Free at-home COVID-19 tests have been made available to U.S. households through a federal program, providing a resource for families to use before gatherings and during the holiday season. This initiative, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), follows the conclusion of other public health programs aimed at maintaining access to testing and vaccines. Alongside government-provided tests, various private companies and state programs have offered incentives, discounts, and freebies to encourage vaccination, though many of these promotional offers have specific timeframes. Understanding the current availability of free tests and the historical context of pandemic-related consumer incentives can help consumers navigate available resources.
The federal government's current distribution of free at-home COVID-19 tests is active through the end of the year. According to an HHS statement, families can obtain up to four free tests while supplies last. These tests are shipped directly to individuals' residences at no cost for shipping. The program represents a reopening of a popular initiative, with the HHS noting that over 900 million tests have been distributed through this channel since it began in the winter of 2021. The tests are designed to be accessible, with improvements for people with disabilities, including those with difficulty using their hands or who are blind or have low vision. The agency also aims to reach marginalized households and complements ongoing distribution to long-term care facilities, low-income senior housing, and other community organizations.
To request these tests, individuals need to use the official online portal. While email addresses are optional for receiving shipping notifications, they are not required to place an order. The tests are expected to detect the dominant COVID-19 variants currently circulating. Results from these at-home tests are typically available within 30 minutes or less, and they can be used by both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
This federal test distribution was launched after the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Bridge Access Program in August 2024. That public-private partnership was designed to maintain access to free COVID-19 vaccines for adults who were underinsured or uninsured through local pharmacies, public health infrastructure, and local health centers. The program covered vaccines from BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax. The shift to distributing at-home tests aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's stated goal of ensuring over-the-counter COVID-19 tests are available for the fall and winter seasons.
Prior to this current program, the federal government had previously sent out free at-home testing kits. A separate report noted that the White House announced a halt to sending these kits on September 2, 2022, due to a lack of funding. That earlier initiative, which ran from January 2022, allowed every household in the United States to place three orders for a total of 16 test kits, regardless of insurance status. The distribution of 600 million tests during that period was credited with boosting access to testing and potentially helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.
For consumers who do not receive free federal tests, other avenues for obtaining COVID-19 tests exist. Private health insurance plans are required to cover up to eight tests per month per insured individual. Individuals with questions about their specific coverage are advised to contact their insurance providers. For those with Medicare, the program can be reached at 1-800-Medicare, with TTY services available at 1-877-486-2048. It is recommended that people covered by Medicare or Medicaid check with their providers about the best way to access tests.
Additionally, there are over 1,500 community-based locations across the country that offer free or low-cost testing to everyone in the U.S., including those who are uninsured. These sites include local pharmacies, health clinics, community health centers, and churches. Consumers can locate these sites online. Local health departments are another resource for information on testing options, as availability varies by county and region. For example, in California, a program called OptumServe offers free testing to uninsured and underinsured individuals, undocumented people, those experiencing homelessness, and high-risk individuals who may need COVID medications.
Separately, from 2021 into 2022, numerous companies and states offered freebies, discounts, and sweepstakes to incentivize COVID-19 vaccination. These promotions were typically time-bound and required proof of vaccination, such as a vaccine card. It is important to note that many of these specific offers have expired, but they illustrate the range of consumer incentives that were deployed during the pandemic.
Several food and beverage chains offered direct incentives. Panera provided vaccinated customers with one free bagel per day during a specific period in July, with no other purchase required, though the offer was valid only for in-person orders. Chipotle ran a buy-one-get-one-free entree offer for vaccinated customers after 3 p.m. on a specific date in July. Other food companies, such as Instacart, held sweepstakes for vaccinated individuals, using hashtags like #DropCovid for social media entries.
Retail and service companies also participated. Walgreens offered $25 in Walgreens Cash or a $25 gift card for getting vaccinated in-store. Uber and Lyft both provided free rides to vaccine appointments for those in need, with Uber focusing on appointments at Walgreens and Lyft partnering with organizations like CVS and the YMCA. Office Depot and OfficeMax offered free lamination of COVID-19 vaccine cards through a specified date in July. John Hancock, through its Vitality rewards program, offered free reward points to life insurance policyholders who got vaccinated.
These company-sponsored initiatives were part of a broader effort to increase vaccination rates. However, consumers should be aware that these offers were tied to specific timeframes and conditions. For instance, the Panera bagel offer was valid only from July 2-4, and the Chipotle BOGO was for July 6. The Walgreens incentive was available through July 3. The Office Depot/OfficeMax free lamination service ended on July 25. The availability of these and similar promotions was often limited and subject to change.
In summary, free at-home COVID-19 tests are currently available through a federal program, with shipping provided at no cost. The program is active through the end of the year, and households can order up to four tests while supplies last. For those seeking tests outside this program, private insurance may cover eight tests per month, and community-based testing sites offer free or low-cost options. During the height of the vaccination campaign, a variety of companies offered incentives like free food, gift cards, and services to encourage vaccination, though these specific offers were generally time-limited.