[sohappytobehere]

Right now, you can order 4 free Covid tests at covidtests.gov. I just ordered ours. Simple!

[Love2Swim]

Thank you for posting!

[Lark7]

Does traditional Medicare pay for the cost of these “free” at-home covid tests?

Thank you.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Lark7

Does traditional Medicare pay for the cost of these “free” at-home covid tests?

Thank you.

Free is free. They don't ask you for your medical information. You can order it from the USPS (postal service) website: special.usps.com/testkits

You give your name, e-mail address, mailing address. That's it. They'll send you 4 test kits at the end of the month (though I imagine they'll be backlogged and would wait til mid-February before complaining that you didn't get your free tests).

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by Lark7

Does traditional Medicare pay for the cost of these “free” at-home covid tests?

Thank you.

Just fill out the form on the website. It does not ask ANYTHING about insurance.
Once you put in address it shows number of tests = $0!!!!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by sohappytobehere

Right now, you can order 4 free Covid tests at covidtests.gov. I just ordered ours. Simple!

And now for the obvious question that I just asked of the other person who posted the same thing: Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free'?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And now for the obvious question that I just asked of the other person who posted the same thing: Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free'?

May need them by the time they get here.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Lark7

Does traditional Medicare pay for the cost of these “free” at-home covid tests?

Thank you.

Apparently, the tests are free to anyone who wants to order them. Paid for by the taxpayers and not tied to Medicare. I don't think you need to prove anything, except that you have an address in the U.S. I hope they are not available to be shipped around the world at U.S. taxpayer expense.

[sohappytobehere]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And now for the obvious question that I just asked of the other person who posted the same thing: Did you NEED them, or did you order them because they are "free'?

No, we don't need them right now. But if it should become necessary, I don't want to have to drive around locating one.

[Altavia]

CDC Guidance for when to self test.

Self-Testing | CDC

When to Consider Self-Testing

Self-tests may be used if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed or potentially exposed to an individual with COVID-19.

Even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering indoors with others can give you information about the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. This is especially important before gathering with unvaccinated children, older individuals, those who are immunocompromised, or individuals at risk of severe disease.

A positive test result indicates that you likely have a current infection, and you should isolate and inform close contacts.

A negative test result indicates that you may not be infected and may be at low risk of spreading disease to others, though it does not rule out an infection. Repeating the test will increase the confidence that you are not infected. Performing serial tests, meaning two or more tests over several days with at least 24 hours between tests—with one test as close as possible to the event you will attend—improves the reliability of testing and reduces your risk of transmitting disease to others even further. Some self-tests require this type of repeat testing in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Correct sample collection is key to accurate results.

Self-Testing | CDC

[drducat]

Originally Posted by Robbie0723

CDC Guidance for when to self test.

Self-Testing | CDC

When to Consider Self-Testing

Self-tests may be used if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed or potentially exposed to an individual with COVID-19.

Even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering indoors with others can give you information about the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. This is especially important before gathering with unvaccinated children, older individuals, those who are immunocompromised, or individuals at risk of severe disease.

A positive test result indicates that you likely have a current infection, and you should isolate and inform close contacts.

A negative test result indicates that you may not be infected and may be at low risk of spreading disease to others, though it does not rule out an infection. Repeating the test will increase the confidence that you are not infected. Performing serial tests, meaning two or more tests over several days with at least 24 hours between tests—with one test as close as possible to the event you will attend—improves the reliability of testing and reduces your risk of transmitting disease to others even further. Some self-tests require this type of repeat testing in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Correct sample collection is key to accurate results.

Self-Testing | CDC

Watch the case number grow 1000% in the next 2 weeks.......all the false positives..

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by drducat

Watch the case number grow 1000% in the next 2 weeks.......all the false positives..

Exactly, I have zero confidence they will be accurate, just another waste of taxpayer money.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by drducat

Watch the case number grow 1000% in the next 2 weeks.......all the false positives..

I wonder more about the opposite. These testa are not as sensitive as PCR tests, so there may be more false negative ones, therefore more contagious people going about infecting others. I also wonder if these at home tests come with instructions to report somewhere if you're Covid positive...

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

Exactly, I have zero confidence they will be accurate, just another waste of taxpayer money.

Agree. These home tests have a notoriously high rate of both false positives and false negatives, thus making their predictive value fairly low. Add to that most people will probably not insert the swab far enough, thus collecting an inadequate sample leading to a false negative result. All in all, I'm afraid this home testing plan is less COVID mitigation and more COVID mitigation theater.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I wonder more about the opposite. These testa are not as sensitive as PCR tests, so there may be more false negative ones, therefore more contagious people going about infecting others. I also wonder if these at home tests come with instructions to report somewhere if you're Covid positive...

That's another good question----physicians and other testing sites are under a reporting mandate, home tests won't be. That's the main reason that home tests are not accepted for travel guidelines----no cruise ship or foreign government will accept test results gathered under the "honor system".