Essential Workers:

Asymptomatic essential workers, as currently defined by the DMHC, may request to either go through Kaiser Permanente to receive a test or choose to receive a test at a licensed, independent facility and we will provide reimbursement for the cost of the test. No physician referral is required. As we receive notice of further regulations or changes, we will update our guidelines appropriately.

How do I know if I’m an “essential worker” for purposes of COVID-19 testing coverage?

New state emergency regulations describe who are “essential workers” for purposes of coverage of COVID-19 testing.

You are an “essential worker” if you:

  • work in a correctional facility;
  • work in a congregate care facility (e.g., a residential care facility for the elderly or a shelter for people experiencing homelessness); or,
  • provide care in the home to an elderly person or a person with a disability.

You are an “essential worker” if you work in one of the sectors listed below and regularly have contact with the public or with people who may have or been exposed to COVID-19:

  • health care (e.g., hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, health care providers’ offices, health care clinics, pharmacies, blood banks, dialysis centers, hospices, home health);
  • emergency services (e.g., police and public safety departments, fire departments, emergency service response operations);
  • public transportation (e.g., public transit, passenger rail service, passenger ferry service, public airports, commercial airlines);
  • food service (e.g., grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, grocery or meal delivery services); or,
  • education (e.g., childcare establishments, pre-kindergarten programs, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities).

Finally, you are an “essential worker” if you work in one of the sectors listed below and have frequent interactions with the public or can’t regularly maintain at least six feet of space from other workers:

  • retail;
  • manufacturing;
  • agriculture (e.g., harvesting sites or facilities, packing facilities, slaughter facilities); or,
  • food manufacturing (e.g., food production and processing facilities, food packing facilities.


I have COVID-19 symptoms and want to get tested:

Looking for COVID-19 care options and COVID-19 testing?

Start an e-visit

To make an appointment, call 1-833-574-2273 (TTY 711). If you meet testing guidelines, we’ll give you instructions on what to do next.

  • E-visit: If you believe you have COVID-19, please complete an e-visit. Select “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Concerns” and answer questions about your symptoms to get care guidance and any necessary prescriptions. If you don’t already have an online account, you’ll need to register on kp.org to do an e-visit.
  • COVID-19 assessment: If you think you have COVID-19 but don’t have a kp.org account or are not a Kaiser Permanente member, please complete our COVID-19 assessment for further advice on getting care.

Phone or video visit: Schedule a phone or video visit by signing into the Kaiser Permanente app or kp.org. You can also call our 24/7 advice line at 1-833-574-2273

Getting reimbursed for COVID-19 testing:

Diagnostic and antibody testing at Kaiser Permanente are available at no cost to members. If you decide to get tested at an outside lab, you’ll need to pay for your test, but you can file a claim form for reimbursement. Please note that Kaiser Permanente will cover the cost of testing only if it was conducted by a licensed provider.

Here’s how to file a claim:

  1. Above click “Submit a claim.”
  2. Choose “Claim forms, English, Spanish or Chinese” click the PDF to download.
  3. Fill out the form and then mail it to the address listed on the form.

CALIFORNIA – SCAL
Claim Address
P.O. Box 7004
Downey, CA 90242-7004
Member Services
1-800-464-4000

Remember that if you get tested outside of Kaiser Permanente, your results aren’t shared with your doctor’s office. Email a scanned copy of your test results to your Kaiser Permanente doctor’s office so we can update your medical record:

  1. Go to kp.org and create a new message.
  2. Use one of the following subject lines based on what test you got. For diagnostic testing, use “COV19 outside lab report.” For antibody testing, use “COV19 Antibody Test outside lab report.”
  3. Click on the “Attach an image” link at the bottom of the message to add your scanned report. The report should include your name and at least one other personal identifier, like your date of birth.

Please follow the instructions you get with your test result about isolation and physical distancing. If you need care guidance, call our 24/7 advice line.