COVID-19

INFORMATION

What You Should Know

Most people that get the COVID-19 get a mild or moderate illness and don’t need to go to the hospital.
If you have symptoms search for medical attention immediately as it has been shown that people that receive therapeutic treatment on the early stages of the disease have higher probabilities of recovery.
Monoclonal antibody treatment (MAB) is available in Florida at no cost and without prescription, or referral for people 12 years and older. Check your closest location at Florida Department of Health.
Those who need to go to the hospital and need a ventilator will most likely be left with disabilities from damaged lungs and deconditioning after the intensive care.
People who do not want intensive care should receive comfort care which can be given at home or in a nursing facility.
Many hospitals are not allowing visitors, if you can, bring a smartphone, a laptop, or tablet to communicate with important people.

Testing

A test result is not always a definite answer. There are many results that are false positives, meaning that the result confirms you have the virus or the antibodies when you actually don’t, or false negatives, confirming you are not infected when you actually are.

There are several types of test for the COVID-19 virus:

To detect if you are infected with the virus:

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Diagnostic Test. It takes several days to receive the results, it is done by introducing a nasal swab through the nose.
Rapid Test will provide the results in minutes, although it is less accurate that the diagnostic test.
Antigen Test which detects some proteins which are part of the virus. These proteins can be found in other virus which is why there are many false negatives. Best results are when tested 5 days after having the first symptoms.

To detect if you have been infected with the virus, and thus you carry antibodies:

Antibody Test. This test is faster to analyze, but also less accurate. It takes 1-3 weeks for your body to make the antibodies. Involves a finger prick.

A negative antibody test could mean you were never infected with the virus or that you are currently infected but haven’t yet built up the antibodies, or that these defenses have already faded. A positive test may have mistakenly detected antibodies from another similar-looking virus.

As you can see a test is not always accurate, this is why precautions is the best measure you can take.

If you need a test your best option is to go to your doctor’s office, or if you are uninsured try a local health center. Your city or town may offer a public site, you can check for public sites at your State Department of Health.

How to Prepare

1. Complete an advance directive or living will.

2. Through a health care power of attorney or an advance directive, designate a health care decision maker, also known as a proxy, agent, or health care surrogate – a person who will make medical decisions for you in case you are unable to do so.

Fill out an official form, and give one copy to your decision maker and one for your health care team.

3. Let your loved ones, your decision maker, and your health care team know what matters most to you.

What would be most important to you if you would become seriously ill?
What treatment are you most comfortable with, traditional medicine, alternative medicine, palliative care?
What are you most worried about?
What helps you through difficult times?
If you would become seriously ill, would you prefer to stay home or go to the hospital?
If you would go to the hospital would you like to count with the assistance of a ventilator?

4. Communicate any questions or concerns you would want to review with your family/friend/provider.

COVID-19 Bills

1. Find out which emergency room or urgent care is in your network in case you would need urgent medical care.

Knowing which facility is in your network in advance, can help you avoid unexpected and exorbitant fees from free-standing emergency rooms, hospitals, and urgent cares, especially if they are out-of-network.

2. If you are insured, you shouldn’t pay anything out of pocket for your coronavirus test, including the doctor’s visit.

3. If you are insured there is federal funding given to providers to cover the Covid-19 test, you can ask them about it.

4. If your provider suggests other test, they might not be covered as the Covid-19 tests are, so be sure to know what they are offering, and who is responsible for paying that bill, if you or your insurance.

5. If you are charged with a facility fee, which you can receive even if you go to a drive through or a tent to get tested, send it to your insurance who should cover it under the federal rules that were passed, although this doesn’t applies for out-of-network emergency rooms, and urgent care facility fee’s.