How to get your At-Home Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Test for Free

On Jan. 10, 2022, the Biden-Harris administration issued information on how the all Americans will have access to free, at-home, over-the-counter (OTC) COVID tests either through their health insurance carrier or through government sponsored programs.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website (CMS.gov) provides a fairly good summary of the program.

Read all about it from the CMS.gov website

The tabs below will provide more info for everyone (with or without insurance coverage.)

From Covidtests.gov

The Biden-Harris Administration is purchasing 500 million over-the-counter at-home tests to be distributed for free to all Americans who want them, with the initial ordering starting January 19, 2022.

The Covidtests.gov website is where anyone can request up to four (4) at-home tests per address for home delivery—for free.

Visit CovidTests.gov

From Community Health Centers

People without insurance can also get free at-home test from some community health centers. 

In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing up to 50 million free, at-home tests to community health centers and Medicare-certified health clinics for distribution at no cost to patients and community members. The program is intended to ensure COVID-19 tests are made available to populations and settings in need of testing, especially populations at greatest risk from adverse outcomes related to COVID-19. As of December 21, 2021, all Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) -supported health centers (including look-alikes) and Medicare-certified rural health clinics are eligible to participate in the program after completing the on-boarding process. More information about this program is here.

From Community Based Testing Sites

HHS also has established more than 10,000 free community-based pharmacy testing sites around the country.  To respond to the Omicron surge, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are creating surge testing sites in states across the nation.  

Additional information about testing resources for people without insurance are available here: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-care-uninsured-individuals/index.html.

Starting January 15, most people with a health plan can go online, or to a pharmacy or store to purchase an at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at no cost, either through reimbursement or free of charge through their insurance. This applies whether you purchased your health plan on your own or whether you get health insurance through your job.

The test will either be free directly at the point of sale, if your health plan provides for direct coverage, or by reimbursement if you are charged for your test. Be sure to keep your receipt if you need to submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. If your plan has set up a network of preferred providers at which you can obtain a test with no out-of-pocket expense, you can still obtain tests from other retailers outside that network. Insurance companies are required to reimburse you at a rate of up to $12 per individual test (or the cost of the test, if less than $12).

We recommend you contact your health insurance carrier with any questions about the program. A telephone contact number is usually located on your insurance card.

Read all about it from the CMS.gov website

Read the Legal Update 

Agencies Issue Guidance on Coverage of OTC COVID TestsDownload

Matt Richards

COVID RegulationsEmployee BenefitsFor EmployeesNews

Related Posts ...

Comments are disabled.