Free COVID Test Website Up And Running

USPS photo

Sonora, CA – Four free at-home COVID-19 rapid test kits are now available to order from the federal government – a day earlier than expected.

The two online options to order the kits through the U.S. Post Office are usps.com/covidtest and covidtests.gov, which also takes you to the USPS website. You can only place one order per residential household, and the four kits will ship for free beginning in late January.

The site’s rollout comes a day before the Biden administration announced it would be available. The administration also stated that a phone number for those without computer or internet access would be made available to order a tests, but that number had not yet been given when this story was posted.

There have already been some problems reported regarding ordering. One involves those living in apartments. With only four kits allowed to a residence, not all of the tenants can get kits. USPS officials say they are working on the issue.

Once an order is placed, you should get a confirmation email. When the package ships, another email will be sent out with shipping information, including a tracking number and estimated delivery date. From there, you can either click the tracking link or copy and paste the tracking number into the USPS website’s tracker.

There are also other ways to get a test. Starting on Jan. 15, private insurers are required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home rapid tests per month per insured person, under a new Biden administration rule. Individuals can either buy tests at a store or online and then get reimbursed. At some point, the administration hopes to develop plans with insurers to cover that out-of-pocket cost to customers. For those with public health insurance through Medicare, or without insurance, tests should be ordered through covidtests.gov or from community health centers in the area offering free testing.