Website for free virus tests is here. How does it work?
President Joe Biden, accompanied by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, speaks concerning the authorities’s COVID-19 response, within the South Court docket Auditorium within the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing on the White Home Campus in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Credit score: AP Picture/Andrew Harnik

Underneath criticism after weeks of shortages, President Joe Biden’s administration is working to make COVID-19 speedy take a look at kits extra accessible and accessible to People by boosting provide and decreasing prices. A brand new federal web site to request free take a look at kits formally launches Wednesday—however was accessible to make use of Tuesday—with the primary shipments going out to U.S. households by the top of the month. As well as, most People are actually capable of get reimbursed for checks that they buy.

Key particulars concerning the new packages:

HOW CAN I REQUEST A FREE TEST?

Free checks could be ordered at covidtests.gov or at usps.com/covidtest. The primary checks will ship by the top of January. The White Home says “checks will usually ship inside 7-12 days of ordering” by means of the U.S. Postal Service. USPS reviews delivery occasions of 1-3 days for its first-class package deal service within the continental United States. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Military Put up Workplace (APO), Fleet Put up Workplace (FPO) and Diplomatic Put up Workplace (DPO) addresses will probably be despatched by means of Precedence Mail.

Importantly, given the delivery and course of occasions, People might want to request the checks effectively earlier than they meet federal tips for requiring a take a look at.

DOES THE WEBSITE WORK?

The White Home emphasised that the web site was in “beta testing” when it made checks accessible for ordering for the primary time on Tuesday. At factors, greater than 750,000 folks have been accessing the web site on the similar time, in keeping with public authorities monitoring information, however it was not instantly identified what number of orders have been positioned.

There have been remoted reviews Tuesday afternoon of points referring to the web site’s handle verification device erroneously imposing the four-per-household cap on residence buildings and different multi-unit dwellings. A spokesperson for the Postal Service stated in an announcement that the error was “occurring in a small proportion of orders.” He stated any person needing help might file a service request at emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry or contact a assist desk at 1-800-ASK-USPS.

WHEN SHOULD I TEST?

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends at-home testing when folks expertise COVID-19 techniques together with fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory signs and muscle aches; 5 days after a possible COVID-19 publicity; or as a part of test-to-stay protocols in colleges and workplaces.

HOW MANY TESTS CAN I ORDER FROM THE WEBSITE?

The White Home says that “to advertise broad entry,” shipments from covidtests.gov will initially be restricted to 4 speedy checks per residential handle, irrespective of the variety of occupants.

IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO GET A TEST KIT FOR FREE?

Beginning on Jan. 15, non-public insurers have been required to cowl the price of as much as eight at-home speedy checks per thirty days per insured individual, underneath a brand new Biden administration rule.

Individuals have the choice of shopping for checks at a retailer or on-line, then looking for reimbursement from their medical insurance supplier. Insurers are being incentivized to work with pharmacies and retailers to develop plans to cowl the price of the checks with no out-of-pocket value to clients, however these packages is not going to be instantly widespread.

These with public medical insurance by means of Medicare, or with out insurance coverage, are being directed to covidtests.gov to order checks or to group well being facilities of their space providing free testing.

HOW WILL I BE REIMBURSED?

The Biden administration says the procedures will differ from insurer to insurer, and it’s encouraging People to avoid wasting receipts from speedy take a look at purchases for later reimbursement and to achieve out to their insurance coverage suppliers for data.

Critically, the requirement solely covers purchases on or after Jan. 15. Insurers should not anticipated to retroactively reimburse the price of checks bought earlier.

WHAT ARE OTHER TESTING OPTIONS?

The Biden administration is emphasizing that the web site is only one device for People to entry COVID-19 testing. Thousands and thousands of free checks can be found at taking part pharmacy areas, group well being facilities and Federal Emergency Administration Company-backed websites in some components of the nation experiencing a surge in instances.

WHICH HOME TEST WILL I GET?

That can differ. The federal authorities has secured greater than 420 million checks for distribution by means of covidtests.gov already, with plans to extend the order to 1 billion checks within the coming weeks. The entire checks equipped will probably be approved by the Meals and Drug Administration and are able to detecting the more-transmissible omicron variant of COVID-19, which is the dominant pressure within the U.S. Whereas they’re packaged in a different way and will use barely completely different procedures, officers stated, the take a look at mechanisms of detection and effectiveness are usually the identical. All checks will include detailed directions.

WHY IS BIDEN BUYING THESE TEST KITS?

It represents an acknowledgement by the president that the administration must do extra to extend entry to COVID-19 testing, which is a vital device to assist gradual the unfold of the coronavirus.

In instances the place contaminated folks present signs or not, testing is the one solution to discover out if they’ve the virus to allow them to keep away from being out and about and doubtlessly spreading illness.

Demand for take a look at kits soared as the vacations neared and other people grew keen to check themselves and their households earlier than touring and because the omicron variant unfold quickly in just some weeks to change into the dominant pressure within the U.S.

Biden’s promise of 1 billion take a look at kits is along with the administration’s earlier pledge to ship 50 million speedy checks to group well being facilities throughout the nation.

HOW MUCH WILL THE PROGRAM COST?

The White Home estimates the price of buying and distributing the primary 500 million checks at about $4 billion. That will probably be paid for with cash from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid invoice Biden signed into regulation in March.

WILL THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM MAKE IT HARDER FOR ME TO FIND A TEST AT THE DRUGSTORE?

White Home officers say the covidtests.gov checks are coming from new manufacturing capability and shouldn’t intrude with present provides that drugstores, well being clinics and state governments are counting on.


Web site without cost virus checks is coming. How will it work?


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