You may want to stock up ahead of a possible surge
Even if COVID-19 is not on your mind right now, stocking up on at-home tests should be, according to experts. COVID-19 cases have been down significantly in recent months, but the virus still remains a threat in the United States — and it's unclear what the winter will bring.
Experts have warned that Europe’s latest wave of COVID-19 infections could be a warning sign that the U.S. is in for a new surge soon, TODAY previously reported.
The federal government has shifted the responsibility for paying for at-home COVID-19 tests to insurance carriers, said Benjamin. (COVID-19 vaccines are still 100% free to everyone, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aka HHS).
“Anyone in the country who has insurance, whether they purchased it on their own through the marketplace or they get it from their employer or Medicare (part B), is eligible for eight free tests every month,” said an expert, adding that these can be purchased all at once or separately. This means a family of four can get 32 free at-home tests a month, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).