Whereas in most countries on earth it costs the testee nothing directly.
It's free if the government requires you to do so though.
Fyi, phun intended because it's cheap
I will look up the 5€ one later, didn't saw your message before
I do actually agree with charge though, such as 5€. The point isn't to charge a "you're paying for the test" amount, but more of a "please don't come asking to be tested every day" amount.
The US though is has two main problems that make any sort of charge ridiculous:
First, there is a larger-than-normal section of the population that apparently believes the entire pandemic is a "giant hoax", and _most likely_ won't get tested anyways. Any charge at all would be s further hinderence
Second, and most importantly, the US medical system has lost all trust when there is any charge whatsoever (such as in the related article), but more to the point, the system has lost all trust when there is any possible way that they could actually bill you.
In the US I don't care if you tell me that something is going to be $5, or $50; if there is _any cost at all_, which means that _they have some way of billing me_, I have to operate on the assumption that I will at some point get mailed a bill for X thousands of dollars.
At least that particular issue could be avoided by making it a cash transaction.
In Los Angeles, there are free testing sites, and it is easy to find people who get tested so they can go to a big birthday party, then get tested again after the party. Each test costing the state >$100 and probably preventing someone in more need from getting a test.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Families_First_Coronavirus_Res...
The one insurance representative quoted in the article said they would cover the cost of the test.
This article is more about providers billing for things that aren't the test.