Different insurance policies including Medicaid and Medicare usually provide coverage for some STIs. Some people like to visit their doctor or go to a sexual health clinic for conducting STI test while others want to do at-home tests. According to a survey, home testing kits are there and they may probably contribute to high rates of testing as well as treatment.
Individuals have different options to perform STI testing and these include:
Doctor’s office
The health care providers have different facilities to conduct screening for sexually transmitted diseases. According to past history and examination results, the health professional will collect samples by means of blood or urine samples and swabs.
Some clinics may test for the sample on-site and others will send the samples to the laboratory. People may expect to get the results within a few days to one week. Depending on the test results, the doctors will be prescribing antiviral medications or antibiotics.
But seeing a doctor for STI screening as well as treatment seem to be costly. This can range somewhere between £250-665 without any health insurance coverage. People need to check for their insurance coverage and co-pays first before seeing the doctor.
Community clinics and city health centers
Some community clinics or city health centers may provide different testing services. Many will be offering both walk-in services and appointment facility.
Other than free testing and treatment for different STIs, the health centers will offer pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP which is a preventative measure for HIV. They may even provide counselling, family planning and free condoms for the protection from STI.
Urgent care centers
Different urgent care centers provide discreet, immediate diagnosis as well as treatment for the individuals who do not want to visit primary care provider. But
some centers do not have diagnostic testing or laboratory facilities.
Urgent care doctors give the right medications but when STI has progressed beyond what the prescription medication may treat, it will be necessary for the individuals to go for a follow up with the health care providers.
Most insurance companies will offer coverage for urgent care visits but individuals will have to pay a deductible often.
Retailers and pharmacies
Several pharmacies and retailers sell home-test kits for different STIs. But an individual need to know about different STIs they check for before buying.
Some pharmacy chains and grocery have low-cost health centers that may offer test for STDs. Like at-home tests, the kits need to test for a restricted range of STIs only.
At-home tests and lab-based tests
Different providers enable people to select whether to purchase at-home test kits or fix an appointment online to conduct a test in person. On the other hand, other providers enable a person to do specific tests from a wide range of tests available on the website.
The insurance providers do not provide coverage for at-home test kits but most of them accept payments or flexible savings account (FSA).
Samples taken from at-home tests need to conduct same analysis like laboratory tests which should be accurate. So, it is necessary to follow the instructions carefully and know how to collect the samples.
Local Planned Parenthood health center
Planned Parenthood health centers provide STI testing and get government reimbursements as well as grants from public programs. So, people may conduct STI testing as well as treatment free of cost as per their income, eligibility and demographics.
Others
Students need to enroll at the universities for visiting student health centers for STI tests. Most cities have LBGTQ+ community centers which may help with STI testing.
The reproductive health centers may provide community-based STI screenings as well as other reproductive health services to the people from low-income houses, migrants, people who do not have insurance policy, people who stay in rural areas, people from marginalized groups and others.
Different tests a doctor can conduct only
Most STI tests need a blood swab or urine sample only and do not require the assistance of a health professional only. But a healthcare professional should carry out a Pap smear which can check for human papillomavirus or HPV. This can ensure the accuracy as well as safety of the test. When a person has some symptoms such as lesions, sores or warts, you can visit a walk in std clinic in London to speak with the doctor.
Though individuals may order for most tests online or purchase them in stores, some will need the order of a doctor and authorise for a laboratory test.
