COVID-19 Testing in Buncombe County

Testing is widely available at urgent cares, federally qualified health centers, and through some primary care providers for those who need it.

If you DO NOT HAVE a healthcare provider who offers testing for COVID-19 and you need to get tested, there are several ways to find testing near you.
Visit the Find My Testing Place website to find a clinic or pop up testing site near you.
People in Buncombe County can access testing by completing the Buncombe County Self-Checker online. If you need testing, you can set up an appointment at one of the county’s open-air, drive-through sites. People can also call the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm., Monday – Friday to be pre-screened for testing at these sites. A Ready Team member will call you within 2 business days to schedule your appointment.
You can call the Buncombe County nurse line at (828) 250-5300 to find out where you can get tested (Press OPTION #1 to speak with a nurse) from 8 am to 5:30 pm.

COVID-19 Testing Sites in Buncombe County

Visit buncombeready.org for the testing site calendar. Testing happening this week at the Talbert Parking Lot, Buncombe County Sports Park, the City Planning Department and AB Tech. See the calendar by going to https://www.buncombecounty.org/testing

Paying for COVID-19 Testing

New laws require most health insurance plans to fully pay for COVID testing when there is a medical reason for the test (such as having symptoms or contact with someone with COVID). If you do not have insurance, some clinics may use a government program to pay for the cost of your test. Other clinics may offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details. COVID-19 testing and treatment will not affect immigration applications or public charge status.

COVID-19 Testing and Treatment Covered For Those Without Insurance
People who are uninsured can get tested and treated for coronavirus at no cost. If a person does not have health insurance at the time of COVID-19 testing or treatment, providers can file a claim in order to receive reimbursement from the government. For more information, go to www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=18996

Buncombe County COVID-19 Call Center

The Ready Team call center is focused on connecting people to testing, addressing concerns about public health guidance and most recent Stay Safe orders, and answering a variety of questions related to COVID-19. For more information, please visit www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=18592

Testing is suggested for:

Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
Anyone (with or without symptoms) who is a close contact of a known positive case
Anyone (with or without symptoms) in the following groups who believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19:
- Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
- Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
- Historically marginalized populations
- Healthcare workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
- Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, child care workers, construction workers, food processing plant workers, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain
- People who attended mass gatherings (protests, marches, rallies, funerals, parties, cookouts, etc.), particularly if they were in crowds or other situations where they couldn’t practice effective social distancing