Some Minnesotans Are Now Owed A Refund For Overpriced COVID Tests

Think back to the height of the pandemic, when a quick COVID-19 test could stand between you and a flight, a family visit, or simply peace of mind.

Demand was sky-high, testing sites popped up fast, and most of us paid whatever was asked without stopping to question the bill. As it turns out, some of those bills are now coming back around, and this time the money is heading in the other direction.

A multistate settlement means a number of Minnesota residents could be owed a refund.

What GS Labs Was Accused Of Doing

The settlement centers on GS Labs, an Omaha-based company that ran drive-up COVID-19 testing sites across the country, including in the Twin Cities area.

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According to the Attorney General's Office, investigators in 18 states alleged the company overcharged patients, tacked on unlawful administrative fees, and failed to deliver test results within the promised window.

Reports indicate GS Labs sometimes advertised cash prices as high as $380 per test, or close to $1,000 for multi-panel tests, prices used to justify billing insured patients far above the going rate.

The company has denied the allegations and agreed to the settlement to close a years-long investigation rather than as an admission of wrongdoing. Either way, the result is the same for consumers: there is money on the table.

Minnesotans Are Part Of The $4.87 Million Deal

Sources indicate the total settlement comes to $4.87 million across all 18 states, with Minnesota's share landing at $442,847.50 in restitution.

Attorney General Keith Ellison, who co-led the coalition, didn't mince words, calling the company a "pandemic profiteer" that deceived Minnesotans about the out-of-pocket costs they would face.

That's a meaningful chunk of change headed back to real people, many of whom probably forgot all about a test they paid for three or four years ago.

How To See If You Qualify

Three groups of consumers may be eligible: those who paid out of pocket above the market rate for a test, those who paid for results that never arrived within the advertised turnaround time, and anyone charged an administrative fee by GS Labs.

To find out where you stand, you'll need to complete a short verification process online.

• Where to go: Visit the GS Labs Testing Refund Page to fill out the online verification form.
• What you need: You will need your Account ID, full name, and email address (which should have been provided to you in a refund notification).
• Support: If you need assistance or have questions, you can reach the call center at 844-263-9994

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The Attorney General's Office notes that any information used to confirm your identity is used only for that purpose and won't be saved, stored, or shared. Once you submit, GS Labs follows up by email with the next steps.

GS Labs ran eight drive-up testing sites across the Twin Cities metro, so if you tested down in the cities during a visit or while passing through, it's worth a look. Those locations were:

• Shakopee
• Eagan
• Minnetonka
• Mall of America (Bloomington)
• Blaine
• Maplewood
• Woodbury
• Burnsville

One important note: payments are being processed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you check, the better. There's no promise of a specific dollar amount, and eligibility runs through the company's verification system, but a few minutes of your time could put a forgotten pandemic expense back in your pocket.