Don’t Pay for a COVID-19 Test, Here’s an Updated List of Testing Locations for Cicero and Berwyn Residents
Image description: A building of a clinic, with the bottom half in red brick and the top half, beige concrete. There is a blue rectangular banner near the top of the building that says in red letters “COVID-19” and in white letters “Testing”. Another blue banner hanging across horizontally on the building reads the say with an addition of “Open 7 Days a Week”.
Exterior of Cermak Immediate care, a private health clinic located on Cermak Rd. that is charging uninsured patients for their COVID-19 tests. April Alonso for Cicero Independiente.
By Abel Rodriguez
With increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines, testing sites in the Cicero and Berwyn area have changed. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even fully vaccinated people should get tested for COVID if they are displaying symptoms or if they have come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.
While testing for COVID in Illinois is supposed to be free, Cermak Immediate Care, a private health clinic located at 5741 W Cermak Rd, has been charging uninsured patients $150 for PCR COVID-19 tests. This comes despite federal law mandating Covid-19 tests be free for insured and uninsured patients. Here is information about what you can do if you have received a bill for a COVID test.
A spokesperson for the Cook County Department of Public Health declined to comment after being alerted about the fee due to it being a “legal issue”.
A spokesperson for the clinic could not be reached in time for publication.
Cicero and Berwyn residents looking to get a free COVID-19 test can visit any of the locations below. If you’d like to talk to us about your experience getting a test or if you know of another location not included here, reach out to us at info@ciceroindependiente.com.
Reminder: People looking to get tested should bring a form of identification to either of these locations.
CVS Pharmacies
Address: 6748 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park, IL 60302 or 7200 West Cermak Road, North Riverside, IL 60546
Hours: By appointment
Phone number: (708) 442-8247
Test result wait time: 1-2 days for PCR test
Things to know before you go: Several CVS pharmacies in the Cicero, Berwyn, and nearby cities offer both standard PCR covid tests, with results available in 1 - 2 days, and Rapid testing at various locations at no cost. They do not offer walk-in or call-in appointments. To schedule a test you can use CVS’ testing website.
Walgreens Pharmacies
Address: 5932 W Cermak Road, Cicero, Il 6080 or 7113 Cermak Road, Berwyn, Il 60402
Hours: By appointment
Phone number: (708) 652-4856
Test result wait time: 1-2 days for PCR test
Things to know before you go: Similar to CVS, Walgreens pharmacies offers Standard PCR and Rapid Antigen Covid-19 testing at no cost and at various locations. However, they do not offer walk-in and call-in appointments. To schedule a test you can use Walgreens testing website.
Prism Health Lab
Address: 1845 S Laramie Ave, Cicero, IL 60804
Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm
Phone number: (800) 325-1812
Test result wait time: 1-2 days for PCR test
Things to know before you go: Prism Health lab offers drive-through testing at its Cicero location and offers PCR Covid tests with results available in 1-2 days. They do not have walking appointments but you can schedule an appointment to get tested by phone or on the Prism website. There is no cost for getting tested.
Access Hawthorne Family Health Center
Address: 3040 S Cicero Ave, Cicero, IL 60804
Hours: Monday - Friday 1 pm - 5 pm
Phone number: (708) 780-9777
Test result wait time: 2-4 days for PCR test
Things to know before you go: Access Hawthorne offers PCR testing at no cost with results available in 2-4 days. Testing is done by appointments that can be scheduled over the phone.
Holy Family Medical Clinic
Address: 6912 Cermak Road, Berwyn, IL 60402
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9:30 am - 6 pm
Phone number: (708) 780-7400
Test result wait time: 2-3 days for PCR test
Things to know before you go: Holy family offers both PCR and Rapid testing at its Berwyn location. Walk-ins are welcome however, it is preferable to schedule a test ahead of time over the phone. There is also a drive-in option at the parking lot located behind the clinic. The clinic also administers COVID vaccines, both tests and vaccines come at no cost for insured or uninsured patients.
Alivio Medical Center
Address: 6447 Cermak Road, Berwyn, IL 60402
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10 am - 6 pm
Saturday 10 am - 1 pm
Phone number: (773) 254-1400
Test result wait time: 3-5 days for PCR tests
Things to know before you go: Alivio offers drive-thru PCR testing at no cost for either insured or uninsured patients. Hours of testing are limited and people looking to get tested must make an appointment online or over the phone in order to schedule a test.
Editors note: As of January 20, 2022, we have removed locations that are currently under investigation. Please note that there have been many complaints of delayed results at the Holy Family Medical Clinic.
Abel Rodriguez is a contributing reporter for Cicero Independiente.
Want to read more stories like this? Consider making a donation to support our work. Your money goes directly towards paying journalists of color to report on local news.
Subscribe
Bringing you news from the 60804
We respect your privacy and will only use your information to send you our latest posts.