Here in Massachusetts, it’s possible to get free COVID tests from the public library (at least in my town).
1 Like
Thanks! My insurance makes reimbursement a huge pain–I am envious of the point-of-service ones.
In MA, I can get 8 free tests a month.
Same Blue Cross Illinois. Walgreens told me they changed to make it home really easy. I walked out with my tests for me and my wife and the insurance is billed and free to me.
I got every booster etc. Then got Covid last week. Went right on Paxlovid. Trust me, mask up you don’t want to get it.
1 Like
The tests are not affected by the variants. They’re not based upon matching with the site on the virus that mutates in order to more effectively infect people. And out of date tests are good for many months past the expiration deadline.
I’ve seen incidents of obvious false negatives on both at home rapids, and in-lab PCR tests, but overall, these rapid at home tests are pretty good, definitely worth having. Every household should order them.
2 Likes
Are you on Medicare? We’ve been getting 8 tests each every month thru Medicare. Don’t believe our MA public library hands out test kits.
Another MA person here, no tests kits at our library either.
Thanks, I just ordered. Our insurance covers them but its a pain to pay and seek reimbursement. FYI, Medicare also provides for eight free tests per month
Do you just go to any pharmacy and show them your Medicare card, and get given the tests?
Yes–we use the CVS inside our Target store, show the pharmacist our cards, do our shopping and pick up our kits before we leave–as we say in MA, “wicked easy”.
1 Like
I go to my regular pharmacy, CVS, however, I believe any pharmacy will supply with your Medicare card and ID. I am supplied Binax, which is the most complicated to use!
Binax was the first one we got last year, so I got used to it before I used others. I’m sort of attached to the Binax lollipop, lol.
1 Like
I was grateful today to still have some Binax tests on hand. Felt lousy last night with congestion, sore throat, nausea and headache. More of the same this morning despite Sudafed and Tylenol. Tested negative again so at least I feel reasonably confident it’s not Covid. I haven’t been around anyone other than H and GD1 since Thanksgiving when D and SiL came to dinner. H has been to the grocery store twice but he always wears a N95 mask and doesn’t linger with his <10 items purchase. Morning congestion is common for me year round, and maybe the recent temperature drop and demand for heat 24/7 has made it worse.
I requested more tests via the link shared here and hope they’ll be Binax also. If not, I’ll check with the Publix pharmacy. Glad to have options.
1 Like
Wow! They arrived today. QuickVue rapids. And they expire at the end of Feb, '23! Can you believe that? They mailed out tests with only 2 months validity left on them? Sure, they’re probably still good for a year after the expiration dates, but really? 2 months until they expire?
Check the lot number against the FDA site. Many of these tests have had official extension of their expiration dates.
3 Likes
Ordered mine on Friday and already received them today!
Mine have a March 23 exp date but I looked up the lot number and they have an extended exp date of July 23. Glad to have new ones because all the current tests I have expire next month (that’s with the extended exp dates).
Received mine yesterday. Exp date 01/23. First time I’ve gotten this brand (Clinitest by Siemens).
Googled the expiration date, and it has been extended to 02/24.
Communication re the expiration dates of covid rapid tests has been insufficient. How many of these tests are thrown out because people don’t know? They should have made new labels to show the new exp dates.
1 Like
We have a spot in our linen closet that I keep all our covid tests. I try and put them in a basket in order of when they expire with the soonest expiration date to the latest so that whoever goes to use one gets rid of an older one first!
I ordered mine Saturday and they came Monday!
2 Likes
We store our tests in a wine cooler.
When I ordered mine via our state portal, I got a message on the order screen that the expiration dates printed on the box of many tests have been extended. It urged to check the FDA site.
Remember, the tests were EUA and used reagents that have not been previously used. There was not much known about stability of these reagents; as that data became available, the expiration dates got extended, some several times. Unfortunately, it is impractical and too expensive to put new expiration dates on already manufactured boxes every time the date gets extended. So notifications are done via electronic means. Not perfect but likely significantly cheaper than the alternatives.
3 Likes