Federal Government Offers Free COVID-19 Home Testing Kits

Over the past month, President Biden has announced the delivery of free test kits in an effort to combat the COVID-19 spread.

Who provides the Rapid Tests?

In December 2021, President Biden declared that the federal government would offer five hundred million rapid tests for use at home, and starting mid-January 2022, the Biden administration doubled the rapid at-home tests to one billion. President Joe Biden also announced on January 12 that the government would provide 5 million free PCR tests for schools per month.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the rapid test website officially started accepting orders. The federally-monitored website limits each mailing address to four tests and it usually arrives within seven to twelve days through the U.S. Postal Service.

In addition, starting January 15, health insurance companies are now liable for covering eight at-home COVID-19 tests per person every month. COVID-19 kits can be reimbursed up to $12 per test or customers can get free testing from participating in-network pharmacies.

How do I order a Rapid At-Home Test online?

The only thing required to order a rapid test is your name, email, and address…there is no cost! All the rapid tests are free! Here are the steps that you need to follow:

1. First, go to the website covidtests.gov and click Order Free At-Home Tests.

(CovidTests.gov)

2. Second, fill out the Contact Information with your first name, last name, and email address.

(CovidTests.gov)

3. Then, fill out the Shipping Address by entering your name with your mailing address and then you can click Check Out Now.

(CovidTests.gov)

4. Once you click Check Out Now, review your contact information

and shipping address. Make sure everything is correct and click

Place My Order. That’s it!

(CovidTests.gov)

How Does This Benefit You?

In order to reduce the number of people getting sick from COVID-19, it’s important to constantly keep track of our COVID-19 exposure. Frequently taking rapid tests is a great way for students and staff members to keep track of their exposures.

Although the rapid test is not as accurate as the PCR test, it's still an emergency kit that can save people's lives. Moreover, a COVID-19 test kit usually costs about $10 to $25 each with two tests per kit. It’s better to order to take advantage of the free offering by the government ather than buying one.

These free testing kits are a major step toward the eradication of COVID-19. According to the White House, “This program will ensure that Americans have at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available in the weeks and months ahead."