Website to order free COVID at-home tests launches
Free at-home COVID test kits may now be ordered on a new federal website.
As part of a program announced by the Biden Administration, rapid tests may be ordered at https://www.covidtests.gov. One request, which will provide four free tests, may be made per address. The tests will be mailed.
“Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days,” the site states. “Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.”
As explained on the website, the at-home COVID-19 tests:
– Are rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR
– Can be taken anywhere
– Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required)
– Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms
– Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
– Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
It is suggested that the tests be performed:
– If you begin having COVID-19 symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell.
– It is at least five days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19.
– When you’re going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
According to a White House press release issued on Jan. 14, the Biden Administration is buying 1 billion tests to expand testing capacity and increase access to free testing. Online ordering for the first half of the purchase was set to begin today, Jan. 19, but the website actually went live for orders on Jan. 18.
In addition, the expanded testing initiative also provides that, as of Jan. 15, private health insurance companies are required to cover at-home COVID-19 tests for free.
This means consumers with private health insurance coverage will be able to get these tests for free,” the White House release states. “Insurance companies and health plans are required to cover eight free at-home tests per covered individual per month. That means a family of four, all on the same plan, would be able to get 32 of these tests covered by their health plan per month. As part of the requirement, the Administration is strongly incentivizing plans and insurers to allow people to get these tests directly through preferred pharmacies or retailers with no out-of-pocket costs, with the plan or insurer covering the cost upfront, eliminating the need for people to submit reimbursement claims.”
An additional 10 million COVID-19 tests also have been made available to schools nationwide each month.