PSA: Free Government Covid test site now live

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My husband messaged me around noon to let me know he ordered it. We'll just see if they get here

 

[Walt's Dream]

Ordered this morning. Took less than 2 minutes!

 

[mikehn]

Of course USPS cant deliver because, never mind

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Youngest son said he ordered them. He gets free testing at work since he is a covid ICU nurse so these will be for Dh and myself.

 

[Jennasis]

Ordered ours earlier today.

 

[Kitty 34]

Ordered mine......very very easy to do!

 

[Imzadi]

I saw this post yesterday but I waited as I figured there would be glitches with the launch. Kind of like when Microsoft launches a new version of Windows. No should be the first ones testing it out.

This morning, I'm watching Good Morning America, and there it is on the news crawl across the screen: Many people can't order the free government tests from the site due to an address snag for people living in APARTMENTS at the same address.

Sure enough, I test the site and ONE lucky (first) person used our address already and the REST of the hundred or so of us can't get the test kit as “At-home COVID-19 tests have already been ordered for this address. We are unable to process duplicate orders for the same address." It doesn't matter how or where I input the apartment number. (There IS a separate box to list it.) I'm using the way the USPS wants us to list our address and it doesn't work.

We are being told that with an undertaking this large there will be glitches.

OKAY. But will it be FIXED??? I doubt it. Or maybe, yes, at the END of next year's peak in that Covid variation.

I seriously doubt this will be fixed properly. . . before all the free test kits are gone.

I can try to get some of the free tests my insurance is suppose to reimburse for. But, around here, it's like The Hunger Games trying to get an at home test kit. And to get a PCR test at a lab, the results are currently coming back in about 7 days - when Covid will usually have resolved itself by then.

 

[JimMIA]

Youngest son said he ordered them. He gets free testing at work since he is a covid ICU nurse so these will be for Dh and myself.

We have never been charged by anyone (county sites, urgent care, etc) for a Covid test. Our tests have always been easily available and free.

 

[KayMichigan]

Just ordered mine, it was easy and they don't ask for medical or insurance info.

I live in an apartment but didn't have any problem ordering so maybe they fixed that glitch. I have to think somebody else in my complex has ordered tests, it's a huge complex.

 

[mamamary]

Just ordered mine, it was easy and they don't ask for medical or insurance info.

I live in an apartment but didn't have any problem ordering so maybe they fixed that glitch. I have to think somebody else in my complex has ordered tests, it's a huge complex.

My mom lives in a 2 family house. I ordered for her yesterday. Later on yesterday my sister (who lives in the upstairs apartment) was able to order hers. I thought that might not be possible to do.

 

[kdonnel]

If you need more, don't forget that if you have health insurance, you can get reimbursed for up to 8 home tests per subscriber per month. So if you have a family of 4 you can get reimbursed for up to 32 tests a month, family of 5 gets 40, family of 6 gets 48, and so on.

 

[Snowflakey]

Ordered mine! My state also did this a week or so ago and I just received my 2 free tests today via USPS.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm glad others in apartments were able to order yours.

My state also did this a week or so ago and I just received my 2 free tests today via USPS.

Edited: The local news is now referring to it as the "city glitch". Various people gave tips to try. I tried them all. Nope, nada, zero.

I think if there is a huge problem with numerous NYC apartments not being able to get test kits sent to us at home, I'm sure our mayor or governor will figure out some way for us to pick up some test kits, like at the locations where we got our shots & boosters. All of our shots were logged into the state-wide system. Surely they can just figure out a way to log in that we walked in and picked up some tests.

Right before Christmas, a few vans were set up in some neighborhoods passing out free tests. People had to stand in line for 2-4 hours. Yet they were handed tests without having to produce any documentation or registering.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you need more, don't forget that if you have health insurance, you can get reimbursed for up to 8 home tests per subscriber per month. So if you have a family of 4 you can get reimbursed for up to 32 tests a month, family of 5 gets 40, family of 6 gets 48, and so on.

I'm still not able to find many tests. It's been very hit or miss since before Christmas. Well right around Christmas and New Year's no one had any tests. But people are posting on Nextdoor when CVS and Walgreens have some. Walmart in Monday still had none.

But it's a good reminder for people. Also while not required an insurance company many choose to reimburse you prior to the January 15th date. Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[NotUrsula]

We have never been charged by anyone (county sites, urgent care, etc) for a Covid test. Our tests have always been easily available and free.

Not here, except for the publicly-managed drive-thru events, where lines tend to be about 5 hours long. Everywhere else has a screening process to get access. You can get them free with insurance coverage at pharmacies, etc. if you have a scrip or are obviously symptomatic, but not if you are asymptomatic, or need it for travel or admission to an event.

Tests have been in really short supply here since the beginning, and not much has changed. (At this point I've never been tested, as I got all my shots and I've never shown symptoms: I've taken 14 flights and I've had 2 surgeries since the pandemic began, and still, no medical professional has ever suggested I test, not even at hospitals. I do follow all recommendations for physical cautions.)

However, I now do have to finally get a test. I've got to get a PCR test to go to DD's USFSA sectionals competition next week, and none of the commercial providers around here will do it for less than $100 with a guarantee of 48-hr result turnaround (the competition requires it must be done no more than 72 hrs before venue entry, and it's an 8 hour drive from here to the venue.) We will have to pay $50/athlete for the teams to be tested; the club is bringing in techs from a local lab to test them all and turn the results in 24 hours, so we're getting a group rate for that.

 

[JimMIA]

Not here, except for the publicly-managed drive-thru events, where lines tend to be about 5 hours long. Everywhere else has a screening process to get access. You can get them free with insurance coverage at pharmacies, etc. if you have a scrip or are obviously symptomatic, but not if you are asymptomatic, or need it for travel or admission to an event.

Tests have been in really short supply here since the beginning, and not much has changed. (At this point I've never been tested, as I got all my shots and I've never shown symptoms: I've taken 14 flights and I've had 2 surgeries since the pandemic began, and still, no medical professional has ever suggested I test, not even at hospitals. I do follow all recommendations for physical cautions.)

However, I now do have to finally get a test. I've got to get a PCR test to go to DD's USFSA sectionals competition next week, and none of the commercial providers around here will do it for less than $100 with a guarantee of 48-hr result turnaround (the competition requires it must be done no more than 72 hrs before venue entry, and it's an 8 hour drive from here to the venue.) We will have to pay $50/athlete for the teams to be tested; the club is bringing in techs from a local lab to test them all and turn the results in 24 hours, so we're getting a group rate for that.

Good luck at Sectionals! If it were easy, we'd call it hockey!

 

[Mysterian]

Ordered! My sister texted me about them yesterday.

My sister texted me at lunchtime and basically ordered me to the site to get some. So I did. It was really easy, did it on my phone and it took less than two minutes.

We have the same sister!

 

[bookgirl]

LOL, we don't need them because we're both retired and it's no big deal for us to wait a bit for PCR results -- but they are FREE, so DW ordered them anyway!

You never know when a neighbor or family member might need them, so if you don't use them you may come across someone who does.

 

[JimMIA]

You never know when a neighbor or family member might need them, so if you don't use them you may come across someone who does.

Of course, but I just hate to see us hog something that someone else probably really needs.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Of course, but I just hate to see us hog something that someone else probably really needs.

Then why did your family order them?