What If You Test Positive Before Return to the US?
Sep 10, 2021, 12:06 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
I ended up going with a budget option (only cost me less than $100 for 15 days) - OneTrip Emergency Medical through Allianz. I only needed evacuation insurance (with covid as a covered reason), so that's probably why it was so low. Plus it had that little bit of aforementioned quarantine daily coverage.
I also looked into Seven Corners which appealed.
I've also seen World Nomads recommended though it didn't match my needs.
Then there's MedJet which will whisk you back home (don't know the pricing) without having to stay at a local hospital first.
There's a lot of info to sort through so good luck!
I also looked into Seven Corners which appealed.
I've also seen World Nomads recommended though it didn't match my needs.
Then there's MedJet which will whisk you back home (don't know the pricing) without having to stay at a local hospital first.
There's a lot of info to sort through so good luck!
If your purpose was to escape 14 day quarantine you wasted your money getting these insurances.
Sep 10, 2021, 12:53 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,839
It is allowed in in the sense that there is no active lying on any legal forms etc. You book a flight to Mexico, the checkin agent at the airport will not actively ask you for a test result so you will not explicitly be lying to get caught.
Similar to lots of things that are allowed due to no enforcement mechanisms. I shouldn't have said "fully allowed", you are right there.
Similar to lots of things that are allowed due to no enforcement mechanisms. I shouldn't have said "fully allowed", you are right there.
1. Just because something isn’t enforced doesn’t make it legal.
2. In many countries not quarantining when known positive is illegal and a criminal breach at that.
You don’t need someone to ask you a question to be
guilty or to “actively lie” on a form.
Sep 10, 2021, 5:18 am
#48
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
So long story short - make sure that you don’t test positive.
Sep 10, 2021, 7:14 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,074
Absolutely none of these insurances will fly you back home merely for testing positive (but overall just having the sniffles or asymptomatic). They will fly you to the nearest local hospital able to treat you if medically necessary as confirmed by a doctor (e.g. to get a ventilator not available where you are, they'll fly you to nearest hospital with a ventilator).
If your purpose was to escape 14 day quarantine you wasted your money getting these insurances.
If your purpose was to escape 14 day quarantine you wasted your money getting these insurances.
The was not the purpose for me, but thanks for your comment.
Sep 10, 2021, 8:34 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,440
Sep 10, 2021, 9:01 am
#51
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: United States (mostly), New Zealand (sometimes), Sweden (now and then)
Posts: 868
PCR tests are not prone to false positives, despite what's on Facebook, experts say
Last edited by DrinkSlinger; Sep 10, 2021 at 9:09 am
Sep 14, 2021, 7:20 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
I really hope the US lifts this requirement for vaxxed travelers (at least vaxxed Americans and permanent residents) soon. I just got back from Europe and thankfully tested negative before returning, but the thought of testing positive was worrying me the entire time. It was such a relief when I tested negative (I took my test like 71 hours before my departure flight).
Sep 14, 2021, 12:55 pm
#53
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,323
I really hope the US lifts this requirement for vaxxed travelers (at least vaxxed Americans and permanent residents) soon. I just got back from Europe and thankfully tested negative before returning, but the thought of testing positive was worrying me the entire time. It was such a relief when I tested negative (I took my test like 71 hours before my departure flight).
Sep 14, 2021, 1:46 pm
#54
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,546
I disagree with this. Vaccinated travelers can be COVID-positive (and are even more likely to not know it) and shouldn't be on aircraft. I actually like the piece of mind knowing everyone on your returning flight recently tested negative (fully acknowledging that they could have caught COVID in between test & departure). I know it's a pain but many places, particularly in Western Europe, make testing a breeze and no longer inconvenient.
At some point society has to live with COVID, and yes, that means people going out in public and even getting on planes like they do when sick with a flu or cold. Whether we like it or not, people do it. I'm sure everyone here's done it at some point in their life. And if you're fully vaxxed against COVID, it really shouldn't be that much of a concern for you.
Sep 14, 2021, 2:51 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
I really hope the US lifts this requirement for vaxxed travelers (at least vaxxed Americans and permanent residents) soon. I just got back from Europe and thankfully tested negative before returning, but the thought of testing positive was worrying me the entire time. It was such a relief when I tested negative (I took my test like 71 hours before my departure flight).
Sep 14, 2021, 3:12 pm
#56
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,323
I agree with you and your post, if the majority are fully vaxxed. You mentioned lifting the US test requirement soon for vaxxed travelers; I'm not there yet. The COVID test requirements are standardized, the vaccinations globally are not. Best to leave the testing requirement in place for all. Just my two cents.
Sep 15, 2021, 5:00 am
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
I would like the what-if information to be posted for international airports. "If you are planning to return to the United States and test positive, then you will be required to stay at the XYZ hotel at a cost of €NNN per night." My wife and I tested negative, but we had no idea (and still don't) what we would have done in Milan if the test had shown positive. And I have friends in Italy now who are wondering the same thing for their upcoming return.
Sep 15, 2021, 10:58 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 845
The hypothetical proposed is that they are asymptomatic and only learn they have the virus because of the travel test. Nobody is proposing to ignore the test, IMO, if you are vaccinated and don't have symptoms, just be careful, no need to hibernate. If symptomatic, then quarantine. Otherwise, if this happens, enjoy a few extra days hiking in Italy, avoid people and return when you can get a negative test.
Sep 15, 2021, 11:04 am
#59
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 845
are most doing the emed test in their hotel? Is this a good one:
Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test with eMed Telehealth Services
Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test with eMed Telehealth Services
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Sep 15, 2021 at 1:52 pm Reason: Font size
Sep 19, 2021, 3:47 pm
#60
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,074
Yes, that is the one to use if you want to test before return to US. Recommend bringing more than 1 test kit per person as some have recently reported a kit or two being defective (missing components, etc)