Covid-19 At-Home Test Information
When the pandemic first hit in 2020, the information for free Covid-19 testing was difficult to find. RPCV Health Crusade did what we could with gathering and posting a set of free Covid-19 test sites. We tried to make sure there were options for every US state, territory, district, and tribal location. And now there are Covid-19 At-Home Tests available to test safely from home.
But where do you get them? How much do they cost? We dug through an assortment of websites and resources to find those gold nuggets of information. We organized what we found to share with the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) community and beyond. We also found some alarms and shared those too. As usual, this is an effort from a group of volunteer RPCVs. You should always confirm any and all information before relying on it.
Order Free Covid-19 At-Home Tests from the Government Online
Since January 2022, the Biden-Harris administration provided an option to get free Covid-19 at-home tests. Regardless of the number of people in the home, you can only order a maximum of 4 tests per household address. But now, you can sign up to receive another set of free Covid-19 at-home tests.
If you are Blind or have Low Vision and need an accessible Covid-19 home test, take a look at the information we gathered about the accessible Covid-19 tests.
Insurance Covers Purchased Covid-19 At-Home Tests
The Biden-Harris administration has also required private insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of at-home covid-19 tests. If you have health insurance, you can get the Covid-19 home tests free if purchased at a store or pharmacy or reimbursed as a claim to your plan. Be sure to confirm this with your insurance company.
Be Cautious of Covid-19 Scams and Unauthorized Tests
The FDA has approved certain at-home covid tests but issued warnings for others. Just because you can buy it online or in a store does not mean that the FDA has authorized it for distribution or use in the United States. So before purchasing a test, check this list of FDA approved At-Home OTC Covid-19 Diagnostic Tests.
And if you experience issues with your Covid-19 test’s performance or with the results, the FDA encourages you to report the problem through the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.
Also, be on the lookout for Covid-19 test price gouging. There are always people who look for opportunities to profit from the struggles of others. Once upon a time, the White House partnered with certain retailers to sell the test at cost. Hopefully that arrangement can be re-established soon to encourage not discourage people from being safely tested at home.
And no one from the federal government will call, text, or email you to ask for your private information to “help” you order free test kits. Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.