By Cara Beth Lewis
At no-cost, each family in the United States has the opportunity to have four at-home COVID tests sent to their home, free of charge. The tests are rapid antigen tests (at-home or self-tests), not PCR tests, according to medicare.gov. This means you will have your results in less than thirty minutes, and the tests do not require a lab drop-off.
To have the tests sent to you, visit COVIDtests.gov and enter your contact information and mailing address.
Medicare.gov warns, “Guard against scammers trying to steal your personal information. When ordering tests, use the official, secure government website: https://COVIDtests.gov. Watch out for phone scammers too. If you get a phone call requesting information so that free at-home tests can be mailed to you, hang up – it’s a scam!”
The tests are usually shipped within seven to ten business days of ordering. It is recommended that you order tests now so that you will have them on hand if you need them.
Medicare pays for COVID tests performed by a lab (including PCR and antigen tests) when the test is authorized by a healthcare professional. If you are a part of the Medicare Advantage Plan, you can check your plan to determine if you are eligible for free at-home tests.
View more testing resources here: Testing Resources.
Here is what the CDC has to say about at-home tests:
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COVID-19 self-tests (also referred to as home tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests) are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Self-tests can be taken at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results.
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You can use self-tests, regardless of vaccination status, or whether or not you have symptoms.
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Follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions for performing the test.
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If you test positive, you should isolate and inform your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts.
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Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
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A positive self-test result means that the test detected the virus, and you are very likely to have an infection and should stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you could have contact with others, and avoid indoor gatherings to reduce the risk of spreading disease to someone else.
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A negative self-test result means that the test did not detect the virus and you may not have an infection, but it does not rule out infection. Repeating the test within a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests, will increase the confidence that you are not infected.
For more information about self-testing, click here.
Bladen County Health Department still offers Optum Serve drive-through testing services Monday through Friday, however, the Health Department is closed today, January 21st, due to inclement weather.
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