tends to lean to the left (Parking lot filled with Biden bumper stickers) and would be more apt to follow proper COVID safety protocols. (As opposed to my mechanic shop that doesn't seem to care)
I chatted with the owner as I walked in, I waved hello to another employee. After shopping for a bit I noticed I wasn't wearing a mask. No one said anything. I spoke with the owner, he didn't say anything.I have a reusable cloth mask in the car for my everyday usual mask. I do carry disposable masks in my jacket, so I put a mask on but I was still shocked no one said anything.
I have been really bad about that this week. My normal DailyDriver is getting a rear main seal replaced and went in last Thursday ( I can do it, i just dont feel like dealing with it mid-winter ) so driving another car. The DD normally has the mask already there. So several trips i have ended up mask-less and no one batted an eye. Took me several days just to remember to put a mask in the car. Just in time to get the other one back later today :)
Not that it would normally the shop a week +, but they were short handed so i told them to take care of customers that only had one car and are in a bind before me. I can wait.
Thu Jan 14 2021 21:01:56 EST from zooerYesterday I was at a locally owned HEALTH food store, the clientele tends to lean to the left (Parking lot filled with Biden bumper stickers) and would be more apt to follow proper COVID safety protocols. (As opposed to my mechanic shop that doesn't seem to care)
I chatted with the owner as I walked in, I waved hello to another employee. After shopping for a bit I noticed I wasn't wearing a mask. No one said anything. I spoke with the owner, he didn't say anything.I have a reusable cloth mask in the car for my everyday usual mask. I do carry disposable masks in my jacket, so I put a mask on but I was still shocked no one said anything.
Do you need a prescription to get a COVID-19 test or can you just go to the testing center with some symptoms?
I tried searching for an answer but didn't find an answer. When I sent a patient portal message to my P.C. I had a non-answer as well.
I've had 4.
Try CVS or Walgreen and check out their portals.
Fri Jan 15 2021 16:41:19 EST from zooerI tried searching for an answer but didn't find an answer. When I sent a patient portal message to my P.C. I had a non-answer as well.
Walgreens: "You should contact your insurer to confirm the test will meet coverage criteria before scheduling a test. "
I suppose then it depends on your insurer - unless you want to self pay. Did you ask how much self pay was? I'm sure that is an option.
Fri Jan 15 2021 18:54:48 EST from zooerWalgreens: "You should contact your insurer to confirm the test will meet coverage criteria before scheduling a test. "
[YOUR INSURANCE] covers the cost of COVID-19 testing that has been deemed medically necessary at no cost share to members.
[YOUR INSURANCE] does not reimburse for COVID-19 tests performed on an asymptomatic individual solely to assess health status, even if required by parties such as government/public health agencies, employers, common carriers, schools, or camps, or when ordered upon the request of a member solely to facilitate the member’s desire to self-assess COVID-19 immune status.
See this is the problem, what is medically necessary?
I have heard many people saying they have had multiple tests.
Have you been exposed to a known infectious individual?
Do you have symptoms?
These will, I think generally qualify you as medically necessary.
If it is just to assess health status - as stated - then you've got to pay out of pocket.
We may have paid out of pocket.
Fri Jan 15 2021 19:09:38 EST from zooer[YOUR INSURANCE] covers the cost of COVID-19 testing that has been deemed medically necessary at no cost share to members.
[YOUR INSURANCE] does not reimburse for COVID-19 tests performed on an asymptomatic individual solely to assess health status, even if required by parties such as government/public health agencies, employers, common carriers, schools, or camps, or when ordered upon the request of a member solely to facilitate the member’s desire to self-assess COVID-19 immune status.
See this is the problem, what is medically necessary?
I have heard many people saying they have had multiple tests.
Wife got tested recently, they required a doctor's order to even make the appointment. In our case payment was a secondary issue.
I know other tests require it, i dont see why this would be different. ( not that i agree, it should be up to you if you want to pay for it... )
Fri Jan 15 2021 18:54:48 EST from zooerWalgreens: "You should contact your insurer to confirm the test will meet coverage criteria before scheduling a test. "
Maybe it has something to do with local labs being able to process the demand.
Sat Jan 16 2021 09:13:21 EST from Nurb432Wife got tested recently, they required a doctor's order to even make the appointment. In our case payment was a secondary issue.
I know other tests require it, i dont see why this would be different. ( not that i agree, it should be up to you if you want to pay for it... )
Fri Jan 15 2021 18:54:48 EST from zooerWalgreens: "You should contact your insurer to confirm the test will meet coverage criteria before scheduling a test. "
Sounds like it very much depends on which state you live in. NY, testing is free but there can be some gatekeeping depending on what provider you use.
Since March 19, I have had 4 PCR tests (that I can *remember*), one rapid test, two antibody tests. One of those was required by a health care provider prior to surgery. One of the antibody tests was to qualify me to donate convalescent plasma. Might have had a 5th PCR test along with the other antibody test, but can't remember.
Some providers, like urgent care clinics, do ask a few very simple questions that might be eligibility questions, but I usually had pretty good justification for a test, so that was always just one quick question. NYC's public hospital system encourages *everyone* to get tested on occasion, regardless of symptom status, so although they ask about symptoms an exposure, a "no" answer does not disqualify you from a test, but they may refuse to re-test you if you start showing up for a test too frequently. Their capacity IS limited. In general, the testing situation appears to have improved quite a bit.[1~[2~[1~[2~/[1~[2~[1~[2~t, especially with the rapid tests.
Yes, the testing is free... provided it meets the criteria for the free test.
The insurance company doesn't want people "just checking to be sure"
that sort of thing is probably necessary to keep the backlogs under control. tests are useless if it takes 14 days for the results to come back
a coworker has had covid for the past week or so, not sure exactly how long or how severe but it was mild at first and he was still working remotely. now we're being told to consider him out side for the time being...
most of us work from home (although some kind of temporary office or coworking space has been made available to those who want to take the risk) so it sounds like he caught it from hanging out with a friend.