Do not look now, however a winter wave of COVID-19 infections may very well be upon us in mere weeks. A extremely transmissible Omicron variant referred to as XEC is turning into extra prevalent within the US, and new knowledge from the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative suggests we might see 1.3 million COVID infections per day by Dec. 11, 2024.
Should you dwell within the US, you possibly can put together for the upcoming COVID winter wave by ordering free at-home COVID exams from the US Postal Service. Utilizing the COVIDTests.gov web site, US households can as soon as once more order 4 free at-home COVID take a look at kits.
Together with the free exams from USPS, there are nonetheless a couple of different methods of receiving free testing for COVID-19. Learn on to seek out out the methods you possibly can nonetheless get free COVID testing, in addition to how you can get free COVID therapies.
For extra, find out about the at-home flu vaccines authorized by the FDA and how you can inform whether or not your signs are COVID-19, flu or simply allergy symptoms.
How does the USPS free COVID-19 take a look at program work?
In January 2022, President Joe Biden introduced the launch of CovidTests.gov, an internet site the place households might order 4 free speedy antigen COVID-19 exams shipped by the Postal Service. The location added 4 extra free exams in March 2022, eight extra in Might 2022, 4 extra in December 2022 and 4 extra once more in September 2023. This new spherical of shipments additionally contains 4 COVID exams. It isn’t sure whether or not there shall be one other spherical of free exams this winter.
In contrast to some sophisticated authorities purposes, ordering free exams from the Postal Service is straightforward. It take lower than 2 minutes to finish a brief kind asking in your title and mailing handle, and the exams ought to ship in a few week or two. Individuals with out web entry or those that have bother ordering on-line can request exams utilizing a toll-free cellphone quantity: 800-232-0233.
It isn’t clear precisely how lengthy the free COVID-19 exams will final, so it is best to get your order in as early as potential.
How can I order free exams from USPS?
Go to CovidTests.gov after which click on on the blue button studying Order Free At-home Exams, which can take you to the ordering web page. You solely want to offer your title and your handle to order your exams. You may also enter an electronic mail if you wish to obtain delivery notifications. You needn’t present any credit score or debit card particulars — the exams and the delivery are free.
All orders shall be shipped through First Class Package deal Service. Individuals who cannot entry the web site or who’ve bother ordering on-line ought to be capable to name 800-232-0233 to order their free exams.
When will my COVID exams arrive?
Prior to now, free COVID exams from USPS have arrived about two weeks after ordering. The exams are sometimes despatched out inside seven to 12 days and are delivered by USPS inside one to a few days after delivery.
What are my different free COVID-19 testing choices?
Apart from the Postal Service’s program to ship free COVID exams, you could have 5 fundamental avenues to seek out free COVID-19 testing areas throughout the US: HRSA well being facilities, Take a look at to Deal with areas, ICATT testing websites, personal medical health insurance and Medicaid or the Kids’s Well being Insurance coverage Program. These choices operate equally, however we’ll break down the particular steps to seek out your nearest free testing location.
HRSA well being facilities supply free COVID-19 testing
HRSA well being facilities supply free COVID-19 testing.
The Well being Assets and Providers Administration funds well being facilities throughout the US. At these HRSA well being facilities, it is possible for you to to obtain free COVID-19 testing. You need to use HRSA’s locator device to discover a middle close to you.
First, choose the language you want to obtain your leads to. Then merely enter the situation you want to search into the field labeled Location. The locator additionally lets you widen your search radius, so you possibly can see all of the choices your space has to supply.
As soon as you have discovered a middle that works for you, click on by way of to that specific location’s web site and observe their particular directions for acquiring a free COVID-19 take a look at.
Take a look at to Deal with areas have COVID testing and medication
The Take a look at to Deal with program makes COVID testing and therapeutics extra accessible.
Take a look at to Deal with is a federally funded healthcare initiative that gives extra accessible COVID-19 care. This selection differs from the others on this article as you should utilize the Take a look at to Deal with facilities to obtain each COVID testing and remedy for infections. Like the opposite COVID-19 free testing choices, Take a look at to Deal with has a locator device that you should utilize to seek out an eligible Take a look at to Deal with middle close to you.
The Take a look at to Deal with middle locator works like the opposite COVID testing search instruments. Enter your location into the search bar and the device will show Take a look at to Deal with areas in your space. A sliding bar helps you to resize the search radius to seize the entire Take a look at to Deal with facilities inside your space.
Inside the Take a look at to Deal with locator outcomes, you’ll see every location’s handle, which COVID-19 therapeutics they provide and different particular directions you would possibly must know to get examined. If there’s not an choice to schedule a COVID take a look at on-line by way of your chosen web site, you could must name.
Growing Group Entry to Testing offers COVID testing for the uninsured
ICATT gives free testing to uninsured sufferers who’re displaying signs of COVID-19 or who’ve lately been uncovered.
Growing Group Entry to Testing is one other free testing program that you should utilize should you want entry to free COVID-19 testing. ICATT works a bit in another way than the opposite applications on this record.
ICATT is particularly designed for uninsured sufferers who’ve been uncovered to COVID-19 or are experiencing signs of COVID-19. Anybody can get an ICATT take a look at at one of many program’s areas, no matter insurance coverage standing. If you’re uninsured and also you want to be examined at an ICATT-eligible web site, you’ll not must pay in your take a look at. If you’re insured, you would possibly must pay a payment.
The ICATT locator device works identical to the opposite locator instruments free of charge COVID testing — enter your handle or your ZIP code to seek out ICATT areas close to you. There’s a search radius adjuster on this locator to tweak your searches to seize your entire space that you simply wish to search.
As soon as you have discovered a location, observe your testing web site’s steps for scheduling your appointment.
What about free COVID exams from medical health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid?
On Jan. 10, 2022, President Joe Biden introduced that each one medical health insurance corporations can be required by regulation to offer their clients with eight free COVID-19 exams per 30 days. That requirement expired with the finish of the nationwide public well being emergency for COVID-19 on Might 11, 2023.
California regulation nonetheless requires all well being care suppliers to supply eight free at-home COVID-19 exams per 30 days to their clients. Outdoors that state, you will must verify with your individual medical health insurance to be taught its protection coverage for over-the-counter COVID exams.
Medicare typically does not pay for over-the-counter merchandise like COVID-19 take a look at kits, based on the Middle for Medicare and Medicaid Providers. Medicare’s protection of at-home COVID exams ended with the general public well being emergency.
Should you’re enrolled in Medicare Plan B, you continue to have entry to “laboratory-conducted COVID-19 exams” resembling polymerase chain response exams, however you will not be coated for over-the-counter speedy antigen exams. In case you have well being care protection by way of Medicaid or the Kids’s Well being Insurance coverage Program, you can have acquired free at-home COVID exams by way of Sept. 30, 2024.
For extra, be taught how your blood sort might make you extra prone to COVID.
