How you can Order Free COVID Tests From Government Website

The federal government website where you may order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests and get them shipped to your step is now live and available to make use of.

Starting today, Jan. 18, you may visit a recent website run by the federal government, COVIDtests.gov, and order reserve free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will deliver them to your house, also free of charge. The web site was scheduled to officially launch on Jan. 19, but it surely is up and running and accepting orders sooner or later early.

This system is an element of President Biden’s efforts to acquire and distribute 1 billion at-home coronavirus tests to the American public for gratis. To this point, the White House has obtained contracts for 420 million tests and “tens of tens of millions” are able to ship immediately, senior officials said in a background phone call to reporters Jan. 14, ahead of the web site’s official launch.

How you can order free at-home coronavirus tests from the federal government

Here’s how you can get your free at-home COVID-19 tests:

Visit COVIDtests.gov, the official federal government website for this system.
Press the “order free at-home tests” button, which can forward you to a separate site run by the USPS to position your order.
Input your name and residential address that will probably be used for shipping.
Follow the prompts to position your order, which incorporates 4 tests per address.
OPTIONAL: Put in your email address to trace the shipment of the tests.

Folks who’ve difficulty accessing the web or the web site can order the tests by calling 1-800-232-0233, a toll-free number shared by Vaccines.gov.

“At-home COVID-19 tests will ship free starting in late January. USPS will only send one set of 4 free tests to valid residential addresses,” states an order confirmation message from the USPS. “We’re unable to process duplicate orders for a similar address.”

Once your order is confirmed, the White House says the USPS will ship your tests in seven to 12 days via first-class mail. Senior officials said they expect the shipment time to cut back as this system ramps up.

“Every website launch comes with risks,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press conference Tuesday. “We will’t guarantee there won’t be a bug or two, but the most effective tech teams across the administration and the Postal Service are working hard to make this a hit.”

FAQs about free at-home COVID-19 tests

What form of free COVID-19 tests can be found delivery?

The White House says the tests are at-home rapid tests which were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration. The precise brands aren’t clear, however the administration says the tests will only be rapid antigen tests, that are also called over-the-counter (OTC) or self tests or at-home tests. PCR tests, which require samples to be shipped to labs for results, aren’t an element of this system.

How long will it take for the tests to deliver?

Orders will ship between seven and 12 days, in keeping with White House estimates.

Exact delivery time frames may vary. The USPS’s website says first-class mail typically delivers inside five business days. And that could be along with the shipment processing time.

What number of at-home tests can I get free of charge?

The present order limit is 4 per residential address. That number is no matter how many individuals live in your house. The order limit is currently on the primary 500 billion tests. The Biden administration is within the strategy of procuring one other 500 billion, and officials have indicated the four-per-household limit could also be revisited as more tests can be found.

Do I want medical health insurance?

No. The tests available through COVIDtests.gov can be found to anyone with a residential shipping address within the U.S. and its territories. No proof of residency or insurance is required to position an order.

I used to be capable of order my tests before Jan. 19. Was this a glitch?

Psaki on Tuesday acknowledged the web site was live and accepting orders before the official launch of COVIDtests.gov and special.usps.com/testkits as a part of a beta test. Orders placed through the beta testing period will probably be honored.

How else can I get free at-home COVID-19 tests?

Along with the 4 free tests available through COVIDtests.gov, the White House announced a free at-home testing program for individuals with private medical health insurance.

As of Jan. 15, private insurers are required to cover the fee of at-home tests, either by covering the prices upfront at pharmacies and retailers — much like how prescription programs already work — or by reimbursing you the fee for tests that you simply paid for out-of-pocket.

Moreover, several states have been distributing their stockpiles of at-home tests through local libraries and community centers. In-person testing can also be available free of charge at greater than 20,000 testing centers or pop-up FEMA sites, in keeping with the White House.

UPDATE: This story was updated on Thursday, Jan. 20, with more details on ordering tests over the phone.