As of today, corona rapid tests are chargeable in the vast majority of cases. What are the fees? And where can interested parties even get tested in the future?
As of today, the costs for corona rapid tests will no longer be borne by the state at a flat rate for all citizens – the time of the so-called “citizen tests” is ending because almost everyone living in Germany can now be offered a free vaccination offer. According to estimates, around 80 percent of the adult population have been vaccinated against the coronavirus so far. For those who have not yet made up their minds, the vaccination offers remain free of charge.
What will corona rapid tests cost in the future?
For a corona rapid test, providers have so far received a fee of 11.50 euros from the state. Some providers will likely stick to this pricing for the time being. Unvaccinated people who want to eat out in a restaurant or visit the fitness studio once a week and need a test for this have to reckon with around 50 euros a month.
Whether even higher costs will be charged in the future depends largely on how the demand for the self-payer tests will develop. There is room for improvement: for rapid tests that were not billed as a “citizen test”, the previous costs varied between 18 and 40 euros. It is definitely worth comparing prices.
So-called corona self-tests for home use are cheaper. They sometimes cost well under five euros each and can be bought in supermarkets and drug stores. However: access to indoor rooms in which “3G” (vaccinated, recovered, tested) applies, is not possible with a test that was done alone at home. It is therefore only suitable for people who want to know whether they may have been infected with the coronavirus.
The costs for very precise PCR tests are still covered – provided the test was ordered by the health department or a doctor. For example, patients with typical corona symptoms do not have to pay anything for a test if the doctor recommends it for medical reasons. The same applies to contact persons of confirmed Covid-19 patients who had to go into quarantine.
Where is further testing carried out?
The demand for the citizen tests has recently decreased significantly – providers have closed the first test centers. It is to be expected that this development will continue with the end of the free tests. However: There are still many test options. The German Pharmacists’ Association, for example, lists pharmacies in the vicinity that continue to offer rapid tests. In addition, medical practices offer test options that vary depending on capacity.
