Free OTC COVID-19 Tests
COVID-19 testing is a highly effective tool for decreasing the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 cases in the workplace, at home, and in other communities. On January 19, the Biden administration launched a government site to distribute a billion free COVID-19 tests. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
To access your free tests, follow these simple steps. It will take less than a minute to place your order, ensuring you will have tests, should you need them:
Visit COVIDTests.gov
- Select “Order free at-home test”
- Enter your contact information, including name and email address (no credit card information is required)
- Select “Check out now”
If you or your household would like to acquire more than four individual tests, we suggest you take advantage of other methods of testing, including free testing sites or over-the-counter tests at pharmacies and retail locations.
- Insurance coverage for at-home tests: Effective Jan. 15, 2022, individuals covered under the university-sponsored health plan may use their CVS Caremark prescription coverage for at-home tests. Covered individuals are permitted up to eight Over-the Counter (OTC) tests without a prescription per 30-day period for each person covered under the plan.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) COVID-19 test reimbursement claim: Individuals covered under the university-sponsored health plan that purchased an OTC COVID-19 test on or after Jan. 15 may submit copies of their receipts to CVS Caremark for reimbursement. For more information on how to submit receipts for reimbursement, visit CareMark's COVID-19 test reimbursement page.
- Free testing sites: No-cost COVID-19 tests are available to everyone in the U.S., including the uninsured, at more than 20,000 sites nationwide. More information on testing sites within your community ia available from the Department of Health and Human Services.
If you have paid for an over the counter COVID-19 test since January 15th, you can submit a reimbursement request directly through CVS CareMark. You will need to be registered at Caremark.com to do so online. Once registered:
- Sign in at Caremark.com
- Click on the Plan & Benefits tab
- Select “Submit Prescription Claim.”
- If you’re eligible, you will see a link on the page that reads “Submit at-home COVID-19 test reimbursement claim.”
- Upload your proof of purchase. This can be a digital receipt or even a photo of your paper receipt.
Also, note the following:
- Only over-the-counter, at-home tests from the following brands are eligible for reimbursement: Flowflex, Ongo, BinaxNow, iHealth, INTELISWAB, and Quick Vue.
- You will be reimbursed the lower amount of either $12 or the cost of each test you purchase(d), per federal limits.
- Your plan will cover up to 8 (eight) TOTAL at-home COVID-19 tests for each person covered under your plan within a 30-day period. If you purchase a four pack, that pack counts as 4 (four) tests.
- The reimbursement does not apply to lab tests or tests done in-office with a medical professional, nor if you had a prescription for your test, nor does it apply to PCR or Antibody tests.
- If you are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, you are not eligible for reimbursement.
- If you present your CareMark card to purchase a test from any pharmacy that can bill directly under your pharmacy benefit, there will be no out-of-pocket cost for OTC COVID-19 tests.
- Some pharmacies may not be able to process COVID-19 tests at the pharmacy counter. If this happens, you can submit a request for reimbursement.
If you have not already, we encourage you to register at caremark.com for full access to tools and resources that make managing your pharmacy benefits easier and more convenient. For step-by-step instructions on how to register with or without your prescription card, visit https://www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/prescription-cvs-health.
For additional questions regarding OTC COVID-19 Test coverage under your CVS/Caremark Plan, please visit www.caremark.com or call Caremark Customer Service at 1-888-202-1654.