More free at-home COVID-19 tests available

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) announced that free-at-home COVID-19 tests are once again available to every American household.

Each household is eligible to order to order four free-at-home tests. Both the tests and shipping are free.

Each order includes four rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates. You can place an order by filling out the form here.

These tests are designed to detect current COVID-19 variants. The HHS noted that many COVID-19 tests show expired dates; the US Food & Drug Administration has extended the expiration date printed on the box. People are encouraged to check the FDA's list of extended expiration dates. A table of these extended dates is available here.

The HHS provided an overview of at-home tests:

• Rapid antigen at-home tests, not PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
• It can be taken at home or other locations. Give results within 30 minutes (no lab drop-off required).
• It can be tested even if you do not have COVID-19 symptoms.
• It can be used for testing whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines or not.
• It is also referred to as self-test or over-the-counter (OTC) tests.

A positive at-home COVID-19 test likely means you have the virus, so follow CDC guidance to prevent spread. If you're at high risk, contact a doctor promptly about treatment options, which are now widely available. COVID-19 therapeutics are typically covered by insurance, but patient assistance programs exist for eligible individuals without insurance to ensure nobody pays full price.

A negative at-home COVID-19 test suggests a lower risk of spreading the virus, but follow your test's instructions for the next steps. Antigen tests provide rapid results and are reliable for positive outcomes, but they're less sensitive than PCR tests, especially in asymptomatic cases. To be sure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends multiple negative antigen tests (two for symptomatic, three for asymptomatic individuals) 48 hours apart or a single PCR test to confirm results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue offering free COVID-19 testing services for uninsured individuals through its Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program until December 31, 2024.

This program has been providing no-cost testing for uninsured people who are asymptomatic or have been exposed to the virus. While the ICATT program previously included free updated COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured adults and those with insurance plans that did not fully cover vaccine costs at in-network providers, this component concluded in August 2024. The CDC emphasizes that although the free vaccine program has ended, free testing services for the uninsured remain available through the end of the year. The agency will provide updates on any potential program extensions beyond this date.

Search for a CDC testing locator near you here.