How to Order Free COVID Tests from USPS in 2024

Every U.S. household is eligible for four rapid at-home tests through COVIDtests.gov. As of midday on September 24, a notice on the website still said the reopening would occur “at the end of September.” If so, simply enter your name and home address (or PO Box address) and the U.S. Postal Service will ship the tests to you free of charge.

The unspecified number of tests are available on a first come, first served basis. The website said that both standard tests (presumably nasal swab tests) and more “accessible” tests were available, but did not elaborate on which brands or types of tests were offered.

According to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government has distributed more than 900 million COVID tests through the program since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. When the agency announced last month that testing would be available in the fall, the program had already been suspended since March.

Last year, COVIDtests.gov reopened on September 25, days after the Biden administration announced a $600 million investment in a dozen domestic test manufacturers. They were expected to produce a total of 200 million over-the-counter test kits.

Check the expiration dates of your free COVID tests

Don't be alarmed if the packaging of your tests indicates that they are past their prime. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a searchable database of nearly 50 different home tests that have had their expiration dates extended.

Even if your tests have passed their extended expiration dates, the FDA recommends against use.

“COVID-19 tests and the parts that make them up may deteriorate or break over time,” the FDA website says. “For this reason, expired test kits could result in inaccurate or invalid test results.”

The ASPR assures Americans that this latest batch of free tests will last at least through the end of the year.

Do COVID tests detect the new XEC variant?

Nope. According to ASPR, over-the-counter tests can detect the presence of the coronavirus in your body, regardless of which current variant it comes from. But a home test won't tell you that which You may have a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.

How much do over-the-counter COVID tests cost?

It may take a few weeks for your government-issued COVID tests to arrive. So you'll have to look elsewhere if you need one immediately.

The good news is that testing kits are widely available at retail pharmacies, big box stores and online retailers. Medicare covers the cost of tests purchased over the counter, as do some private insurers. If you do not have health insurance and have symptoms or have come into contact with someone who has COVID, you can visit a nationwide testing site free of charge.

Excess costs vary depending on the brand and number of tests per package. For example, on the CVS website, a single FlowFlex test costs $9.99, while a four-pack of BinaxNOW tests costs $34.99. Amazon sells, among other things, a five-pack of iHealth tests for $44.95 and a pair of Boson tests for $9.98.

More information about COVID-19:

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