spot shortages of the tests. “It’s not always available at every pharmacy that you go in and want to buy it,” Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases notes.
Before running out to the pharmacy, you might want to first call your doctor’s office or community health center to see if they have any rapid tests on hand, Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer for the National Association of County and City Health Officials suggests.
“If you are a patient at a community health center or a rural health center, your best bet is going to be to contact your provider, and those tests should be available at those centers,” Freeman says.
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How do I get one of the free COVID tests from the federal government?
You can go to covidtests.gov to order free tests. The White House also opened up a phone line (1-800-232-0233) to order tests. The website says there will be no shipping costs, and people won’t need to provide a credit card number to file an order.
There’s a limit of four tests per household. The tests are expected to ship within seven to 12 days of your order.
The U.S. Postal Service plans to use up to 7,000 temporary workers to ship the test kits, many of them holiday workers being held over for the new project, Reuters reports. Still, demand may have peaked by the time tests are delivered.
What if I’m on Medicare or Medicaid?
Traditional Medicare is not currently paying for over-the-counter home COVID tests except at community health centers. However, it does cover COVID testing performed in a lab, if your doctor orders the test. Folks with a Medicare Advantage plan should see if their private insurer will cover the cost of a home test.
Medicaid already covers home tests at no cost, as does the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Check with your state for more information.
What if I don’t have health insurance?
Uninsured folks might be able to get free home tests from their community or rural health center, Freeman says. The Department of Health and Human Services is providing up to 50 million free tests to health centers and Medicare-certified health clinics, CNN reports.
You also should check with your local health department, to see if test kits are being handed out elsewhere in your community. For example, “there are libraries, at least in my area, that have been distributing free tests as well,” Freeman notes.