HEALTH
Free at-home COVID tests: How to get them
The federal government will once again allow households to order up to four covid-19 tests as the colder months approach. Here’s how to place your order.
With a new COVID-19 variant, XEC, circulating in most US states, the federal government is announcing that soon, households will be able to order four tests to their home.
When can you begin to order tests?
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), every household in the United States is eligible to request four free home tests. The application for this round of submission began on September 23. To order tests, you must fill out a form with your contact information and address. You can include an email address to receive shipping updates.
The order page warns that some tests may arrive with past expiration dates; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the dates for most approved tests, meaning they are still valid. If you still have tests from last year, you can visit that webpage to check the expiration dates from the last batch that were sent.
Who can get a booster shot this fall?
New vaccines are available for each disease for those looking to protect themselves from COVID-19 and the seasonal flu this year. For those with insurance, the two shots are likely to be covered.
However, for those who are uninsured, it might be best to contact your county’s health department to see if they have a vaccine program where you can get the shots for free or at a significantly reduced price.