Have you been charged a fee for getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Santa Barbara County?
Did you get a bill from your health insurance company that says you owe money after getting a vaccine or a COVID-19 test?
Noozhawk wants to hear about it.
Scroll down to fill out a questionnaire about out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 care, or email us at news@noozhawk.com
The COVID-19 vaccines are supposed to be free to everyone in the United States, regardless of health insurance coverage or immigration status, and they are in most cases.
In Santa Barbara, the MedCenter urgent care clinic charges patients with insurance a $45 fee up front, then bills the insurance company, according to the medical director.
If the insurance reimburses the clinic, the patient gets a refund. If not, the clinic keeps the money.
Vaccine providers are not supposed to be charging patients directly, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.
All local, state and federal vaccine-related messaging reiterates that the doses are safe, effective, and free to everyone.
COVID-19 testing is also available for free throughout the county — at some pharmacies and at state and county-run sites in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Buellton, Goleta, Isla Vista and Santa Barbara — but some providers have been charging high prices.
Some Albertsons, Safeway and Vons locations have been selling at-home saliva virus tests, for $140 plus delivery, and Aptitude Medical Systems, a Goleta company, started selling same-day-turnaround testing at Earl Warren Showgrounds for $149 a test.
These antigen, or viral, tests are looking for active infections of the novel coronavirus, while so-called antibody tests look for any evidence of antibodies of the virus, including from past infection.
Healthcare providers use the antigen tests for identifying positive cases and diagnosis.
There are local providers selling antibody tests as well, which are not FDA-approved for diagnosing COVID-19.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.