HOW TO GET COVID TEST KITS . . . WITHOUT PAYING FOR THEM
In case you missed it, US households are now eligible to receive an additional eight free Covid test kits from the federal government via USPS. Additionally, many health insurance providers offer a test-kit reimbursement program such as this one from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Local drugstores including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid offer direction for other insurance providers and in-store pickup. Walgreens also provides Drive-Thru PCR testing. You can also find Covid testing sites near you through the mass.gov website.
Test Kit Expirations Extended
If you still have older kits on hand, you may still be able to use them. The Boston Globe reports that the FDA has approved expiration extensions for several brands of rapid test kits, according to the agency’s website, including:
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test (extended from 12 to 15 months)
BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test (extended from 12 to 15 months)
CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (extended from 9 to 12 months)
Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (extended from 12 to 16 months)
Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Home Test (extended from 12 to 18 months)
Detect Covid-19 Test (extended from 6 to 8 months)
iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (extended from 9 to 12 months)
SCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test (extended from 10 to 13 months)
Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Test (extended from 6 to 9 months)