Its official: Get free COVID test kits at COVIDtests.gov. Verify that your information is correct and selectPlace My Order. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the. The Popover plugin is similar to tooltips; it is a pop-up box that appears when the user clicks on an element. pic.twitter.com/3E3FKd3OEu. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images All tests will come with detailed instructions. Postal Service - usps.com/testkits - where you can order four rapid tests for your home address. It takes less than two minutes to complete a short form asking for your name and mailing address, and the tests ship in about a week or two. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. 18 years of editorial experience with a current focus on personal finance, end to the three-year-long public health emergency, expiration date on your test kit might be wrong, According to the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced, also eligible to receive eight free tests a month, search for a local health center or clinic with free COVID-19 tests near you, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. Katie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. Each household can order a total of eight tests. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. 9205 5000 0000 0000 0000 00, Certified Mail The White House says "tests will typically ship within 7-12 days. Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests PO BOXES PASSPORTS FREE BOXES The Postal Store Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests, Free Shipping Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests from USPS.com. After May 11, many services provided by the federal government will now fall to American citizens or their health insurance companies, and the lack of budgeted funds could mean the end of free COVID-19 tests any time now. Try calling the helpline at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Medicare was not initially included in the plan to distribute free COVID-19 tests, but in April theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services announcedthat participants with Plan B or those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans arealso eligible to receive eight free tests a month. The last time COVID-19 case numbers ebbed in the spring and early summer of 2021 the nascent home-testing industry saw demand dry up, and production slowed. USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline: 888-363-7462. Once your order ships, a tracking number will be assigned and it will appear in your order information. The U.S. "The United States Postal Service is proud to fulfill its mission of service to the nation by delivering COVID test kits as part of this important public health initiative of the Biden. In this photo illustration, free iHealth coronavirus rapid tests from the federal government sit in a U.S. The file or page you requested could not be found. Please allow for an additional 2-3 business days for the delivery of your order. Get free COVID-19 test kits through health insurance, Medicare or local health clinics. The site is secure. . The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Starting Jan. 18, one person per residential address has been able to sign up to receive a shipment of four tests on the Postal . You only need to give a name and address. The site added four more free tests in March, and then another eight more in May. Note to Reporters: B-roll and images of the USPS's work to package and ship COVID-19 test kits are available here. UPDATE: Cindy Hale told CBS Austin that she received an email from USPS on Monday afternoon stating that her order had just shipped. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. What to know when you're looking for a job or more education, or considering a money-making opportunity or investment. Starting on Jan. 15, private insurers have been required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home rapid tests per month per insured person, under a new Biden administration rule. 2. HOW MANY TESTS CAN I ORDER FROM THE WEBSITE? The Biden administration says the procedures will differ from insurer to insurer, and it is encouraging Americans to save receipts from rapid test purchases for later reimbursement and to reach out to their insurance providers for information. Here's how to get your free test kits. President Biden announced the move last week in his State of the Union address. 1.2-day average to deliver a test kit package from USPS to a home; Over 68 million test kit packages (4 tests per kit) shipped to households across all states, Tribes, territories; each package contains four individual COVID-19 test kits ; With the easy-to-use consumer website, covidtests.gov, and operational precision and focus, USPS and federal partners continue moving test kits to Americans . According to a White House press release, starting Jan. 19 Americans could order free kits on COVID.TEST.GOV. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. In 2022, the US Postal Service delivered millions of free COVID-19 tests -- up to 16 tests per household -- but the program was halted in September last year due to lack of funding. It has options for using the helpline in multiple languages, including Spanish. You only need to give a name and address. White House press secretary Jen Psaki added that the administration was anticipating a bug or two," but had IT experts from across the government working to get the site ready. 9270 1000 0000 0000 0000 00 Postal Service. An official website of the United States government. hide caption. More than half of U.S. households ordered tests in January and February. All rights reserved. Cruise . Postal Service starting late January. You can also add and manage packages you've shipped using the online dashboard or app. If you would like to place an order for the following items, please see below. Tests are typically sent out within seven to 12 days of an order being successfully placed and are delivered by the USPS within one to three days of shipping. Theres a new federal resource to get free FDA-authorized coronavirus test kits. 1.2-day average to deliver a test kit package from USPS to a home; Over 68 million test kit packages (4 tests per kit) shipped to households across all states, Tribes, territories; each package contains four individual COVID-19 test kits Start small, then add on. There are no shipping costs, and you dont have to give a credit card number. Importantly, given the shipping and process times, Americans will need to request the tests well before they meet federal guidelines for requiring a test. Major pharmacy chains originally required customers with insurance to pay for tests upfront and get reimbursed, but some have now shifted to a model where most customers with insurance cards can get eight tests per month at no cost. IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO GET A TEST KIT FOR FREE? The tests are completely free. The link you followed may be expired or broken. The latest round of shipments also includes four COVID tests. "The way that we set this up was to make sure that every household who wanted these tests could get them before we made a second round available," White House testing coordinator Tom Inglesby told NPR. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses will be sent through Priority Mail. 1. The COVID-19 test kits can be ordered online. Once you receive it, you can either click the tracking link or copy and paste the tracking number into thePostal Service's website's tracker. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake. People who can't access the website or who have trouble ordering online can call800-232-0233to order their free tests. The website to order the free tests for your household launched last week, with some beginning to arrive earlier this week. Insurers are not expected to retroactively reimburse the cost of tests purchased earlier. To check the status of an online order, login to your usps.com account and select Activity History. If you give your email address, youll also get an order confirmation email and delivery updates. Here's how to get your free test kits. 2. Click Change Delivery Instructions on the tracking results page to leave your request. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. At that time, the White House said that it would reserve a supply of COVID-19 tests for the winter season, and it's now shipping tests again. "The tests will be completely freethere are no shipping costs and you dont need to enter a credit card number," the website states. All of the tests supplied will be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and are capable of detecting the more-transmissible omicron variant of COVID-19, which is the dominant strain in the U.S. Your reports can make a difference by helping us investigate, bring law enforcement cases, and alert people about what frauds to be on the lookout for so they can protect themselves, their friends, and family. "In the absence of Congress providing additional funding for the nation's COVID-19 response, the administration has acted with its limited existing funding to add more at-home COVID-19 tests to the nation's stockpile and support this round of ordering ahead of continued increases in COVID-19 cases," the White House said in a statement. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? So, remember: Copyright 2023 USPIS. Note that for the third round, you'll receive two packages that'll likely arrive on different days, so look for two confirmation emails with your tracking numbers. Americans can order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government at COVIDtests.gov to be shipped to their homes, the White House said on Monday. The estimated delivery date of her four home tests is Friday, February 17th - one month after placing her order on January 18th. Here's a breakdown of what to know about the tests and how to place your order: The new federal website, covidtests.gov, to request free test kits launched last week, one day earlier than expected. 1. The kits were supposed to ship . That means a family of four gets 32 free tests monthly. If you're not insured or covered by Medicare, you still can get free COVID-19 tests. Receive expert tips on using phones, computers, smart home gear and more. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. In January 2022, President Joe Biden announced the . The message says theres something wrong with Its Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. Postal Service envelope after being delivered on Feb. 4. He has been covering technology, software, finance, sports and video games since working for @Home Network and Excite in the 1990s. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently experiencing high order volumes and increased customer service inquiries. USPS will ship the kits through a partnership with the White House, which has set up COVIDTests.gov, a website where people can order the kits for free. A spokesperson for the Postal Service said in a statement that the error was occurring in a small percentage of orders. He said any user needing assistance could file a service request at emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry or contact a help desk at 1-800-ASK-USPS. Comparing International Shipping Services, First-Class Package International Service. The COVID-19 test kits can be ordered online. As part of the Biden administration'sNational COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, the Department of Health and Human Services has providedmillions of free COVID-19 teststo community health centers and Medicare-certified rural health clinics. The Biden administration is turning to the new phase of its response, which emphasizes getting back to normal while being ready for the possibility that a new variant could emerge and cause case numbers to spike once again. In cases where infected people show symptoms or not, testing is the only way to find out if they have the virus so they can avoid being out and about and potentially spreading disease. In January, theBiden administration declaredthat health insurance companies would be required to cover at-home tests. Go to our FAQs section to find answers to your tracking questions. The United States Postal Service is proud to fulfill its mission of service to the nation by delivering COVID test kits as a part of this important public health initiative of the Biden administration, said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. CHARLOTTE, N.C. The Biden administration is now taking orders for free at-home COVID tests. "If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19," the guidance states. The Biden administration says the procedures will differ from insurer to insurer, and it is encouraging Americans to save receipts from rapid test purchases for later reimbursement and to reach out to their insurance providers for information. The government says that a phone number will be set up, so that residents can order their tests via the phone, but it is not known when that service will be available. When your package ships, you'll receive email notifications providing you with shipping updates, including a tracking number and estimated delivery date. Note to Reporters: B-roll and images of the USPS's work to package and ship COVID-19 test kits are available here. Insurers are being incentivized to work with pharmacies and retailers to develop plans to cover the cost of the tests with no out-of-pocket cost to customers, but those programs will not be immediately widespread. Along with the four free tests from the Postal Service, you have a few options for finding similar at-home tests for free. You can also get there viacovidtests.gov. "Get your free tests today," Biden said, urging people to have them on hand "so we're prepared no matter what COVID-19 brings.". You only need to provide the US Postal Service with a few bits of information to get your free test kits. Subscribe to consumer alerts from the FTC to get updates delivered right to your email inbox. Your kits will be mailed through the U.S. The Popover plugin is similar to tooltips; it is a pop-up box that appears when the user clicks on an element. On Monday, the White House released a video telling people the website was ready to go again. Visitspecial.USPS.com/testkits. The government's website offering free COVID tests is up and running, officially launching Wednesday, though thousands of Americans got an early chance to order free COVID-19 testing kits . The program is intended to ensure that people have rapid at-home COVID-19 tests available in the weeks and months ahead, as they have the need to test. If you would like to place an order for the following items, please see below. BothWalgreensandCVSallow customers with insurance cards to order COVID-19 tests for free on their websites. Americans can order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government at COVIDtests.gov to be shipped to their homes, the White House said on Monday. 9407 3000 0000 0000 0000 00, Collect On Delivery Hold For Pickup Peter managed reviews and listings for Download.com during the 2000s, and is passionate about software and no-nonsense advice for creators, consumers and investors. USPS reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. If we rely solely on the internet, were going to see those in rural areas, and those on reservations, not being able to get the same access to information, she said. For more on COVID-19, learn why the expiration date on your test kit might be wrong. WASHINGTON (AP) Under criticism after weeks of shortages, President Joe Bidens administration is working to make COVID-19 rapid test kits more available and accessible to Americans by boosting supply and lowering costs. "Obviously if you're symptomatic, you test right away. "In the absence of Congress providing additional funding for the nation's COVID-19 response, the administration has acted with its limited existing funding to add more at-home COVID-19 tests to the nation's stockpile and support this round of ordering ahead of continued increases in COVID-19 cases," the White House said in a statement. When your package ships, you'll receive email notifications providing you with shipping updates, including a tracking number and estimated delivery date. For more on COVID-19, learn why the expiration date on your test kit might be wrong. Postal Service envelope after being delivered on Feb. 4. If you spot a scammer offering COVID test kits, tell the FTC about it right away at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. At points, more than 750,000 people were accessing the website at the same time, according to public government tracking data, but it was not immediately known how many orders were placed. Shipment was expected within 7-to-12 business days. All of the tests supplied will be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and are capable of detecting the more-transmissible omicron variant of COVID-19, which is the dominant strain in the U.S. At COVIDtests.gov, youll find information about testing and a link to the U.S. CP 000 000 000 US, Registered Mail Get the free Informed Delivery feature to track all your incoming packages automatically with email alerts. How does the free COVID-19 test program from USPS work? Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests from USPS.com. You cansearch for a local health center or clinic with free COVID-19 tests near youusing a tool on the HHS website. How can I leave delivery instructions? If you do not see the Change Delivery Instructions link, your package is not eligible for the Delivery Instructions service. How does the free COVID-19 test program from USPS work? Learn more about Informed Delivery. The GOP wants to know where previous relief went. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. Below, find out how to request new COVID-19 tests, track your order and learn about other places to get free test kits. Note that for the third round, you'll receive two packages that'll likely arrive on different days, so look for two confirmation emails with your tracking numbers. All orders will be shipped via First Class Package Service. Here's how to get your free test kits. Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items, doTERRA distributors charged with making unfounded COVID-19 cure claims, Tenant screening practices: the FTC wants to learn more. But then when case numbers increased with the delta and omicron waves, there weren't nearly enough tests to meet demand. Those who test positive using an at-home test are asked to follow the latest CDC guidelines and communicate the results to their healthcare provider, who is responsible for reporting test results to the state health department. Enter your contact details and shipping information. Demand for test kits soared as the holidays neared and people grew eager to test themselves and their families before traveling and as the omicron variant spread rapidly in just a few weeks to become the dominant strain in the U.S. Bidens promise of 1 billion test kits is in addition to the administrations earlier pledge to send 50 million rapid tests to community health centers across the country. In January, some tests didn't ship within the seven- to 12-day window that had been promised because the administration was waiting for manufacturers to make more tests. Tests can also be shipped to U.S. military and diplomatic addresses overseas. "If you test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate," Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, previously said.