On Wednesday, the US Postal Service mentioned it would begin delivery free COVID exams to houses throughout the nation as soon as once more. The brand new at-home exams are made potential by a $600 million funding from the White Home that features grants for 12 manufacturing corporations that produce the exams.
USPS has been delivery free COVID-19 exams since January 2022 and has beforehand delivered 4 rounds of exams, totaling 20 free exams for every family. This system was halted in September 2022 when it ran out of exams and funding, then restarted in December 2022 and stopped once more after the top of the COVID-19 public well being emergency in Might 2023.
Learn extra: Your expired COVID check kits would possibly nonetheless be good. This is the right way to discover out
The brand new free exams from USPS come at a time when COVID circumstances are rising, and as circumstances proceed to climb this fall, extra persons are occupied with defending themselves and their households. Learn on to study how one can get free exams from USPS and different methods to get free COVID testing, therapy and vaccines.
For extra, here is what to find out about lengthy COVID, and here is the right way to inform if it is COVID, allergy symptoms or one thing else.
How does the USPS free COVID-19 check program work?
In January 2022, President Joe Biden introduced the launch of CovidTests.gov, a web site the place households may order 4 free speedy antigen COVID-19 exams shipped by USPS. The positioning added 4 extra free exams in March 2022, eight extra in Might 2022 after which a ultimate 4 exams final winter. The brand new spherical of shipments will even embody 4 COVID exams.
Not like some sophisticated authorities purposes, ordering free exams from the Postal Service is straightforward. It takes lower than two minutes to finish a brief kind asking on your title and mailing tackle, and the exams ship in a few week or two. Folks with out web entry or those that have hassle ordering on-line can request exams utilizing a toll-free telephone quantity — 800-232-0233.
The USPS will begin accepting orders for this newest spherical of free COVID exams on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023.
How do I order free COVID-19 exams from USPS?
When USPS begins taking orders for COVID-19 exams on Sept. 25, you may solely want to supply just a few bits of knowledge to get your kits. You will not be requested to supply any credit score or debit card particulars, as each the exams and the delivery are free. This is the right way to get your kits as soon as the order course of begins.
1. Go to particular.USPS.com/testkits. You may as well get there through covidtests.gov.
2. Enter your contact particulars and delivery info.
3. Click on Verify Out Now.
4. Confirm that your info is right and choose Place My Order.
All orders will likely be shipped through First Class Bundle Service.
Individuals who cannot entry the web site or who’ve hassle ordering on-line can name 800-232-0233 to order their free exams.
When will my free COVID-19 check kits arrive?
Assessments are sometimes despatched out inside seven to 12 days of an order being efficiently positioned and are delivered by the USPS inside one to 3 days of delivery.
What are my different free COVID-19 testing choices?
Except for the 4 free COVID exams from USPS, there are three principal avenues to search out free COVID-19 testing areas throughout the US: HRSA well being facilities, Take a look at to Deal with areas and ICATT testing websites. These choices operate equally, however we’ll break down the particular steps to search out your nearest free testing location.
HRSA well being facilities provide free COVID-19 testing
HRSA well being facilities provide free COVID-19 testing.
The Well being Assets and Companies 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 should use HRSA’s locator software to discover a middle close to you.
First, choose the language you wish to obtain your leads to. Then merely enter the placement you want to search into the field labeled Location. The locator additionally permits you to widen your search radius, so you may 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 check.
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 well being care initiative that gives extra accessible COVID-19 care. This feature differs from the others on this article as you should use the Take a look at to Deal with facilities to obtain each COVID testing and therapy for infections. Like the opposite COVID-19 free testing choices,Take a look at to Deal with has a locator software that you should use to search out an eligible Take a look at to Deal with Heart 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 software will show Take a look at to Deal with areas in your space. A sliding bar permits you to resize the search radius to seize the entire Take a look at to Deal with facilities inside your space.
Throughout the Take a look at to Deal with locator outcomes, you’ll see every location’s tackle, which COVID-19 therapeutics they provide and different particular directions you would possibly must know to get examined.
Rising Group Entry to Testing gives COVID testing for the uninsured
ICATT affords free testing to uninsured sufferers who’re exhibiting signs of COVID-19 or who’ve just lately been uncovered.
Rising Group Entry to Testing, or ICATT, is one other free testing program that you should use for those who want entry to free COVID-19 testing. Nevertheless, ICATT works a bit otherwise than the opposite applications on this checklist.
ICATT is particularly designed for uninsured sufferers who’ve been uncovered to COVID-19 or are experiencing signs of COVID-19. Nevertheless, anybody can get an ICATT check 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 website, you’ll not must pay on your check. If you’re insured, you would possibly must pay a payment.
The ICATT locator software works identical to the opposite locator instruments at no cost COVID testing — enter your tackle or your ZIP code to search out ICATT areas close to you. There’s a search radius adjuster on this locator to tweak your searches to seize all the space that you just need to search.
As soon as you have discovered a location, observe your testing website’s steps for scheduling your appointment.
How can I get free COVID-19 vaccines and booster pictures?
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are an necessary safety towards contracting or getting critically in poor health from the virus. Because the CDC just lately really useful up to date COVID-19 booster pictures for everybody 6 months or older, you is likely to be questioning the right way to discover free COVID-19 vaccines.
If you do not have insurance coverage or a well being supplier, don’t fret. The Division of Well being & Human Companies (HHS) web site says, “COVID-19 vaccines are 100% free for each particular person dwelling in america.”
On Sept. 14, 2023, the Division of Well being & Human Companies launched the Bridge Entry Program, which can proceed to supply free vaccines to those that are uninsured although native well being departments and HRSA facilities. CDC has additionally partnered with “greater than 20,000 retail pharmacy areas nationwide” to supply free vaccines by modifying the present ICATT program talked about above.
The Bridge Entry Program will finish in December 2024, however till then, you may make sure that you’ll entry free COVID-19 vaccines.
For extra, learn the way your blood kind may make you extra inclined to COVID and every part to know in regards to the up to date COVID-19 boosters.
Correction, Sept. 21, 2023: An earlier model of this story contained incorrect details about the price of vaccines for individuals with out insurance coverage. It has been up to date with details about how individuals can get free vaccines.
