FYI US Free Covid Test kits being put on hold

[PJBinMI]

I just read that here in the US, lack of funding is causing the free test kit program will not be sending those at home test kits -- order deadline end of this week. Not totally whether household limit is number of mailed sets or total number of tests, but if you have only ordered kits twice, you might want to go to the USPO website and try ordering more.

A couple of weeks ago I asked the pharmacist at the local store where I get my meds if they had test kits and if so how much they cost. She said they are $10 per test! Alot more than getting 8 or 16 free!

If anybody has clearer info about this, feel free to update this info. I',m concerned about this as both my husband and I still test positive and have tentative plans for a visit from out of town family later this week.......

[Susan1953]

We received our 8 free kits last week. Also, Walmart pharmacy gives us 3 free kits when we pick up our prescriptions. We live in Alabama and are not low income but are over 65. We can definitely afford to buy our covid test kits. The government is spending a ton of money to give us these kits. It is so ridiculous.

[Teddielottie]

I hope you and your husband are feeling better and soon test negative. I can’t comment on the US system , but here in the U.K. free lateral flow covid testing kits from the NHS stopped some time ago before the summer for the general population . It costs about £2 per test if purchased in pharmacies here .

However, those of us that are classed as ‘immunocompromised’ (eg ., on Ibrance ) can still order them online here on the gov site . I just ordered a pack of 7 tests today , having used quite a few in the last week , when our daughter tested positive following a foreign holiday . Fortunately she is now clear and my husband and I didn’t test positive, but we did use up quite a few tests making sure !

Here , in the U.K. , you can still get free lateral flow test kits if :- “

- you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for Covid-19 treatments,

-you’re going into hospital,

-you work in the NHS or in adult social care. “

I hope this information is useful to those in a similar position in the U.K. .

Good luck! x

[bracelets1]

Hi! I hope you and your husband test negative very soon and are feeling better I hadn't heard about this but I am glad you have informed us. My daughter is coming in from DC this weekend and it's nice to have the tests on hand. We can afford to buy them, and did so back in December before this service was offered. At that time they were hard to find, I wonder if it will become that way again with the government not providing them???

[Pbsoup]

It seems so odd as easy, affordable access to home testing seems to be important in stopping the spread especially as we head into winter. Of all the things to cut…sigh.

[Hotlantaphatz]

I was able to get a test kit from my pharmacy. They ran it through my insurance and I did not have to pay. Did not know there was a shortage. Thanks for info.

[Dragonfly2]

Thank you for your timely reminder…I went to the website and ordered test kits on the last day, Sept 2. The next day I went just to see and unfortunately, the program is suspended.😢. The cost of these tests can be high if people like us with low neutrophils have to test more often. Stay well😅