Get free COVID-19 test kits through health insurance, Medicare or local health clinics. Katie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. Unlike some complicated government applications, ordering free tests from the Postal Service is simple. All orders will be shipped via First Class Package Service. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. It takes less than two minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests ship in about a week or two. At that time, the White House said that it would reserve a supply of COVID-19 tests for the winter season, and it's now shipping tests again. Click Check. All rights reserved. Please make a selection before continuing. 0:58. USPS reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. The Post Office has shipped 737 million free COVID tests since the program started. "In the absence of Congress providing additional funding for the nation's COVID-19 response, the administration has acted with its limited existing funding to add more at-home COVID-19 tests to the nation's stockpile and support this round of ordering ahead of continued increases in COVID-19 cases," the White House said in a statement. But that program could end soon, as the federal government has announced anend to the three-year-long public health emergency. 18 years of editorial experience with a current focus on personal finance, end to the three-year-long public health emergency, expiration date on your test kit might be wrong, According to the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced, also eligible to receive eight free tests a month, search for a local health center or clinic with free COVID-19 tests near you, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Try calling the helpline at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). The estimated delivery date of her four home tests is Friday, February 17th - one month after placing her order on January 18th. Participants can either receive their eight free tests a month from provider-based pharmacies or be reimbursed by their provider for up to $12 for each test they purchase. Major pharmacy chains originally required customers with insurance to pay for tests upfront and get reimbursed, but some have now shifted to a model where most customers with insurance cards can get eight tests per month at no cost. If you follow a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser's address bar. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause. One of those scams was 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle, which touted a proven business model and told Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. 9303 3000 0000 0000 0000 00, Global Express Guaranteed than the tracking website had . 18 years of editorial experience with a current focus on personal finance, end to the three-year-long public health emergency, expiration date on your test kit might be wrong, According to the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced, also eligible to receive eight free tests a month, search for a local health center or clinic with free COVID-19 tests near you, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. For more on COVID-19, learn why the expiration date on your test kit might be wrong. So maybe you'd be testing at two days," Ezike said. As part of the Biden administration'sNational COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Department of Health and Human Services has providedmillions of free COVID-19 teststo community health centers and Medicare-certified rural health clinics. Once you place your order, you should receive a confirmation email. Below, find out how to request new COVID-19 tests, track your order and learn about other places to get free test kits. The Biden administration says the procedures will differ from insurer to insurer, and it is encouraging Americans to save receipts from rapid test purchases for later reimbursement and to reach out to their insurance providers for information. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. The tests are completely free. The ideal temperature to store rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits is between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. All rights reserved, Indiana State Trooper Struck and Killed by Suspect During Police Chase, Chicago FOP Lodge Reelects John Catanzara as President, emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Chicago Suburb Lands on List of Happiest Places to Live,' Another Midwest City Makes Top 10, Stomach Bug Cases Surging, Sending People to Emergency Rooms in Chicago Area, Chicago-Area Counties Under Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings. You can thentrack your orderwith your tracking number. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. People who can't access the website or who have trouble ordering online can call800-232-0233to order their free tests. In January, theBiden administration declaredthat health insurance companies would be required to cover at-home tests. The Post Office has shipped 737 million free COVID tests since the program started. Some on social media reported receiving their tests in the mail already by Tuesday while others received emailed delivery updates saying their orders were expected to arrive later this week. Now, the Biden administration plans to add at-home coronavirus tests into the national strategic stockpile so they can be sent out rapidly in case of a future surge. People have the option of buying tests at a store or online, then seeking reimbursement from their health insurance provider. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake. Major pharmacy chains originally required customers with insurance to pay for tests upfront and get reimbursed, but some have now shifted to a model where most customers with insurance cards can get eight tests per month at no cost. The White House has requested $22.5 billion in additional funding from Congress, part of which would go to purchasing rapid tests, both to keep the industry viable and to fill the nation's strategic reserves. When your package ships, you'll receive email notifications providing you with shipping updates, including a tracking number and estimated delivery date. Once your order ships, a tracking number will be assigned and it will appear in yourorder information. The file or page you requested could not be found. Jan. 21, 2022 at 9:25 a.m. Click Check. More than half of U.S. households ordered tests in January and February. Beginning last weekend, private insurers are required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home rapid tests per month per insured person, according to a new Biden administration rule. How does the free COVID-19 test program from USPS work? "In the absence of Congress providing additional funding for the nation's COVID-19 response, the administration has acted with its limited existing funding to add more at-home COVID-19 tests to the nation's stockpile and support this round of ordering ahead of continued increases in COVID-19 cases," the White House said in a statement. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO GET A TEST KIT FOR FREE? So Biden committed the government to buy 1 billion tests to distribute. Along with the four free tests from the Postal Service, you have a few options for finding similar at-home tests for free. There are no shipping costs, and you dont have to give a credit card number. USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline: 888-363-7462. Have you heard about it? Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. Peter managed reviews and listings for Download.com during the 2000s, and is passionate about software and no-nonsense advice for creators, consumers and investors. If you would like to place an order for the following items, please see below. The CDC states that anyone who may have been exposed to someone with COVID should test five days after their exposure, or as soon as symptoms occur. In January 2022, President Joe Biden announced the . If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. In cases where infected people show symptoms or not, testing is the only way to find out if they have the virus so they can avoid being out and about and potentially spreading disease. The GOP wants to know where previous relief went. In January 2022, President Joe Biden announced the . You only need to give a name and address. There are several reasons a package may not be eligible for Delivery Instructions. The Biden administration says the procedures will differ from insurer to insurer, and it is encouraging Americans to save receipts from rapid test purchases for later reimbursement and to reach out to their insurance providers for information. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. "If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate," Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, previously said. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. Americans can order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government at COVIDtests.gov to be shipped to their homes, the White House said on Monday. . Medicare was not initially included in the plan to distribute free COVID-19 tests, but in April theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcedthat participants with Plan B or those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans arealso eligible to receive eight free tests a month. Treat a positive as a positive, stay home and isolate for five days. 1. Subscribe to consumer alerts from the FTC to get updates delivered right to your email inbox. The link you followed may be expired or broken. BothWalgreensandCVSallow customers with insurance cards to order COVID-19 tests for free on their websites. The United States Postal Service is proud to fulfill its mission of service to the nation by delivering COVID test kits as a part of this important public health initiative of the Biden administration, said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Following that timeline, if. 9270 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 An official website of the United States government. Insurers are not expected to retroactively reimburse the cost of tests purchased earlier. For more on COVID-19, learn why the expiration date on your test kit might be wrong. 82 000 000 00, Priority Mail Express International Those with public health insurance through Medicare, or without insurance, will be directed to covidtests.gov to order tests or to community health centers in their area offering free testing. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. You can also get there viacovidtests.gov. In 2022, the US Postal Service delivered millions of free COVID-19 tests -- up to 16 tests per household -- but the program was halted in September last year due to lack of funding. In January, theBiden administration declaredthat health insurance companies would be required to cover at-home tests. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It has options for using the helpline in multiple languages, including Spanish. People can place those orders through the website, COVIDTests . pic.twitter.com/3E3FKd3OEu. If a package qualifies for the USPS Delivery Instructions service, you can tell USPS where to leave a package at your address, send it to a different address, or send it to your Post Office. hide caption. The government says that a phone number will be set up, so that residents can order their tests via the phone, but it is not known when that service will be available. For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the.