The US government will restart its program to send free COVID-19 tests to households by the end of September 2024. Each household will be able to order four free at-home test kits through the COVIDTests.gov website. Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, said that as families move indoors and spend time with loved ones, both old and young, they will have the opportunity to order up to four new COVID-19 tests free of charge and have them sent directly to their homes.
Ordering the free tests from the Postal Service is a simple process. It takes less than 2 minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address. The tests should ship within about a week or two.
People without internet access or those who have trouble ordering online can use a toll-free phone number: 800-232-0233. In the past, free COVID tests from USPS have arrived about two weeks after ordering. The tests are typically sent out within seven to 12 days and are delivered by USPS within one to three days after shipping.
Until the Postal Service resumes shipping free COVID tests, there are five main avenues available for free COVID-19 testing across the US:
1. HRSA Health Centers offer free COVID-19 testing funded by the HRSA.
Usps relaunches free covid test shipments
2. Test to Treat Locations provide both COVID testing and treatment. 3.
Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) is specifically designed for uninsured patients exposed to COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms. 4. Health Insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid may still offer access to free tests.
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are also essential for protection against the virus. The Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Bridge Access Program to provide free vaccines to uninsured individuals through local health departments and HRSA centers. More than 20,000 retail pharmacy locations nationwide are also participating in providing free vaccines.
The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months or older receive an updated Covid-19 vaccine this season to stay up to date. Updated Covid-19 vaccines have been designed to target currently circulating variants and are available now at pharmacies across the US. They can be received at the same time as the annual flu vaccine.
