Iām heading to the United States soon. Before departing Taiwan, I need to get a COVID-19 test (within 3 days of my departing flight).
Where in Taipei can I get a COVID-19 test? Should I do it at a foreigner-oriented private clinic or one of the public hospitals? (I qualify for NHI but donāt have a card yet, should I get one ASAP?) How much should I expect it to cost at a private clinic?
My airline carrier pointed me to a site called TrustAssure, which lists options that are all public hospitals (as far as I can tell), such as this one near me.
Update: Answer:
There is an English-language doc here that lists the hospitals that do out-of-pocket COVID-19 tests around Taiwan (not just Taipei). The doc is periodically updated and the old version removed, so if the link is dead, go to this directory page and click the doc that says āDesignated Hospital List for out-of-pocket COVID-19 PCR testingā.
The AITās page on Medical Assistance also contains generally useful information about receiving medical care as a foreigner in Taiwan.
I initially misread this as āforeigner-ownedā so I Googled it out of curiosity. I ended up at AITās list of hospitals and doctors, which looks pretty sound to me
AIT has compiled a list of physicians and dentists in Taiwan for the benefit of the American community. All of the providers on this list speak English
Per the thread @tando linked, there is an English-language doc here that lists the hospitals that do out-of-pocket COVID-19 tests in Taiwan (not just Taipei). The doc is periodically updated and the old version removed, so if the link is dead, go to this directory page and click the doc that says āDesignated Hospital List for out-of-pocket COVID-19 PCR testingā.
The thread has several irrelevant posts before the useful answers so I wanted to create a thread where the useful information is bubbled up to the top.
I also found this Chinese-language site to book a self-paid COVID-19 test. I will poke around on it and see if I can manage to get a booking, will also report back once Iāve actually taken the test on how the process went.
The cost for a test is NT$6,000 if you go with the slow (next-day result) option
Wow. Glad I saw this before returning in a couple of months. I knew we needed it to enter Taiwan, but itās rather ironic to need it to enter the US from Taiwan.
I got mine at Shuang Ho Hospital ā next-day result for 5,800 TWD ā no appointments are needed. Just arrive before 10AM on weekdays. I was in and out in 15 minutes. I highly recommend them.
Antigen testing is much cheaper: 2500-2600 TWD. Unfortunately, itās only available at Tong Yen Hospital in Hsinchu and Landseed Hospital at the Taoyuan Airport.
Jesus. And presumably even more expensive in the US to get one to return. Iāll be doing both this summer. I hope my insurance will cover it, but I doubt it.
I wonder if NHI will cover the COVID test? I qualify for a NHI card since Iāve been here over six months. 6,000 out of pocket is not too bad, but I enjoy navigating Taiwanese bureaucratic processes (some sort of Stockholm syndrome from previous ARC-related experiences I guess) and so Iām going to apply for a card and then ask at a hospital if the test is covered.
