Getting Free At-Home COVID Tests In CA: 5 Things To Know

CALIFORNIA — The omicron surge sent droves of people to local pharmacies over the holiday season. Retail workers watched helplessly as millions of exposed or sick Californians emptied shelves of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests across the most populous state.

Now, those tests are back in stock at many places, but Californians have continued to shell out anywhere between $10 to $30 for a pack of two rapid antigen tests.

President Joe Biden's administration announced last month that private health insurers will be directed to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for their customers.

1. How can residents receive free tests?

Californians have the option of either getting one free of charge from retail pharmacies within an insurance company's network or buying it at any store to be reimbursed by the insurer later on.

Insurers are required to cover at-home tests purchased on or after Jan. 15.

2. Will the new policy cover just any at-home COVID-19 test bought at a pharmacy or store?

Not exactly.

There is a catch: insurers will only pay $12 per test. So, those who end up paying $15-$30 and upwards for retail rapid tests will absorb the difference.

3. What about people who have a Medicare/Medicaid plan?

Americans who have a Medicare plan will not be able to have tests reimbursed through the insurance plan.

People on who are on Medicaid can obtain free tests kits at community centers, Kaiser Health News reported.

4. What is another alternative for receiving a free COVID-19 test?

The White House announced last month that it would begin offering four free at-home COVID-19 tests per household, regardless of citizenship status.

The tests can be ordered here and would be delivered by mail — but the tests weren't expected to arrive for seven to 12 days, after omicron cases are expected to peak in many parts of the country.

"Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes, but we’re doing more now," President Joe Biden said last month while recapping his first year in office.

5. Will the federal government continue to ramp up testing efforts?

The plan to distribute 1 billion tests is a good first step, but health experts are warning that it must rise in priority next to vaccines. Health care workers are urging the government to leverage its purchasing power to solidify a robust supply of testing.

“The playbook for rapid tests should look exactly like the playbook for vaccines,” said Zoe McLaren, a health economist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “They’re both things that help keep cases down and help keep COVID under control.”

Also, the four tests per home made available through the government website may not go very far in some households.

Kristen Keymont, 30, is a voice and piano teacher who teaches online and shares a house in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with her partner and two other people. When one of her housemates tested positive just before Christmas, she and her partner spent $275 buying more than a dozen tests.

"One test each is nice, I guess," she said. "I’m glad we have them, but we’re still going to need to buy more if one of us gets exposed."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.