# Where to buy at-home covid tests now (Sept 2023 - ) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [September 4, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590 "2023-09-04T17:21:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/1 "2023-09-04T17:21:29Z")
I’m down to three covid tests left from my stockpile of last year. One of them had its expiration date extended (magically?) by a year, so it’s still good. And showed positive this morning. ☹ I’ve been positive since last Wednesday. I got used to tests being widely available for free, but now that covid is bouncing back, I was surprised to see them at Walgreen’s for $30 for two of them. A google search shows a wide variety of pricing. Are there any more free/cheap tests available? Where are you getting yours-- or are you still testing at all? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/2 "2023-09-04T17:30:11Z")
I haven’t seen any free ones in a while. That being said, I’ve found relatively cheap tests on-line. Like this one > **[FlowFlex™ COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Home Test - 1 Test Per Kit](https://store.weshielddirect.com/products/flowflex-covid-19-antigen-home-test-1-test?variant=40877780238522)** > > FlowFlex test kits are produced by Acon laboritories and FDA approved. FlowFlex tests are a very popular choice for businesses and organization due to it's small form factor and individual test packaging. The Flowflex tests ship cheaper in bulk... ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/3 "2023-09-04T17:40:54Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > One of them had its expiration date extended (magically?) by a year, so it’s still good. The expiration date didn’t mean that it was known that it would go bad after that time. It meant that it wasn’t known if it would go bad after that time. Which is unsurprising, for a new pharmaceutical: The way to tell how long something will last is to wait and see. And then, when you wait and see that other tests that use those same chemicals and so on were, in fact, good after that date, then you can extend the expiration date on all such tests. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/4 "2023-09-04T17:50:48Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I haven’t seen any free ones in a while . > > That being said, I’ve found relatively cheap tests on-line. Like this one > > [FlowFlex™ COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Home Test - FEB 2024 - 1 Test/Box – WeShieldDirect](https://store.weshielddirect.com/products/flowflex-covid-19-antigen-home-test-1-test?variant=40877780238522) $4/test is about as cheap as I’ve seen. In the brick-&-mortar world, our local drugstores are currently selling those exact same FlowFlex antigen tests - two to a pack for $24 plus tax. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/5 "2023-09-04T20:01:19Z")
Costco has the Flow-flex for 5/$20. Probably online, also. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/6 "2023-09-04T20:17:04Z")
Thanks. I just ordered a six-pack of those. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/7 "2023-09-04T20:28:47Z")
I believe that, if you have health insurance, you’re supposed to be able to get some for free every month – usually through a pharmacy. You can call your pharmacy and ask about what your insurance covers. > **[Biden-Harris Administration Requires Insurance Companies and Group Health...](https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/01/10/biden-harris-administration-requires-insurance-companies-group-health-plans-to-cover-cost-at-home-covid-19-tests-increasing-access-free-tests.html)** > > Biden-Harris Administration requires insurance companies and group health plans to cover the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests, increasing access to free test If you already paid out of pocket, you may be able to get reimbursed. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/8 "2023-09-04T21:34:11Z")
I asked about free-to-me COVID tests at my pharmacy a few months ago. The technician told me that they would be ready in about 15 minutes, so I walked around the grocery store and purchased a few things. When I returned, she handed me a bag with 8 tests and a receipt from my insurance for $119. I have a bit of a summer cold and used one a few days ago. It was negative. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/9 "2023-09-04T21:50:46Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > When I returned, she handed me a bag with 8 tests and a receipt from my insurance for $119. Wait — did you have to pay the $119 to the drugstore on the spot? Or was it one of those receipts that said basically “_Your insurance paid $119, your share is $0.00_” ? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2023, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/10 "2023-09-04T21:52:40Z")
It charged my insurance $119, and me $0. ---
**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 4, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/11 "2023-09-04T22:39:04Z")
In our community you can pick them up free at town hall. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/12 "2023-09-05T00:01:10Z")
Is that in the USA? ---
**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 5, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/13 "2023-09-05T01:10:58Z")
Yes, in suburban Boston. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/14 "2023-09-05T01:31:01Z")
FYI, apparently you can continue to test positive for quite some time after getting COVID (up to 90 days from what I saw somewhere), which is why the CDC rules on isolation and masking are mainly based on the number of days since symptom offset with testing used subsequently only as a means of discontinuing masking early with two negative tests 48 hours apart. I say all this because I have tested positive myself since last Thursday, having come down with symptoms late Wednesday, and am ending isolation tomorrow. I have been trying to test every couple of days or so, but more out of curiosity than anything else. Symptoms were gone quite quickly (admittedly with the help of Paxlovid). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/15 "2023-09-05T02:12:50Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > FYI, apparently you can continue to test positive for quite some time after getting COVID (up to 90 days from what I saw somewhere), which is why the CDC rules on isolation and masking are mainly based on the number of days since symptom offset with testing used subsequently only as a means of discontinuing masking early with two negative tests 48 hours apart. That’s PCR testing, not antigen testing. If your test positive on an antigen test you are probably still contagious. When my mom unexpectedly tested positive two weeks after she was diagnosed all the healthcare professionals started wearing full PPE (booties, disposable gowns, etc., Not just masks) when they interacted with her. The CDC rules are based mainly on days because it’s easier and cheaper, so it’s practical to ask everyone to do it. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/16 "2023-09-12T19:59:02Z")
Yeah…You may be right. By about 7 days after my first symptoms (and 6 days after my first positive test), I was testing negative again with antigen tests. In fact, even in the previous test that I took two days earlier than that, the antigen test was “barely positive” in the sense that the “test” line was very faint (while the “control” line was not). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/17 "2023-09-12T21:19:49Z")
Were you still sick? A lot of people are better in that time frame, and no longer contagious. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2023, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-buy-at-home-covid-tests-now-sept-2023/989590/18 "2023-09-13T01:03:07Z")
Oh yeah…My symptom recovery was very fast, presumably thanks to some combination of Paxlovid and my immune system primed by the 5 doses of vaccine that I’ve gotten. (And, I never had anything beyond standard head-cold symptoms, not even a real fever.) Testing positive held on longer than the symptoms…but not way longer as I had thought might be the case.