Anyone do a PCR test at Walgreens recently?

[Disneygirlxo91]

Has anyone gotten a PCR test done at Walgreens lately in FL - it says on their website it is free but I also just read somewhere you have to pay $129?

 

[OKW Lover]

We live in FL and have used Walgreens twice for pre-cruise testing. We were not charged.

 

[happycamper47]

Has anyone gotten a PCR test done at Walgreens lately in FL - it says on their website it is free but I also just read somewhere you have to pay $129?

The RAPID PCR is what they usually charge for. The standard PCR is usually covered by insurance, but results take up to 24 hrs.

 

[Disneygirlxo91]

We live in FL and have used Walgreens twice for pre-cruise testing. We were not charged.

Thank you - did you do the standard PCR test?

 

[OKW Lover]

We did the Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID Now).

 

[SnappySerape]

I've used Walgreens for my three cruises in Nov/Dec and I wasn't charged either. This was also the ID NOW test.

 

[KatieKepic]

We took my niece to get the Rapid ID Now at Walgreens in Sebastian, FL on 2/12 and we weren't charged.

 

[dreynolds1982]

I just did a lab PCR at a Walgreens but have also done the ID NOW rapid and a rapid antigen. They asked for my insurance but I didn't have to pay anything. Since I never got an EOB in my insurance I'm guessing they don't actually turn anything in.

 

[TestingH2O]

We just tested at Walgreens over the weekend. We tested on Saturday and had our results yesterday, Monday. No charge.

ETA - We are in Missouri.

 

[randumb0]

$129 is probably the list price if you want to pay out of pocket or for when/if the government stops picking up the tab

 

[Bluemystique]

PCR testing (send off or ID now) is currently free at Walgreens. It was government funded for all of 2020 and then around Dec 2020 Walgreens discussed starting to charge patients the $129 per test if it was for reasons other then suspected COVID-19 infections (i.e. flight requirements.) Then some time around early 2021 I guess government funding got extended because they never made mention of charging anyone since then.

 

[lolomarie]

Is this for US residents only? We’re Canadian, can we access this? Also, does DCL accept the ID test. I haven’t heard of this test.

 

[StarSeven7]

Is this for US residents only? We’re Canadian, can we access this? Also, does DCL accept the ID test. I haven’t heard of this test.

Yes, Canadians can take advantage of it but you need to enter a US address. You can use your hotel room. We've used Walgreens test once to return to Canada. The ID Now test is a PCR test so it should be fine I would think. We just used a rapid PCR test to return to Canada yesterday (we took that test at Meijer though, not Walgreens this time).

 

[lolomarie]

Yes, Canadians can take advantage of it but you need to enter a US address. You can use your hotel room. We've used Walgreens test once to return to Canada. The ID Now test is a PCR test so it should be fine I would think. We just used a rapid PCR test to return to Canada yesterday (we took that test at Meijer though, not Walgreens this time).

Thanks so much for this information. Was Meijer free as well?

 

[StarSeven7]

Thanks so much for this information. Was Meijer free as well?

Yes Meijer was free as well! You can choose the rapid PCR test. You do both Meijer and Walgreens through the pharmacy drive-thru and self-swab. If you do Walgreens, they require you to put in your drivers license number - just pick a state and put in your Canadian drivers license number and it will accept it.

 

[emilymad]

Is ID Now a PCR test?

 

[lilsonicfan]

Is ID Now a PCR test?

The ID-NOW test is a NAAT test, meaning it is a molecular test similar to PCR, but as I understand it, not exactly the same as PCR....but more sensitive than rapid antigen testing.

 

[Kwami]

The ID-NOW test is a NAAT test, meaning it is a molecular test similar to PCR, but as I understand it, not exactly the same as PCR....but more sensitive than rapid antigen testing.

The rapid PCR tests that Inspire Diagnostics conducts at the port on behalf of DCL are NAAT. So, NAAT is a type of PCR test.

 

[Intr3pid]

The rapid PCR tests that Inspire Diagnostics conducts at the port on behalf of DCL are NAAT. So, NAAT is a type of PCR test.

It's the other way around. PCR is a type of NAAT. ID Now is also a type of NAAT. They are both NAATs but not the same.

For anyone still unclear about the types of tests, read this post.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/experience-of-testing-positive-at-port.3871617/post-63781830

 

[Kwami]

It's the other way around. PCR is a type of NAAT. ID Now is also a type of NAAT. They are both NAATs but not the same.

For anyone still unclear about the types of tests, read this post.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/experience-of-testing-positive-at-port.3871617/post-63781830

Oh, fair enough. Either way, ID Now is probably fine for most things.