Autumn is here and once again there are warnings about the spread of the Covid-19 virus – along with the flu and the RSV or respiratory syncytial virus. To curb the increase, the US government is once again offering free rapid home antigen tests to every US household. According to the government website, orders will begin shipping this week.
As before, it is extremely easy to place your order. You don't need to provide a credit card or other financial information.
Unfortunately, the scheme to reimburse purchased tests through private health insurers is no longer available – and as the price of a pair of Covid tests is not cheap, this could be a problem for households on tighter budgets. There are still some very limited options for people to get low-cost or free testing.
Update, September 30, 2024: This article was originally published on December 15, 2022 and has been updated to describe the latest testing program.