Free COVID-19 tests now available via USPS, HHS: How to order them

Oct 24, 2024

Free at-home COVID-19 tests are now available for families across the nation.

As of Thursday, families are now able to obtain up to four free COVID-19 tests through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) while supplies last.

The push for free at-home tests comes after the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Bridge Access Program, a public-partnership that was intended to help “maintain access to free COVID-19 vaccines for adults who are underinsured or uninsured through their local pharmacies, the existing public health infrastructure, and their local health centers.” The program covered all vaccines (BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax) and ended in August 2024.

“Reopening this popular program is the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are available to all who want them this fall and winter,” Dawn O’Connell, HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response said in a statement.

The free at-home test giveaway comes after a rise in positive COVID-19 tests, and as flu activity begins to spark in October.

“Before you visit with your family and friends this holiday season, take a quick test and help keep them safe from COVID-19,” O’Connell said.

HHS said that since the program began in the winter of 2021 "the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and USPS have distributed more than 900 million tests to household across the nation."

The tests will be available to order at COVIDTests.gov. To order tests that are more accessible for people with disabilities, visit ACL.gov/AccessibleTests.

Here is what you need to know about the free COVID-19 tests.

According to the HHS, the free COVID-19 tests are available now through the end of the year. The agency will begin shipping the tests Monday, Sept. 30.

If you are interested in obtaining a free COVID-19 test you can visit COVIDTest.gov or at special.usps.com/testkits to order them.

Those who need at-home tests right away can still purchase them from pharmacies across the U.S.

The HHS advises individuals to check with local retailers and pharmacies to see where at-home tests are for sale.

Low-cost or no-cost tests may also be available to people who are uninsured. To find a COVID-19 testing site near you, contact a HRSA-funded health center or ICATT location to schedule with pharmacies.

A form through the United States Postal Service requires those interested in obtaining the free tests to provide their names and shipping addresses. Emails are optional for individuals who want to receive shipping notificiations.

The at-home tests will be mailed to individuals' residences across the U.S. Shipping is free of cost.

HHS said that the tests will be "more accessible" for people with disabilities that includes improving test technology for people who have difficulty using their hands and people who are blind or have low vision.

In addition, HHS plans to reach marginalized households across the United States.

"These efforts complement ASPR’s ongoing distribution of free COVID-19 tests to long-term care facilities, low-income senior housing, aging and disability networks, and other community organizations to support older adults and people with disabilities living in the community, uninsured individuals, and underserved communities," the HHS release said.

HHS also adds that "more than one billion over-the-counter tests have been provided to date through this community access program."

The tests will be able to detect the dominant COVID-19 variants now circulating, according to the CDC.

The at-home tests typically provide results within 30 minutes or less and can be administered to vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Many COVID-19 tests now have extended expiration dates.

Individuals who test positive should follow the latest CDC guidance to prevent the spread of the virus.

Though positive results are accurate, the HHS warns that negative results don't necessarily rule out a COVID-19 infection. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends two negative antigen tests for people with symptoms or three antigen tests for people without symptoms, each performed 48 hours apart.

The program will begin at a time as COVID-19 is expected to hit its winter peak along with the flu and respiratory virus (RSV.)

COVID-19 cases are dropping throughout the country after a summer wave peaked in early August. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests dropped from 17.8% the week of Aug. 10 to 14.9% the week of Sept. 7, according to the CDC.

However, as of this month, the COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 now accounts for more than half of positive infections in the United States, according to the latest projections from the CDC.

Health officials also expect cases to start to ramp up again around December.

Prior infections or vaccines may give people some degree of immunity or protection, but it doesn't last forever. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine regardless of whether they have ever been vaccinated.

This article has been updated with new information.

Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery, and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads, and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected].