Updated 3:45 p.m. Monday, May 16
You can once again order another round of free at-home COVID-19 tests online from the federal government and the U.S. Postal Service — and this time, you can order eight.
Previously, the federal government provided only four free tests per order, with each household able to make two orders.
The White House program offers free at-home COVID tests to every household in the United States, to be shipped by the Postal Service. The tests and shipping are completely free of charge.
Skip straight to:
- Why am I having problems ordering my at-home COVID tests?
- I want to get reimbursed by my health insurer for tests instead.
Keep reading for what you need to know about these at-home tests.
How many free COVID tests can my family and I get through USPS?
Good news: If it's the first time your household has placed an order for free COVID tests via the Postal Service, you can now place an online order for 16 free COVID tests for your household today, in three separate orders.
The first round of orders was made available to households on Jan. 18, offering each household four COVID tests. Second orders opened up on March 7, offering each household another four COVID tests.
This third and latest round is offering each household eight new tests. (And just to throw a few more numbers into the mix, the Postal Service confirmation page says the eight tests will arrive as two separate packages, with two separate tracking numbers.)
How it works:
- If your household hasn't ordered any free COVID tests yet, you can now place three orders and receive 16 free tests (4 + 4 + 8).
- If your household has placed only one order so far, you can now place two more orders and receive another 12 free tests (4 + 8.)
- If your household has placed the two orders you were entitled to, you can now place one more order and receive another eight free tests.
This program is separate from the one that allows folks with private health insurance to get reimbursed for the cost of at-home COVID tests. Read more about getting reimbursed by your health insurer for at-home tests.
No payment or credit card details are required to place an order. You also don't need to provide any ID or health insurance information. You can, however, supply an email address if you'd like to receive shipping notifications from the Postal Service via email.
You also will not be asked for proof of citizenship or about your immigration status. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says that accessing free COVID testing (or getting a COVID vaccine) does not make you a public charge and won't affect any current or future green card applications.