Guides
Plain-English guides on STI testing, insurance privacy, and provider tradeoffs. Each page cites primary sources (CDC, USPSTF, HealthCare.gov) and shows the date it was last verified.
Private STD testing without insurance
Free clinics, cash-pay labs, at-home kits, and telehealth — every way to test without using insurance.
Can my parents see my STD test on insurance?
How EOBs work, which states have confidential-communication protections, and how to opt in.
Can my spouse see my STD test on insurance?
HIPAA confidential-communications requests for adult dependents, ERISA caveats, and the cash-pay alternative.
What is an EOB for STD testing?
Plain-English definition: what's on it, when it's sent, the difference from a bill, and how to suppress one for sensitive services.
Cash-pay vs insurance for STI testing privacy
When does paying cash actually buy more privacy than billing insurance? Real cost ranges and a decision framework.
Does insurance cover STI testing?
What ACA Section 2713 actually requires, who qualifies for $0 preventive screening, and what plans are exempt.
What STI tests do I need?
Decision guide grounded in CDC and USPSTF screening recommendations: by age, sex, risk factors, and exposure.
When to test after exposure
Detection windows by infection — when chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis tests become reliable.
Cheapest same-day STD test
Lowest-cost cash-pay options today, plus free public-clinic alternatives. What 'same-day' really means.
Free clinic vs paid lab — which to pick
Honest tradeoffs: cost, speed, clinician interaction, on-site treatment, and records.
STDcheck vs Quest Health vs Labcorp OnDemand
Honest comparison of the three biggest cash-pay providers — pricing, panels, brand, tradeoffs.
Why did I get a bill for preventive STI testing?
ACA says it should typically be $0. Here are the common reasons it isn't, and how to appeal.
At-home vs lab STI test: which is right?
Accuracy, sample types, results timing, and privacy compared side-by-side.
Doxy-PEP for straight people: can you get it?
What CDC formally recommends, what clinicians may prescribe off-label, how to get it, and what it costs.
We add and update guides as CDC/USPSTF guidance and provider pricing change. See methodology for how we rank options and how we make money.