TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin 3 approved/1 declined

Four of us went for our Abbot ID NOW tests yesterday to an AFC Urgent Care Walk-In clinic. It was one of the few options where we could get appointments. Cost was $160 per person. Filled out the EHAS form and submitted them. Three come back with pre-approval and one back being denied and stating:

Your EHAS application has been denied due to: Your antigen test is not within the 48 hour time frame.

We depart from Boston Saturday at 8am and took the tests within the 72 hour time frame giving us some leeway in case of flight delays. Knowing the ID NOW was being treated as a PCR test, I thought we were OK. My wife was the only one denied and we have a tentative retest today at another $160! Any suggestions to remedy this without another test is appreciated.

Go to the EHAS site, find the phone number there and call them directly. I wouldn’t fool around retesting until you define the problem they had with the original submission, assuming it was the same as the others in your party.

Or, as was the case the first time this happened to me, we resubmitted the original application and ultimately it was approved. However, there were a few grief filled hours between the second submission and the approval.

Good luck…..

Resubmit.

Go to "contact" on the EHAS page. Give them the details and use the email address for the person whose test was denied. They do a great job responding. Also explain it was the IDNow and that it is a NAAT test which is PCR. Also, immediately resubmit the application.

Resubmit.

Thanks to all above. I've emailed on the contact page of the EHAS form, resubmitted my application, adjusted the retesting time for later (just in case). Will hopefully hear something positive soon.

Good luck.

Please let us know the outcome, let us know what worked, so others with the same problem in the future, know the best avenues for resolution.

Quick question speaking of ID Now. I just wanted to make sure I have this right. I sent an email to EHAS but haven't heard back from them yet. The ID Now test that's given at Walgreen's is considered a PCR test by SXM EHAS, is this correct? I'm trying to figure out if I should get an appointment 72 or 48 hours before I leave. Thanks, I'm sure this has been hashed and rehashed, just looking for confirmation to set my mind at ease. Thank you.

Good luck with the test!!

There is such confusion about the ID Now test.
I called several urgent care places and they either don't have it, or say it is a rapid test and not a PCR.

I booked the old fashion PCR test and will hope for results on time.

ID now is acceptable for the 72hr window.

Wingman and Terri--SXM EHAS has sent emails stating that they consider ID Now a PCR test, so it is a 72 hour timeframe. Terri--ID Now is offered FREE at Walgreen's. You can only make an appointment 3 days in advance, but it is a good choice.

Thank you all so much for your help. That is how I was reading it and just wanted to confirm and put my mind at ease. 1st time back in 2 years now. Have never been away from the island this long. Leaving next Friday.

Terri, see you in a couple of weeks. We leave to come home on Nov 5th. I understand you'll be arriving with Rit a few days before. See you both then at BSV.

Hallelujah!! I completed and resubmitted the EHAS form and within 20 minutes I had the authorization for approval back. I'm not sure if the speedy response had anything to do with the email I sent via the contact page on the EHAS form but I think that it caught their attention. BTW, the phone number I tried several times to contact EHAS (721) 542-1570 with the phone number I had and they never answered. If you are in a similar situation as me, read the above and do all three suggestions: phone call the appropriate #, email "contact" on EHAS page and RESUBMIT. For more detail, see the above helpful info.

Thanks so much everyone. Can't wait to sit on the patio, look at the incredible water with a margarita in hand.

Glad it all worked out for you. Safe travels and enjoy........

Enjoy your trip!

Mike,

So once again we're like ships passing................we arrive on 11/5 on the JB midday flight. One of these years we'll be there to see you, even if only briefly. We'll be checking into #14, possibly as you check out?

Hope the trip was all you wanted it to be and then some and we are both so very happy that this one worked out for you. Lord knows you deserve it to be after the past couple of years.

moontide,

So very happy it all worked out for you in the end. We had approval issues in November of 2020 and again in April of 2021. I know first hand how distressing this can be so I am very happy it all worked out for you.

moontide--GREAT! Go and enjoy!

👍Good for you. Relax and enjoy your trip. Safe travels.

Pat, Thank you so much. We all know the ID NOW test is to be treated as a PCR test. The problem comes when the person reviewing the EHAS form on the other end recognizes this.

Good news Moontide---yes, they should recognize it at EHAS, and also at labs, who you count on for guidance.

Mike see you on the 2nd!!!!


Carol, we have so many places to be tested, but not too many who seem to do the IDNow test, or recognize it,
Walgreens close by, don't do them.
Thanks

Good work on the resubmit....and just for clarification...The ID-Now test is not "considered" a PCR test.....it IS a PCR test

Edit: I just completely read you post and saw that you are in MA (or near BOS).....as we are....and there are a decent number of daily appointments within a reasonable driving distance (Walgree's/CVS) that just need advance planning and an early AM try....and for zero bucks. Maybe you had an outlier day but I check daily and the situation is the same....CVS.(PCR)..10 days in advance with PLENTY of appointments....Walgreen's..PCR ID-Now) .three days in advance with fewer availabilities but still some at almost every location...

Glad you got that dealt with and are good to go.

From your thread title, I thought maybe 3 passed/1 failed the test.

Which is my point, how many people ever get a positive test and have to cancel. If I heard more instances of that I would conclude the time/cost/hastle of the tests are “value added”.

IMHO, it is more a “look right” precaution to ensure throngs of covid positives arent swarming the island.

$160/shot x 4 is $640 that could go to others on island or stay in ones bank account.

Somebody out there has decided not to go due to the extra expense jsut to get on the plane.

My opinion is that $160 for a test that is available for no cost is just not right...

👍for sure.

I questioned the nurse at the urgent care facility when she was describing the test. She stated they had the rapid test and the PCR test. I said I wanted the ID NOW test which she was confused about and offered a PCR test if we wanted. I took a chance and said I wanted the rapid test based on everything on TTOL info. I agree the confusion is crazy and an education in itself trying to figure it out.