Free in-home Covid test Kits

[KlangFool]

[Online ordering started January 18, 2022, see below. -- admin LadyGeek]

Folks,

Is this real or a scam?

https://www.covidtests.gov/
<< Free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests
Every home in the U.S. can soon order #44 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests will be completely free—there are no shipping costs and you don’t need to enter a credit card number.

Ordering begins January 19>>

Thanks in advance.

KlangFool

[Cobra Commander]

Yep,its legit and at some point in the near future your insurance has to cover several home tests per month. Not sure how the details on that are being worked out regarding billing codes, etc. You will probably need to submit for reimbursement for a while until things get set up.

[JHU ALmuni]

Real.

[UpperNwGuy]

We've had free covid test kits here in Washington DC for several weeks now. We can pick them up at the public libraries. They're quite popular.

[rob]

Real - here is my recent thread that had some good info posted....

[KlangFool]

Folks,

Thanks for the information.

KlangFool

[Flyer24]

Topic moved to Personal Consumer Issues.

[KlangFool]

Topic moved to Personal Consumer Issues.

Thanks.

KlangFool

[obafgkm]

Folks,

Is this real or a scam?

https://www.covidtests.gov/

It’s unlikely that a “.gov” website would be a scam. I think the government learned its lesson (somewhat) after annualcreditreport.com was not immediately obviously a legitimate website.

[Katietsu]

To clarify:

There are two parts to the program to provide at home Covid tests:
1) Beginning January 18, each household can order 4 free tests to be sent to their home. It is 4 test’s regardless of number of people. Covidtests.gov

2) Beginning January 15, private insurance must cover up to 8 tests per month per individual. If you have 4 family members on your plan that could be up to 32 tests. There are a couple different ways that the insurance company can meet this obligation. Please check with your insurance company for details.

Also note that Medicare was excluded from the requirement to provide tests or reimbursement. This includes Medicare Advantage plans. For example, a 64 year old worker covered by a BCBS plan will be reimbursed for test kits but a 65 year old BCBS Medicare Advantage retiree will not. The Medicare covered individual can apply of January 19 for the 4 free kits though.

[LadyGeek]

I removed an interchange regarding the need for testing. The discussion was getting derailed. As a reminder, see: Please read before posting on coronavirus/COVID-19

Please stay on-topic.

- Free kits shipped to you: COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests

- To get reimbursed: How to get your At-Home Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Test for Free, from CMS.gov

[TLC]

The site is now live and taking orders.

[JoeRetire]

The site is now live and taking orders.

Nope.

[rbd789]

The site is now live and taking orders.

Careful!

Someone has put up a .org site, which is not the real one. The real .gov site is now taking orders.

[LAguy818]

Yep,its legit and at some point in the near future your insurance has to cover several home tests per month. Not sure how the details on that are being worked out regarding billing codes, etc. You will probably need to submit for reimbursement for a while until things get set up.

This just started effective Jan 15. You can claim up to 8 tests (or 4 boxes of 2 tests) per person per month. You can file a claim with your prescription insurance administrator (in the prescription box on your medical ID card).

[bgreader253]

I just placed an order on https://www.covidtests.gov/
It transferred you to the USPS website. Looks legit since I got a confirmation from USPS. Will be shipped late January.

[thriftynick]

Does anyone know how long these last before they expire?

[colddeadfish]

Does anyone know how long these last before they expire?

I got some from the state in Colorado a few months ago and they expire in March so I would guess they are good for about 6 months max.

[thriftynick]

I got some from the state in Colorado a few months ago and they expire in March so I would guess they are good for about 6 months max.

Thank you!

[bob60014]

Surprised the official site is up n running today, ordered w/ no issues.

[natures]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

[LadyGeek]

I removed an off-topic comment. As a reminder, see: Politics and Religion

In order to avoid the inevitable frictions that arise from these topics, political or religious posts and comments are prohibited. The only exceptions to this rule are:

• Common religious expressions such as sending your prayers to an ailing member.
• Usage of factual and non-derogatory political labels when necessary to the discussion at hand.
• Discussions about enacted laws or regulations that affect the individual investor. Note that discussions of proposed legislation are prohibited.
• Proposed regulations that are directly related to investing may be discussed if and when they are published for public comments.

[anon_investor]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

Is this different than the covidtests.gov 4 test limit?

[ModifiedDuration]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

Is this different than the covidtests.gov 4 test limit?

When you go to the covid test.gov website, it sends you to the usps site to order.

So, it’s the same thing.

[Stinky]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

Just ordered our tests. No problems.

In my view, the government made a wise choice to apparently hang a new function into the existing usps.com website. I expect they were able to move faster than if they had set up an entirely new website.

[TLC]

The site is now live and taking orders.

Nope.

What do you mean? It was up then and I placed an order.

[Mel Lindauer]

The site is now live and taking orders.

Nope.

What do you mean? It was up then and I placed an order.

Yep, it's up and running and I placed my order about an hour or so ago.

[anon_investor]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

Is this different than the covidtests.gov 4 test limit?

When to go to the covid test.gov website, it sends you to the usps site to order.

So, it’s the same thing.

Thanks. Earlier in the day the covidtest.gov website was not taking orders yet. Now it makes sense.

[JoeRetire]

The site is now live and taking orders.

Nope.

What do you mean? It was up then and I placed an order.

It means I checked when I saw your post and it wasn't up for me at that time. It is now.
Clearly, the rollout across the country wasn't instantaneous. No surprise there.

[simplesimon]

My health insurance's website says they will make a form available for reimbursement starting tomorrow for rapid test kits ordered 1/15 or after. If you bought some over the last couple of days, save your receipts and check your insurance website!

[YeahBuddy]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get reimbursed for previous tests purchased?

Edit - looks like it's insurer dependent? per above reply

[ClevrChico]

In case anyone is interested, here is the link to the USPS site:

https://special.usps.com/testkits

Worked and ordered! Thanks!

[Candor]

Ordered mine earlier and it was a smooth and quick process.

[simplesimon]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get reimbursed for previous tests purchased?

Edit - looks like it's insurer dependent? per above reply

Yes check with your insurer. For mine it is for tests purchased on 1/15 or later.

[agbp]

I put in an order successfully a couple of hours ago and got a confirmation email from USPS.

[Candor]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get reimbursed for previous tests purchased?

Edit - looks like it's insurer dependent? per above reply

Yes check with your insurer. For mine it is for tests purchased on 1/15 or later.

I believe private insurance companies are required to cover up to 8 at-home tests per person per month after the 15th.

[mikep]

I tried to order, but said there already was an order to my address and canceled? Maybe not ready for prime time yet.

[ResearchMed]

I tried to order, but said there already was an order to my address and canceled? Maybe not ready for prime time yet.

Does someone else live with you? Perhaps they already placed an order?
At this time, it's "one order per address".

ETA: To clarify it's one order, of 4 tests, per address at this time.

RM

[LadyGeek]

Order placed. I'm still waiting for the confirmation email.

Here's the online ordering FAQ: At-Home COVID-19 Tests, from USPS.com

[quantAndHold]

My confirmation email went into the Promotions tab on my gmail app. So you might have to look for it.

[JD2775]

My confirmation email went into the Promotions tab on my gmail app. So you might have to look for it.

same here

[LadyGeek]

Thanks. I didn't wait long enough and just got the email. It's from noreply@email-special.usps.com.

[mikep]

I tried to order, but said there already was an order to my address and canceled? Maybe not ready for prime time yet.

Does someone else live with you? Perhaps they already placed an order?
At this time, it's "one order per address".

ETA: To clarify it's one order, of 4 tests, per address at this time.

RM

No. Hopefully we will still get some anyway if they think we already ordered.

[colddeadfish]

I tried to order, but said there already was an order to my address and canceled? Maybe not ready for prime time yet.

Does someone else live with you? Perhaps they already placed an order?
At this time, it's "one order per address".

ETA: To clarify it's one order, of 4 tests, per address at this time.

RM

No. Hopefully we will still get some anyway if they think we already ordered.

I am reading that if you live in an apartment you need to put the unit # in the first line and street address in the second line. The system is reading the information as having already been submitted. I haven't tried it.

[jebmke]

I placed the order around noon and no ack; who knows. Taking orders is always easier than fulfilling them.

[sizzlefuzz]

Ordered! Glad to see this is happening.

[GerryL]

Ordered as soon as I saw a post on FB. I figured it would be less busy than tomorrow, when people are expecting to be able to order. Confirmation arrived 20-30 minutes later.

As I am a solo, I offered to share my kits with a friend and they could order a little later and share with me. That way maybe we'll be working with two different expiration dates. Maybe.

[ResearchMed]

Which test (or tests?) is being sent out using this free online ordering system (gov and USPS)?

I assume they are non-proctored tests?

Also, it seems that Abbott makes BinaxNOW in a proctored and non-proctored packaging. Are they identical, other than having someone watch to make sure the person is indeed doing their own test?

RM

[mikep]

I tried to order, but said there already was an order to my address and canceled? Maybe not ready for prime time yet.

Does someone else live with you? Perhaps they already placed an order?
At this time, it's "one order per address".

ETA: To clarify it's one order, of 4 tests, per address at this time.

RM

No. Hopefully we will still get some anyway if they think we already ordered.

I am reading that if you live in an apartment you need to put the unit # in the first line and street address in the second line. The system is reading the information as having already been submitted. I haven't tried it.

No apartment here.

[andypanda]

I ordered at 11:30 a.m. and got the confirmation in 2 minutes. I was impressed.