FAQs about COVID-19

Answers to common questions about testing and vaccines.

Last updated: May 30, 2023

COVID-19 symptoms or testing

If you are short of breath, go to the emergency room. For other symptoms, you can visit the website of the Centers for Disease control (If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone | CDC) to learn more about the steps to take or call your doctor. Please note that during COVID-19 surges, we may experience long hold times and will do our best to assist as quickly as we can.

You may call your physician’s office to schedule an appointment or go to this link to find a walk-in testing site near you.

If you test positive for COVID but don’t have symptoms

  • The current CDC guidance recommends isolating yourself by staying home for 5 days. If you still have no symptoms after 5 days, you can leave your house, but should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 more days. If you develop symptoms during that time, stay home and speak to your provider.

If you are a health care worker

  • You should contact your employer for additional guidance.

Click here to review current CDC guidance for isolation and precautions to follow if you’ve been exposed.

Health plans regulated by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) must cover COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and treatment from any licensed provider (in- or out-of-network) with no prior authorization or enrollee cost-sharing through November 11, 2023. Enrollee cost-sharing includes co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, or other enrollee out-of-pocket costs not including health plan premiums.

After November 11, 2023, enrollees can continue to access COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatment with no prior authorization or cost sharing when they access these services through their health plan’s network.

Health plan enrollees have the right to eight free over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 tests a month. View the DMHC COVID-19 Fact Sheet for more information and resources for health plan enrollees, and contact your health plan for details.

At-home testing kits are also available for sale on our Optum store.

These treatments are only given to people who have symptoms of COVID-19, and who also have additional medical conditions (more info here) that put them at high risk for serious COVID illness. If you meet those criteria, contact your clinician for medical advice.

COVID-19 vaccines

For California COVID-19 vaccine FAQs click here.

The vaccine can lower your chances of getting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been tested in clinical trials. It was approved because it can greatly lower the chances of getting COVID-19. Even if you do get COVID-19, experts believe that the vaccine will help protect you, so you don’t get really sick. Your body will be ready to fight the virus.

All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible.

There are several different vaccines on the market. The number of shots required depend on which one you get and your eligibility status.

For a complete listing of our COVID-19 vaccine FAQs click here.