Key TakeawaysThe federal program allowing people to order free COVID rapid tests from the government will end on September 2 due to lack of Congressional funding.For now, insurance providers must cover up to eight free tests per plan member per month.Even without health insurance, there are still several ways to find free or low-cost COVID tests.

Key Takeaways

The federal program allowing people to order free COVID rapid tests from the government will end on September 2 due to lack of Congressional funding.For now, insurance providers must cover up to eight free tests per plan member per month.Even without health insurance, there are still several ways to find free or low-cost COVID tests.

As of Friday, September 2, the White House will be suspending itsfree COVID-19 test kit program.

Is COVID-19 Funding in the U.S. Going Away?

“[This] is an action we’ve been forced to take that will help preserve our limited remaining supply,” White House press secretaryKarine Jean-Pierre saidduring a briefing on Monday. She added the Biden administration hopes to ensure there are still enough test available in the fall, “when we might face a new rise in infections and more acute need.”

Testing for COVID-19 is already down in the United States. Stephen Kissler, PhD, a research fellow in the department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told Verywell that he worries that “reduced availability of free tests will depress testing even more.”

How to Get Free or Low-Cost Tests After September 2

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Verywell that the free White House program began when rapid home tests were in short supply. Now that they’re more plentiful, pricing has dropped, with options from the $10 range.

If you miss the September 2 White House deadline, there are other free or low-cost COVID-19 testing options:

If you have health insurance:

The 7 Best At-Home COVID-19 Tests, Tested and Reviewed

Why National Free Testing Matters

The White House free test program has been a boon, especially for people who are uninsured. On average, tests can run as high as $25 per test online and in stores.

Health insurers do pay for tests, but they limit the number to eight per month for each dependent on a health insurance plan. Even that coverage may not be enough now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises consumers to perform repeat testing following a negative rapid test, regardless of whether or not they have COVID symptoms.

For the most accurate result, the FDA advises up to three tests over six days to determine whether you have COVID-19. Without free tests, costs can add up, especially if several members in a household need to test.

The FDA Wants You to Take More than One At-Home COVID Test

Will Free Tests Come Back?

While the White Housedoeshave millions of tests it can send out for free if cases surge this fall, consumers may soon have to get used to paying for COVID related tests, vaccines, and treatments, especially if Congress ultimately does not provide funding.

“One of the things we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about in the last many month is getting us out of that acute emergency phase where the U.S. government is buying the vaccines, buying the treatments, buying the diagnostic tests,” White House COVID-19 Response CoordinatorAshish Jha, MD, MPH, said at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation event. “Some of that is actually going to begin this fall…you’re going to see commercialization of some of these things.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.At-home COVID-19 antigen tests—take steps to reduce your risk of false negative: FDA safety communication.

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Food and Drug Administration.At-home COVID-19 antigen tests—take steps to reduce your risk of false negative: FDA safety communication.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration.At-home COVID-19 antigen tests—take steps to reduce your risk of false negative: FDA safety communication.

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