Covid has been surging across the United States the last couple of months due to the Omicron variant. The surge has been causing staffing shortages, manufacturing and shipping delays which has led to a shortage of circulating COVID tests. The Biden Administration has come up with a plan that will allow Americans to get up to eight free at home covid tests a month. Beginning January 19th, Americans will be able to order the free tests on the site Covidtests.gov. The Biden Administration is making one billion free at home covid tests available to the public. Covid tests have been at least partially covered through health insurance since January 16th. Insurance companies will reimburse up to $12 per test if the tests are purchased outside of network. Below are a few more details from CNN Politics:
The program is part of the Biden administration’s effort to increase access to testing around the US. It will also distribute free home tests, which will be available to order starting next Wednesday.
Most Americans with private insurance can buy home tests online or in stores and have them paid for at the time of purchase or get reimbursed by submitting a claim to their insurer. So make sure you save your receipts.
The tests won’t be subject to copays or deductibles.
Insurers may set up a network of preferred stores, pharmacies and online retailers where consumers can receive tests at no cost up front. People could still buy tests outside that network, but insurers would only have to reimburse up to $12 for each one.
Consumers should contact their insurers to find out if they provide direct coverage or if claims must be submitted.
I like this move and feel like it should have been made ages ago. I had to fly out to California last week and normally before I cross state lines, I like to get tested just in case I get sick. I want to be able to trace where I got the virus or at least try to. However, I could not get an appointment for a test for two weeks. I was told by all the testing sites that there was a shortage of tests and personnel to administer them. With Omarion spreading so quickly, public-facing personnel are getting hit the hardest, again.
I like how quickly the Biden administration has responded to the rapidly changing issue of test accessibility and availability. Biden and Harris did not waste time making sure that Americans had access to tests, especially since marginalized groups are being heavily affected by the test shortage. I also think having access to at home tests will increase accessibility for those without cars. It should help keep infected people home somewhat as well. I will order tests starting tomorrow. Seven to 12 days is not a long time to wait. I prefer having some tests on hand so that I am not caught in a precarious situation like I was last week.
Photos credit: Avalon.red and Instar
How long before these tests show up on EBay. I feel like this is gonna be a shit show. Hope I’m wrong.
It says that you can only get 4 tests per residential address, and this program also coincides with insurance companies having to cover 8 free tests per covered individual per month. I think that should reduce the risk of resale price gouging and hoarding. It’s going to happen, but it’s less valuable combined with this insurance policy coming in force.
It isn’t available for those on Medicare even *with* supplemental insurance, also if you’re on Medicaid. You’d think a group that is considered vulnerable would be able to get tests…?
Jan – where did you get the idea that people on Medicare and Medicaid can’t get the free tests? The website doesn’t say that, everybody with a residential address is eligible. I just ordered one myself. No question about anything but my address. It wouldn’t make sense to put such a restriction on it, so they didn’t.
Finally, I live in a country going through tramatic economic destabilization and we’ve had free govt tests for over a year. State health care is so much better than America’s system. I hope this program is successful.
I will be trying to order tests tomorrow. I’m also going to try and order tests using my son’s school address. We had some tests that expired this month and I ordered new tests off of amazon and the new tests expire in March.
finally! My oldest was sick last week (bad cough) and I wanted to get him tested but there were no at-home tests available near me and no testing appointments available for weeks. He felt better after a few days and I have no idea if it was COVID or not. I guess the thing is to act like it’s COVID even if you’re not sure, with staying home etc, but I would still feel better knowing sometimes.
It will feel like a Christmas miracle if the servers can handle the load and the website fully functions. It’s a smart thing that should have been done long ago, so I *hope* this effort will be a success.
Yeah, it was eye-opening to hear from friends and family how hard it is to get a test elsewhere in the country. For all the things I wish the DC government did differently, testing resources have been available from the beginning. Everyday there are public walk-up testing sites in most neighborhoods for PCR tests (walk-up because we’re a city of people who walk a lot…) in addition to the pharmacies. Over the summer, they also started handing out free test-at-home PCR tests at most rec centers and libraries—take the tests with you, administer them when you need them, and drop them in a collection box at the same place you picked them up. And then before the holidays, they started handing out free rapid tests at walk-up sites daily. I know we have a smaller, compact population (but more numerous than two states—DC Statehood!), but clearly this has all been possible with a willing and proactive local government. They’re constantly reporting that our COVID numbers are high, but I actually believe it’s because our testing rates are so high. The rest of the country is probably under-reporting. We all get tested regularly, and there is a functioning government portal for reporting home test results (now required for school children testing).
I’m sorry, “quick”?! It has not seemed quick to me! Other countries have been doing much better with widespread testing. Our healthcare system is a disaster.
7 to 12 days is absolutely a long time to wait if you actually think you’re sick. Great for the people who plan ahead and want to keep a few on hand but waiting a week+ just to get the test is not ideal, especially given that lots of in-person testing sites are at capacity as well.
I was able to visit the site and place my order today. I received a confirmation email with an order number.
the link IS OPEN TODAY: https://www.covidtests.gov/
Just ordered for my whole family
Thank you! Just ordered
Yes, site is live! Happy to have grabbed mine, and made sure my parents ordered theirs, too.