# Free at home Covid tests are available again **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 20, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434 "2023-11-20T18:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/1 "2023-11-20T18:16:49Z")
> **[COVID.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests](https://www.covid.gov/tests)** > > Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/2 "2023-11-20T18:23:03Z")
Thank you! I hadn’t been aware we could get them again, and all our old ones are past their extended dates. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/3 "2023-11-20T18:28:26Z")
You should definitely get the new ones but you can check the old ones for updated expirations dates. Most of them got extended. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/4 "2023-11-20T18:28:58Z")
Thank you! Initially I thought this was old news, but I see now that they are offering four more free tests starting today. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/5 "2023-11-20T18:36:56Z")
Of course. A week and a half _after_ we recovered from COVID, and a week and a half _after_ I paid for four new tests (after the previous six I paid for). ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/6 "2023-11-20T18:42:35Z")
Never mind ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/7 "2023-11-20T18:49:48Z")
Thanks for the info. My Beloved and I have both sent our orders in. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/8 "2023-11-20T18:57:51Z")
Thanks - just put my order in. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/9 "2023-11-21T02:20:37Z")
Note that this is another round; in September, the government was sending out four tests as well. So if you didn’t request tests then, you can get eight tests now. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/10 "2023-11-21T02:48:30Z")
Thanks! I just placed two orders (and hope any I use are negative). ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/11 "2024-01-12T17:10:14Z")
I don’t know where the OP’s location is, but I can chime in about Ontario. We used to be able to pick up free home tests at most any pharmacy, boxes with five tests in 'em. At some point last year, the provincial government ended that, I guess figuring we were out of the woods enough that they didn’t want to foot the bill any more. The winter surge has been going for a few weeks now, I had the virus for the second time a month ago, and I’m still testing every week or so, so the PC’s stance is a headache. As well, it was reported last month that one importer of tests, who’d gotten billions in contracts from the feds, had provided, ah, [incomplete proof of efficacy.](https://globalnews.ca/news/10183219/covid-test-supplier-canada/) and all of their tests were being recalled. I remember that particular box design in the story’s picture; that’s the test I used for maybe the first year of home tests. Sigh. Anyway, pharmacies aren’t getting any more kits, but if they have any left over, you can scrounge some. When I was visiting the family over Christmas, I literally spent a morning driving around hitting every Shoppers and Rexall I could find, and amassing a stockpile. Some places had a mini-pyramid of boxes, some had nothing. I stopped in a Jean-Coutu (a Quebec-based chain of drug stores that has branches in eastern Ontario) and was told they didn’t have the free kits, but I could buy individual tests for $10 each. Right now I’ve got enough tests sitting on my kitchen table to get me through to the summer if I use them sparingly, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get more. I’ve heard that libraries, of all places, have gotten delivereis of them. Makes sense, that’s a place where a lot of the most vulnerable will gather. I’ll have to hit up those at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/12 "2024-09-20T18:11:03Z")
Bumping this thread because free at-home Covid tests will once again be available later this month at [COVIDTests.gov](http://COVIDTests.gov). Four free test kits per household that can be used through the end of the year. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/13 "2024-09-24T01:34:21Z")
Thanks! There’s no direct link yet. It sounds to me like someone needs to clear out some warehouse space. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/14 "2024-09-26T21:45:03Z")
There’s a direct link; I just ordered mine. I did see on another website that you may have to turn off your VPN, if you have one. > **[COVID Home Tests | USPS](https://special.usps.com/testkits)** > > COVID Home Tests | USPS ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/15 "2024-09-27T11:16:18Z")
I ordered mine yesterday, no problem ordering through the VPN at work. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/16 "2024-10-02T22:13:24Z")
Mine arrived today. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-at-home-covid-tests-are-available-again/993434/17 "2024-10-03T11:45:28Z")
As did mine. They had an original expiration date of December 27, 2023. I checked the extension, and they are good until Dec 27, 2024.