There are many ways you can get tested before seeing family and friends for the holidays. You can visit a state site, health care partner, pharmacy, or even buy an at-home rapid test. For the latter, the trick is getting your hands on an at-home test in the first place. “It’s not even just that there isn’t enough supply to meet the demand, it’s that there’s almost no supply to meet the demand,” said Ryan Quinn, a pharmacist at Lakeside Pharmacy.At Lakeside Pharmacy in Burlington, COVID-19 antigen tests have been hard to come by.“Today was the first time that I’ve had COVID tests in stock in a couple weeks, and even then when I was excited and saw that we could order them, I was capped out at ordering two,” Quinn said.On Thursday, Quinn was excited to get two rapid tests in stock. They sold within 10 minutes. “It’s not even just that there isn’t enough supply to meet the demand, it’s that there’s almost no supply to meet the demand just cause I can’t get any in stock and many places can’t,” Quinn said.In Vermont, some commercial insurers are now required to fully cover the cost of at-home tests. According to Mike Pieciak with the Department of Financial Regulation, those insurers include Blue Cross, MVP, Signa and VEHI. The state estimates that the emergency rule, announced on Tuesday, includes about 140,000 Vermonters.“We’ve been working to secure thousands of rapid at-home tests. My team has been working with suppliers and the federal governmet to make sure we have a steady supply because we want to have tens of thousands of these available at no charge to Vermonters,” Gov. Phil Scott said.Right now, you must submit the purchase of an at-home test to your insurance company. In the coming weeks, Pieciak says there will be no up-front cost at the pharmacy. In the meantime, the Scott administration is asking for patience until supply can keep up with demand.If you can’t find an at-home test there are other rapid testing options, but they may cost you.“So the rapid antigen test is $150. The PCR test is $250,” said Norm Nault, deputy director of operations at Garnet Healthcare. “With that PCR test, you’re not only getting a positive or negative for COVID, but we’re now giving up to 22 different respiratory illnesses so if you are symptomatic and you are sick then we’ll be able to tell you what’s going on with you.”At Garnet Healthcare next to Burlington International Airport, you have the benefit of receiving those extra details and speedy results. “For people who are traveling that are sick right now and want to have that answer, we can have results to you that same day,” Nault said.Otherwise, Vermont continues to offer free testing at state testing sites. Free COVID-19 tests are also available at many chain pharmacies. With more people getting tested ahead of the holidays, it’s a good idea to make an appointment no matter where you go.
There are many ways you can get tested before seeing family and friends for the holidays. You can visit a state site, health care partner, pharmacy, or even buy an at-home rapid test. For the latter, the trick is getting your hands on an at-home test in the first place.
“It’s not even just that there isn’t enough supply to meet the demand, it’s that there’s almost no supply to meet the demand,” said Ryan Quinn, a pharmacist at Lakeside Pharmacy.
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At Lakeside Pharmacy in Burlington, COVID-19 antigen tests have been hard to come by.
“Today was the first time that I’ve had COVID tests in stock in a couple weeks, and even then when I was excited and saw that we could order them, I was capped out at ordering two,” Quinn said.
On Thursday, Quinn was excited to get two rapid tests in stock. They sold within 10 minutes.
“It’s not even just that there isn’t enough supply to meet the demand, it’s that there’s almost no supply to meet the demand just cause I can’t get any in stock and many places can’t,” Quinn said.
In Vermont, some commercial insurers are now required to fully cover the cost of at-home tests. According to Mike Pieciak with the Department of Financial Regulation, those insurers include Blue Cross, MVP, Signa and VEHI. The state estimates that the emergency rule, announced on Tuesday, includes about 140,000 Vermonters.
“We’ve been working to secure thousands of rapid at-home tests. My team has been working with suppliers and the federal governmet to make sure we have a steady supply because we want to have tens of thousands of these available at no charge to Vermonters,” Gov. Phil Scott said.
Right now, you must submit the purchase of an at-home test to your insurance company. In the coming weeks, Pieciak says there will be no up-front cost at the pharmacy. In the meantime, the Scott administration is asking for patience until supply can keep up with demand.
If you can’t find an at-home test there are other rapid testing options, but they may cost you.
“So the rapid antigen test is $150. The PCR test is $250,” said Norm Nault, deputy director of operations at Garnet Healthcare. “With that PCR test, you’re not only getting a positive or negative for COVID, but we’re now giving up to 22 different respiratory illnesses so if you are symptomatic and you are sick then we’ll be able to tell you what’s going on with you.”
At Garnet Healthcare next to Burlington International Airport, you have the benefit of receiving those extra details and speedy results.
“For people who are traveling that are sick right now and want to have that answer, we can have results to you that same day,” Nault said.
Otherwise, Vermont continues to offer free testing at state testing sites. Free COVID-19 tests are also available at many chain pharmacies. With more people getting tested ahead of the holidays, it’s a good idea to make an appointment no matter where you go.
