Home / Health Insurance / Articles / Covid 19 / How to avail COVID-19 Test for Free of Cost in India
Team AckoSept 18, 2023
Testing for COVID-19 is performed to assess if you have contracted the novel Coronavirus which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Laboratory tests can classify and determine the virus that causes the novel Coronavirus in respiratory specimens. In response to the pandemic, the Government of India has decided to make testing and treatment for COVID-19 free at government-designated laboratories.
Contents
To strengthen its resolve against the spread of the virus, the government of India has made testing of novel Coronavirus free at government-approved laboratories all over India and not at private laboratories or hospitals. While it is important to get yourself tested if you have contracted it, not everyone should test since the disease is primarily reportedly found in those with travel history to the affected countries or close contacts with positive cases.
That said if you have symptoms such as cough, fever or difficulty in breathing immediately call the Coronavirus Helpline Numbers for queries or support. You can avail free COVID-19 test by following the below steps:
Step 1: Call the COVID-19 helpline number: +91-11-23978046 or 1075 (Toll-Free) and report your symptoms.
Step 2: If you qualify as a case for COVID-19 testing as per the protocol, then you will be tested at a government-approved lab only.
Step 3: You can avail free of cost COVID-19 tests at laboratories designated by the Government of India; however, if you wish to test and treat yourself in a private hospital, you will have to bear the cost of Coronavirus test.
Also, read: How To Boost Immunity To Fight Coronavirus Via Ayurveda
For those who are not looking to avail COVID-19 tests at the government-designated labs, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for COVID-19 has issued guidelines for testing in private labs in India. The private labs will test only when prescribed by a qualified physician per the ICMR guidelines.
The ICMR has set up a COVID-19 task force which has recommended that the maximum cost for the testing sample should not be more than Rs.4,500. This includes screening tests for suspect cases and confirmation tests. The ICMR has also encouraged private labs to offer free or subsidized COVID-19 testing in this hour of national emergency. It also said that these guidelines will be amended from time to time.
Also read: Corona Kavach Policy
In an effort to embolden its approach to contain the spread of the deadly novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, the Indian Government has decided to make the testing and treatment for COVID-19 free under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Beneficiaries of the Centre’s health assurance scheme will have access to free testing in private labs and access to treatment for COVID-19 at government empanelled hospitals.
Through this initiative, the Government of India has made healthcare accessible to the poor and the underprivileged in the country. Responding to the pandemic, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued a notification to all health insurance providers in the country to cover the hospitalization and treatment of COVID-19.
Also, read: Ways To Remain Healthy During Social Distancing
Below are some of the frequently asked questions about testing and treatment of the Novel Coronavirus:
If it is found as per the protocol that you are being tested for the Novel Coronavirus, then you will be tested only at government-designated labs for free of cost. Also, beneficiaries under the PM-JAY will get free testing and treatment at government-approved hospitals.
Those who like to be tested in private labs, the ICMR has issued a guideline for the novel Coronavirus testing that the maximum cost is capped at Rs.4,500. This includes the 1st screening test which costs Rs.1,500 and the 2nd confirmation test which costs Rs.3,000.
Yes, treatment of novel Coronavirus can be availed free of cost by beneficiaries of the PMJAY scheme.
Upon testing positive for the novel Coronavirus, you need to get yourself admitted at one of the PMJAY empanelled hospitals and avail free treatment upon submitting your PMJAY ecard.
Yes, the test charges are covered under the Centre’s health assurance scheme PMJAY.
Test results of COVID-19 are generally made available within a few hours to 48 hours. There are several government-approved private labs which claim to provide the results in 24hours.
Explore More:
– July 7, 2020
As per data available on Tuesday, 7 July 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has exceeded 7,00,000. The number of deaths associated with the virus has gone beyond 20,000. The total cases are 7,19,665 and the deaths are 20,160. Now, the nation has witnessed more than 20,000 cases in a day for five consecutive days. But there has been an increase in the number of recoveries as well. The number of COVID-19-cured patients is 4,39,947. India’s rate of recovery stands at 61 per cent. The past 24 hours reported more than 15,500 recoveries. The number of active COVID-19 cases in India is 2,59,557. India has become the third worst-affected COVID-19 country with respect to the number of cases by surpassing Russia earlier this week. Confirmed cases in the United States of America are 29,92,350 and in Brazil are 16,26,071.
– July 6, 2020
In the macroeconomic report for June 2020, the Indian Finance Ministry has mentioned that the COVID-19 curve in the country has flattened to an extent. One of the reasons for such flattening is said to be the early containment measures undertaken by the Centre and the State Governments. The report has used the term ‘green shoots’ to describe revival in the economy for May and June. The indicators for such revival have been mentioned as consumption of fuel and electricity, movement of goods throughout the country, and growth in financial transactions in the retail sector. Other points include an increase in e-way bills, railway freight and collection of tolls along with other indicators. However, the report also mentioned that compared to previous year levels, the numbers were less. The report has come on a day when the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has gone beyond 7 lakhs.
– July 1, 2020
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech has developed a vaccine for the deadly novel coronavirus in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV) – Covaxin. The vaccine has got approval for human trials. The virus strain was isolated by NIV and then was transferred to Bharat Biotech to develop the vaccine. After the company submitted the results from preclinical studies, immune response and demonstrating safety, it was granted approval to conduct human trials in Phases 1 and 2. The trails are expected to begin in July this year. The development of the vaccine was accelerated through national regulatory protocols and the results have been encouraging and show high levels of safety and efficacy.
– June 30, 2020
The Madhya Pradesh Government has announced the ‘Kill Corona’ campaign that will begin from the first of July. The campaign involves screening all households in Madhya Pradesh in a fortnight. The ‘Kill Corona’ campaign will begin from Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal. Survey Teams have been created for screening the population and they will also ask about diseases such as Dengue and upload the same on the Sarthak application. Malaria and Diarrhoea are also a part of the list of diseases. The state’s population is around eight crores. The door-to-door campaign aims to cover the entire state including urban and rural areas. Information related to vector-borne diseases will also be asked to provide immediate treatment to those who are affected. To ensure that the campaign is a success, 10,000 teams will cover the state. A single team is expected to cover 100 households in a day.
– May 11, 2020
In an effort to provide complete information about the varied activities initiated by the government to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus or COVID-19 in the state, the Kerala government has launched an interactive health portal. It was launched by the State Health Minister and announced that the portal will be available to the public at all times. It offers details through an interactive dashboard about the primary indicators of the virus. The portal also has a section called “Fish Tank” to involve school children. It also offers the number of patients under isolation and will have a chatbot to interact with people.
– May 4, 2020
The central government has confirmed that there are enough coronavirus testing kits in Hyderabad. The team from the Centre toured the city and informed the central government that there are adequate testing kits available for testing, facilities and PPEs are in place to check the spread of the novel coronavirus in the city. Apart from tracking, the state government is capable of testing patients for COVID-19 and discharging them after following quarantine measures.
– May 3, 2020
India completed 1 million tests to ascertain people infected with the deadly COVID-19 (Coronavirus). This was confirmed when the country witnessed the sharpest ever increase in COVID-19 positive cases. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been attempting to increase testing and the 1 million tests is a milestone by the ICMR. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are found to be more effective in determining if the person has contracted COVID-19 and the 1 million tests is indeed a major milestone in the country’s fight against the spread of the virus.
– April 21, 2020
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) through their Twitter handle issued an advisory stating that hydroxychloroquine is a prescription medicine and should be purchased only with a prescription. The sale and prescription of hydroxychloroquine are totally prohibited without a doctor’s prescription. The ministry also said that people should not consume any medicine without a prescription for coronavirus disease. Through the tweet, the ministry said that it is harmful to consume hydroxychloroquine as it may have severe effects on your health. The medicine is currently approved to be used for patients who have been clinically advised, health care workers who come in close contact with a COVID-19 case and household contacts of positive cases. It also said that adequate quantities of hydroxychloroquine have been already procured.
Disclaimer: *Except for exclusions like maternity benefits, undisclosed diseases, etc. Please check policy wordings for more details. |
**The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions. |
Recent
Articles
PAN Card Fees and Charges 2023: Everything You Should Know.
TeamAcko Oct 3, 2023
Short-Term Life Insurance
TeamAcko Oct 3, 2023
Life Insurance vs Term Insurance in India
TeamAcko Oct 3, 2023
What is Boot Space in Car (2023 Explained)?
TeamAcko Sept 27, 2023
Top 5 Types of Car Insurance Coverage [2023 Guide]
TeamAcko Sept 27, 2023
All Articles
Want to post any comments?
Protect Your Family from COVID-19 with Our Budget-Friendly Health Insurance Plans.
✅ 100% Room Rent Covered* ✅ Zero deductions at claims ✅ 7100+ Cashless Hospitals