You possibly can nonetheless get free at-home COVID assessments from the federal authorities by way of USPS
You possibly can order as much as eight free at-home COVID-19 antigen assessments on-line from the federal authorities and the US Postal Service. Beforehand, the federal authorities solely supplied 4 free assessments per family however, as of March 7, individuals who have already acquired their authentic you can also make a second order.
The assessments and transport are fully freed from cost. Discover out extra about ordering your free COVID at-home assessments by way of USPS.
Join California’s Uninsured Group Program
California continues to be overlaying assessments for some residents with out protection by the COVID-19 Uninsured Group Program, managed by the Division of Well being Care Providers. Because of state laws from 2020, this system affords free COVID-19 testing, hospital care and remedy to anybody who would not have insurance coverage.
Any uninsured particular person can apply to this system, no matter revenue or immigration standing. When you’re enrolled, you may obtain COVID-19 testing and remedy from any Medi-Cal supplier at no cost throughout California.
To enroll, “you first need to discover a medical supplier in your group that has been designated by the state as a certified supplier,” explains senior lawyer with the Western Heart on Regulation and Poverty David Kane.
The program utility is accessible on-line and you may fill out your self however it may solely be submitted to Medi-Cal by a certified supplier or QP. There are dozens of QPs throughout the Bay Space that may assist file your utility so it reaches Medi-Cal. You will discover an interactive map of all of the QPs within the Bay Space, together with their contact data right here.
“When you discover a certified supplier, that supplier has to know how one can course of an utility,” Kane stated, however added that as a result of this program will not be as broadly recognized, some certified suppliers could also be unfamiliar with how one can file an utility.
Kane acknowledges that the burden of explaining what the uninsured group program is shouldn’t be positioned on the affected person, however provides that there are a number of choices out there if somebody calls a supplier who will not be conscious that this useful resource exists.
“Sufferers ought to inform a supplier they’re uninsured or underinsured and wish protection to entry this care and that they know particularly about COVID 19 Uninsured Group Program and ask to be enrolled in that program,” he defined.
If the supplier insists that they do not know what you are speaking about or that you simply’re not eligible for this system, Kane says, you may both request to talk to somebody who works at that supplier that’s knowledgeable about this useful resource, attain out to a different certified supplier, or contact the Well being Shopper Alliance, an advocacy group that helps Californians in search of well being protection and affords free authorized support.
“This program exists for individuals who want it,” Kane stated. “Nearly everyone in California is eligible. So be persistent till your are enrolled.”