Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
2 years, 11 months ago

Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday

LA Times  

A worker picks up two at-home COVID-19 test kits to be handed out during a distribution event in Youngstown, Ohio, on Dec. 30. Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. “By requiring private health plans to cover people’s at-home tests, we are further expanding Americans’ ability to get tests for free when they need them.” Biden announced the federal requirement late last year, and it kicks in on Jan. 15, but the administration had been silent until now on details of the plan. Mina Bressler, a mother of two and a therapist in San Mateo, Calif., was able to buy rapid test kits online and shared some with a parent who works in the service industry and doesn’t have time to “sit at her computer every hour refreshing the Walmart page to see when tests are in stock.” “I gave her some and her kids went to school,” Bressler said. “It’s not the most vulnerable people.” Americans on Medicare won’t be able to get tests reimbursed through the federal insurance plan, but Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program plans are required to cover the cost of at-home tests fully.

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History of this topic

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them
2 months, 4 weeks ago

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here’s how to get them

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The website has been reopened on the heels of a summer COVID-19 virus wave and heading into the fall and winter respiratory virus season, with health officials urging Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their yearly flu shot. U.S. regulators approved …

Free COVID tests are back. Here's how to order a test to your home
2 months, 4 weeks ago

Free COVID tests are back. Here's how to order a test to your home

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Americans can once again order …

Here’s why Covid cases are spiking again and how it could affect you
4 months ago

Here’s why Covid cases are spiking again and how it could affect you

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The American Hospital Association said that the 18.1 percent test positivity rate for that week …

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost
4 months ago

Government announces more COVID-19 tests can be ordered through mail for no cost

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September. U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the website, COVIDtests.gov. The announcement also comes as the …

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail
1 year, 1 month ago

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery. The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season. The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that …

More free, at-home Covid-19 tests available for US residents through government
1 year, 1 month ago

More free, at-home Covid-19 tests available for US residents through government

CNN  

CNN — US households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home Covid-19 tests — free of cost — through the government. As of Monday, residential households in the US can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen Covid-19 tests. Residents who haven’t placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will …

US government issues new COVID-19 guidelines for households, free rapid tests
1 year, 2 months ago

US government issues new COVID-19 guidelines for households, free rapid tests

Hindustan Times  

United States has restarted its free Covid test program. As per the latest update, four more free COVID-19 rapid tests per household, can be ordered from the official website of the United States government- COVIDTests.gov. COVID-19 antigen home tests The free COVID-19 rapid tests, are aimed to help uninsured individuals and underserved communities. According to the information available on the …

Free COVID-19 home tests are back for US households, Here's how to order yours online
1 year, 3 months ago

Free COVID-19 home tests are back for US households, Here's how to order yours online

Hindustan Times  

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that it will resume a program that offers free Covid-19 home tests to Americans. The Biden administration has announced that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household. …

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households
1 year, 3 months ago

Biden government to deliver free COVID tests again to US households

Live Mint  

The US Department of Health and Human Services said on September 20 that it will deliver COVID-19 tests for free to households across the country, reported Reuters. The health agency said that starting from September 25, households will again have the option to request four free tests via COVIDTests.gov. The HHS further said that these tests are designed to identify …

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday
1 year, 3 months ago

Covid-19: US households will be able to order more free tests starting Monday

CNN  

CNN — The US government will relaunch a program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans, US Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. Becerra said HHS’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response “has been resupplying our stockpile.” The tests coming available soon are intended for use through the end of 2023 and will include instructions on how …

U.S. announces $600 million to produce COVID tests and will reopen website for orders
1 year, 3 months ago

U.S. announces $600 million to produce COVID tests and will reopen website for orders

LA Times  

The Biden administration is providing $600 million to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is resurrecting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household. The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up …

Free at-home COVID tests end this week for some. Here’s how to stock up
1 year, 7 months ago

Free at-home COVID tests end this week for some. Here’s how to stock up

LA Times  

A federal rule requiring insurers to reimburse policyholders for up to eight at-home COVID tests per month ends Thursday. The expiration of the national COVID-19 public health emergency Thursday will mean the end of free at-home tests for some, though many Californians will still be able to get their hands on screening kits. At the end of the scheduled May …

Covid-19: This state approves pricing of RTPCR, Antigen tests in private centres
1 year, 11 months ago

Covid-19: This state approves pricing of RTPCR, Antigen tests in private centres

Live Mint  

The Uttar Pradesh government on 29 December approved the cost of Covid-19 tests, including the Antigen, and RTPCR tests in private centres in the state. Earlier on Thursday, Union Health Ministry said that all international passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to India will have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR tests before departure and upload …

More free COVID rapid tests are available. Here’s how to get yours
2 years, 7 months ago

More free COVID rapid tests are available. Here’s how to get yours

LA Times  

According to the CDC, rapid tests do a good job detecting COVID-19 in someone who is showing symptoms of the disease, such as a cough, a fever or a sore throat. Response to the administration’s previous offer of free kits wasn’t exactly overwhelming, though — according to the White House, more than 70 million households ordered kits online, out of …

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges
2 years, 7 months ago

Pandemic Gets Tougher to Track as Covid-19 Testing Plunges

News 18  

Testing for Covid-19 has plummeted across the globe, making it much tougher for scientists to track the course of the pandemic and spot new, worrisome viral mutants as they emerge and spread. Were not testing anywhere near where we might need to, said Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, who directs the Duke Global Health Innovation Center at Duke University. Mara Aspinall, managing …

Free Covid tests are set to STAY for over-80s and most vulnerable
2 years, 10 months ago

Free Covid tests are set to STAY for over-80s and most vulnerable

Daily Mail  

Over-80s and the most vulnerable will still be offered free Covid tests after they are scrapped nationwide, it was claimed today. Boris Johnson will unveil his 'living with Covid' strategy later today, with the Prime Minister expected to lay out a timetable for axing public access to lateral flow and PCR swabs. No10's business minister Paul Scully today said the …

Medicare opens up access to free at-home COVID-19 tests
2 years, 10 months ago

Medicare opens up access to free at-home COVID-19 tests

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration, seeking to fill a frustrating gap in coverage for COVID-19 tests, Thursday announced that people with Medicare will be able to get free over-the-counter tests much more easily in the coming weeks. Medicare benefits are governed by a host of arcane laws and regulations, and officials said Thursday they were able to arrange for coverage …

60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests, White House says
2 years, 10 months ago

60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests, White House says

CNN  

CNN — The White House said on Friday some 60 million households have requested free Covid-19 rapid tests so far, with tens of millions tests having “gone out the door” as part of the Biden administration’s program to mail more than half a billion rapid tests to Americans around the country. White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told …

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel
2 years, 10 months ago

Free Covid tests distributed by White House may not be considered valid for travel

Daily Mail  

Dr David Weber, an epidemiologist at UNC-Chapel Hill, said that at-home tests distributed by the Biden administration may not be usable for travel requirements Free home COVID tests funded by Joe Biden will likely not be approved to get around existing travel rules because it is too easy to fake a negative result, a health expert has warned. Dr David …

Seniors are at high risk of COVID, but Medicare doesn't pay for rapid tests
2 years, 11 months ago

Seniors are at high risk of COVID, but Medicare doesn't pay for rapid tests

NPR  

Seniors are at high risk of COVID, but Medicare doesn't pay for rapid tests Enlarge this image toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images What group is especially vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19 even if fully vaccinated and boosted? And who will have an especially tough time getting free at-home COVID tests …

There's now a phone line to order your free at-home COVID tests
2 years, 11 months ago

There's now a phone line to order your free at-home COVID tests

NPR  

There's now a phone line to order your free at-home COVID tests Enlarge this image toggle caption Steven Senne/AP Steven Senne/AP The Biden administration on Friday opened a phone line for people to order free at-home COVID-19 tests. Sponsor Message The website — COVIDtests.gov — began taking at-home test orders on Tuesday and the tests began shipping out Thursday, according …

US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed
2 years, 11 months ago

US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — For the first time, people across the U.S. can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. “The playbook for rapid tests should look exactly like the playbook for vaccines,” said Zoe McLaren, a health economist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. While private companies are now producing more than 250 million at-home …

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist
2 years, 11 months ago

US Begins Offering Free Covid-19 Test Kits, but Doubts Persist

News 18  

For the first time, all Americans can log on to a government website and order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. While private companies are now producing more than 250 million at-home tests per month, that is still not enough to allow most Americans to frequently test themselves. The U.S. would need 2.3 billion tests per month for all teens and adults …

US launches website to provide free at-home COVID tests
2 years, 11 months ago

US launches website to provide free at-home COVID tests

Al Jazeera  

With a new website, launched one day ahead of the official date, Americans can order up to four free test kits per household. People in the United States can now order free COVID-19 test kits online, as the White House moves to boost testing capacity amid a surge in coronavirus infections linked to the Omicron variant. The programme initially will …

5 things to know about ordering free COVID tests
2 years, 11 months ago

5 things to know about ordering free COVID tests

LA Times  

The federal government has created a website to order at-home COVID-19 tests. Here’s what you need to know about ordering at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government’s website: 1. Think a few weeks down the road President Biden announced last month that his administration will push to deliver 500 million at-home tests amid criticism over his pandemic response and strained …

More free rapid COVID tests are coming. Here’s what we know so far
2 years, 11 months ago

More free rapid COVID tests are coming. Here’s what we know so far

LA Times  

Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW is one of at least 14 at-home antigen COVID-19 tests authorized for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration. The Biden administration announced Monday that insurers will be required to cover the cost of rapid home COVID tests for their customers, starting Saturday. People with insurance can also order free test kits from COVIDTests.gov, the administration …

Biden announces new measures to combat Omicron threat
2 years, 11 months ago

Biden announces new measures to combat Omicron threat

Al Jazeera  

US Joe Biden President said that teams of military medical personnel would be dispatched to help six states hard-hit by COVID. United States President Joe Biden announced the doubling of rapid at-home COVID-19 tests and the deployment of medical personnel to six hard-hit states as the nation confronts a surge in Omicron variant cases. Biden also announced that starting next …

Google offers staff pricey fast Covid tests while contract workers have to wait
2 years, 11 months ago

Google offers staff pricey fast Covid tests while contract workers have to wait

Live Mint  

Google offers its full-time employees working from home a supply of high-end instant Covid-19 tests. The Alphabet Inc. company allows U.S. full-time employees and their dependents to request Covid-19 tests from Cue Health Inc., which provide results at home within a few minutes, according to a document reviewed by Bloomberg. Contract workers who must report in-person to Google’s offices receive …

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools
2 years, 11 months ago

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools

NPR  

The White House will distribute 10 million more COVID tests per month to schools Enlarge this image toggle caption Jon Cherry/Getty Images Jon Cherry/Getty Images With schools all over the country struggling to deal with a surge of coronavirus cases from the omicron variant, the White House on Wednesday announced it is increasing the supply of COVID-19 tests for schools …

Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
2 years, 11 months ago

Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. “By requiring private health plans to cover people’s at-home tests, we are further expanding Americans’ ability to get tests for free when they need them.” Biden announced the federal requirement late last year, and it …

How to get insurance to pay for at-home COVID tests, according to the White House
2 years, 11 months ago

How to get insurance to pay for at-home COVID tests, according to the White House

NPR  

How to get insurance to pay for at-home COVID tests, according to the White House Enlarge this image toggle caption David Dermer/AP David Dermer/AP Starting Wednesday, Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 tests online from the Biden administration, in a plan outlined last week. Insurance companies and health plans are now required to cover eight free over-the-counter at-home …

EXPLAINER: Where are the COVID-19 tests that Biden promised?
2 years, 11 months ago

EXPLAINER: Where are the COVID-19 tests that Biden promised?

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced last month that the federal government will buy half a billion COVID-19 rapid test kits and distribute them free to people to use at home. The federal government is expected to get delivery of the first batch of tests “over the next week or so,” according to White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients. “We’re …

Why are rapid tests for COVID-19 in such short supply?
2 years, 11 months ago

Why are rapid tests for COVID-19 in such short supply?

LA Times  

Boxes of BinaxNow home COVID-19 tests made by Abbott are shown for sale in November at a CVS store in Lakewood, Wash. Is that tickle in your nose COVID-19, or just a cold? Abbott Laboratories, which makes the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test, expects to produce 70 million tests this month and is working to raise that to 100 million, said …

Biden administration signs first contract for free rapid Covid-19 test distribution
2 years, 11 months ago

Biden administration signs first contract for free rapid Covid-19 test distribution

CNN  

CNN — The Biden administration has signed its first contracts with a Covid-19 test manufacturer as part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to distribute half a billion free rapid tests throughout the country, a White House official confirms to CNN. The Department of Defense awarded a $51 million contract to Goldbelt Security, LLC, “for delivery of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits.” …

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide
3 years ago

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide

CNN  

CNN — With coronavirus cases surging once again, frustrated Americans are struggling to get tested days before Christmas as long lines and increased demand overwhelm some facilities across the country. People who have been previously infected with Covid-19 and remain unvaccinated “should not assume that have protection against Omicron,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Tuesday. As to whether …

Biden pivots to home tests to confront omicron surge
3 years ago

Biden pivots to home tests to confront omicron surge

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Fighting the omicron variant surging through the country, President Joe Biden announced the government will provide 500 million free rapid home-testing kits, increase support for hospitals under strain and redouble vaccination and boosting efforts. He noted that former President Donald Trump has gotten his booster shot, and he said it’s Americans’ “patriotic duty” to get vaccinated. White House …

Are 500 million at-home coronavirus test kits enough? 4 things to know about Biden’s Omicron strategy
3 years ago

Are 500 million at-home coronavirus test kits enough? 4 things to know about Biden’s Omicron strategy

LA Times  

President Biden speaks about the COVID-19 response and vaccinations Tuesday at the White House in Washington. Warning in a speech from the White House that the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus “is serious and potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people,” President Biden announced a winter strategy that he hopes will mitigate risks from the new wave of infections. The …

Demand for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests is so high, pharmacies are rationing
3 years ago

Demand for rapid at-home COVID-19 tests is so high, pharmacies are rationing

LA Times  

One highly sought-after item to prepare for safer holiday gatherings is frustratingly hard to find — at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. Sax said he wouldn’t visit his parents if he had any signs of a respiratory illness, such as a scratchy throat, even if the rapid test results showed a negative result. “I would not go visit grandma with a respiratory …

Biden says US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges
3 years ago

Biden says US to provide 500 million home tests as Omicron surges

Al Jazeera  

US president renews his call for Americans to get vaccinated and receive COVID booster shots amid Omicron variant’s spread. With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the United States, President Joe Biden has announced a series of steps to mitigate the spread of the virus, including broader access to at-home testing, new vaccination sites and more federal support for “COVID-burdened” …

Biden assures Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 that they can go ahead with holiday plans despite Omicron surge
3 years ago

Biden assures Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 that they can go ahead with holiday plans despite Omicron surge

CNN  

CNN — President Joe Biden aimed to reassure vaccinated Americans that they can still proceed with their holiday plans without fear of becoming seriously ill, announcing a number of new efforts to combat a surge of Covid-19 cases in the United States. “To be clear, we’re not sending a test to every single home in the country,” White House press …

Covid-19 tests get harder to find as omicron variant spreads
3 years ago

Covid-19 tests get harder to find as omicron variant spreads

Live Mint  

Waiting times for Covid-19 tests are growing in parts of the U.S. as concerns over the Omicron variant, new infections and the coming holidays drive up demand. Many laboratories are still processing tests within a day or two and have the capacity to meet the heightened demand, said lab operators and pharmacies. Officials in New York City, where lines stretched …

Biden's new winter COVID plan will reimburse you for at-home tests
3 years ago

Biden's new winter COVID plan will reimburse you for at-home tests

NPR  

Biden's new winter COVID plan will reimburse you for at-home tests Enlarge this image toggle caption Evan Vucci/AP Evan Vucci/AP President Biden announced Thursday that private health insurance plans will soon reimburse people who buy over-the-counter, at-home rapid tests for the coronavirus — one of a series of steps the White House is planning in order to encourage better detection …

New hurdle for COVID-19 home testing -- the holiday season
3 years, 1 month ago

New hurdle for COVID-19 home testing -- the holiday season

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Millions more home tests for COVID-19 are hitting store shelves, but will there be enough for Americans hoping to screen themselves before holiday gatherings? White House officials say the U.S. is on pace to have about 200 million home tests per month by December, quadrupling the number from this summer. Market leader Abbott says it is back to …

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?
3 years, 1 month ago

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer?

Associated Press  

Can at-home COVID-19 tests make holiday gatherings safer? Yes, combined with vaccination, home test kits for COVID-19 can add a layer of safety and reassurance by providing on-the-spot results during this second year of pandemic holidays. “We will be using rapid tests to doublecheck everybody before we gather together,” says Dr. Emily Volk, president of the College of American Pathologists, …

Massive demand for Covid tests; Health service lines overloaded
3 years, 1 month ago

Massive demand for Covid tests; Health service lines overloaded

NL Times  

The demand for Covid-19 tests is sky-high in the Netherlands at the moment. Health service GGD asked people on Twitter to rather use the online portal to book a test or check results, as their phone lines are overloaded. Another 75,000 appointments were scheduled for Tuesday, and the GGD is making 200 to 300 new appointments per minute, the health …

US falls behind on at-home Covid tests
3 years, 1 month ago

US falls behind on at-home Covid tests

CNN  

This is the weekly edition of CNN’s coronavirus newsletter. The National Institutes of Health’s $70 million pledge, announced last week, promises to get more tests onto the market by identifying and encouraging new manufacturers and easing the obstacles in getting the tests approved. A vast, international review of studies published in March found that few antigen tests met the World …

US commits $1 billion access to rapid, at-home Covid tests
3 years, 2 months ago

US commits $1 billion access to rapid, at-home Covid tests

India TV News  

The White House has announced an investment worth $1 billion worth for rapid, at-home coronavirus tests to address ongoing shortages. The move will quadruple the number of tests available to Americans by December, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, was quoted as saying at a press briefing on Wednesday. "That means, we'll have an available supply of 200 …

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests
3 years, 2 months ago

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests

NPR  

The White House will spend an additional $1 billion on rapid at-home COVID tests Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP The White House is allocating an additional $1 billion to purchase millions of rapid at-home tests for COVID-19, in response to an ongoing national shortage of these tests. Zients said that Wednesday's action now puts …

As Delta variant surges, so does demand for at-home covid-19 tests
3 years, 3 months ago

As Delta variant surges, so does demand for at-home covid-19 tests

Live Mint  

Demand for at-home Covid-19 tests has risen sharply in recent weeks as the Delta variant surges across the U.S., causing test makers to scramble to keep pace. Much of the Covid-19 diagnostic testing in the U.S. has involved not antigen tests but molecular tests, which detect the virus’s genetic material and typically are processed by laboratories—a more time-consuming process. Demand …

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