We all know about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on us. It is a communicable disease that spreads through respiratory droplets. It usually happens when an infected person coughs, talks, or sneezes. The symptoms are slightly milder in children. However, everyone needs to take proper care to be secure.
IRDAI launched corona kavach health insurance to allow people to get a proper insurance option against the virus.
How to get tested for COVID-19 free of cost in India?
In case you or your loved one have symptoms of coronavirus, call the CVOID-19 helpline number or get in touch with your family doctor. As per the regulation by IRDAI all the health insurance companies in the country will cover COVID-19 hospitalization expenses and cost of treatments incurred.
The Government of India has been pushing boundaries to restrict the spread of the diseases. Apart from mandatory lockdown guidelines and stressing precautionary measures, the Government also made testing for COVID-19 free in government hospitals and laboratories.
If you feel you have symptoms, you can get tested in the following way.
Call COVID-19 helpline number: Call the helpline number +91-11-23978046 or 1075 to get all the necessary support required
Report Symptoms: Report all your symptoms to see if you qualify for a test. If you do, then you will soon be tested at a government-approved lab
Test: You need to visit one of the approved labs along with taking all the precautionary measures and get tested by the labIf you go to any private hospital you will have to bear the cost associated with the test.
Cost of coronavirus test at Private Labs
If you by chance plan to get tested at one of the private labs, here is some information you must know.
At the beginning of April, the private hospitals were charging Rs.4,500 for every COVID-19 test. It included a screening test for Rs.1,500 and the confirmatory test of Rs.3,000. This test is expensive and cannot be afforded by a majority of the population in India.
After the Government's intervention in June 2020, the cost of testing decreased by a good percentage. For example, now in New Delhi, the tests are capped at Rs.2,400, Maharashtra it's Rs.2,200 and Rs.2,800. In Uttar Pradesh, the cost came down to Rs.2,000-2,500. There could be an additional charge of Rs 500 for a home visit which is subject to the laboratory you are getting your test at.
Free Covid-19 Test
Under the Ayush Bharat Yojna, the testing has been made free by the Government. The step was taken to contain the spread of the virus. It is made to provide timely health care to the poor and underprivileged.
It is recommended that in case you feel any of the symptoms, you must get tested as soon as possible to contain the virus from spreading. Invest in a
health insurance policy to get the financial security you need.