Free COVID-19 Tests Return for Fall 2024: How to Obtain Yours

As new cases of a COVID-19 variant rise in the United States, the federal government is reintroducing the program to provide free at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans. Starting later this month, individuals and households can again place their orders for these test kits, which comes in response to a recent surge in summer COVID-19 cases.

This initiative was previously implemented by the Biden Administration last fall, after a temporary suspension aimed at conserving test supplies. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not announced the specific date when residents will be able to start ordering their at-home tests again through the COVIDTests.gov website.

Once orders are placed, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver the test kits directly to the homes of those who ordered them.

When the ordering process resumes, each U.S. household will have the opportunity to request up to four test kits. These over-the-counter tests are designed to detect current variants of COVID-19 and will be available for use until the end of the year. According to HHS, the test kits are expected to be delivered in time for the holiday season, when families traditionally gather for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other festive occasions.

HHS emphasizes the importance of testing for COVID-19, encouraging individuals who test positive to seek medical treatment and to take preventive measures such as self-isolating or wearing a mask to prevent further transmission. To date, the federal program has successfully distributed over 900 million tests to households across the nation.

Purchasing COVID-19 test kits can be expensive for families, especially when they buy them directly from drugstores. For instance, a pack of two BinaxNow COVID-19 antigen self-tests from Abbott is priced at $18.99 on CVS.com, making them out of reach for some families.

In addition to the testing initiative, the government is also ramping up vaccination efforts. Residents are being strongly encouraged to receive the updated COVID-19 booster shot, especially as the fall and winter months approach, which are typically associated with increased respiratory illnesses. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated vaccine formulations from Pfizer and Moderna, which are now being offered at pharmacies nationwide.