Free COVID test kits are back: Here’s how to get yours (2024)

FAQs

Can you still get free COVID tests in Ohio? ›

While some insurance companies may no longer cover over-the-counter tests anymore, those on Medicaid can continue to get free tests, at home or elsewhere, through September 2024. Coverage for tests performed by your provider or at a pharmacy may now have some costs depending on your insurance coverage.

MDHHS has partnered with several libraries across the state of Michigan to provide free at-home COVID-19 test kits to Michiganders.

COVID-19 tests are free through state-supported testing programs and at DOH COVID-19 testing kiosks. Medicaid insurance covers at-home COVID-19 tests through September 2024. See Apple Health at-home testing FAQ (wa.gov) to find out how to receive a test at no cost.

After testing positive for COVID-19, the duration of contagiousness can vary. However, individuals are typically contagious for about 10 days after the onset of symptoms. For those with mild to moderate symptoms, this period can be shorter, often around 5-7 days.

After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time. Some tests, especially NAAT tests, may continue to show a positive result for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which can make it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection.

Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.

COVID-19 tests and the parts they are made of may degrade, or break down, over time. Because of this, expired test kits could give inaccurate or invalid test results.

If you have symptoms, test immediately and then test again per the instructions if your first result is negative. If you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 and you do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing. If you test too early, you may have an inaccurate result.

People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may start as mild, and some people will progress to more severe symptoms.

How accurate are home COVID tests? ›

The sensitivity of clinician and self-collected rapid testing was very good and relatively similar at 88.2% (clinician) vs. 83.9% (patient); notably, sensitivity was much lower in asymptomatic cases (63% [clinician] vs. 52% [self]) as compared to symptomatic cases (90% [clinician] vs. 88% [self]).

Positive test result

If you get a positive result, it means it's very likely you have COVID-19. Try to stay home and avoid contact with other people for: 3 days if you are under 18 years. 5 days if you are 18 or over.

For Medi-Cal Beneficiaries

Starting February 1, 2022, all Medi-Cal beneficiaries may obtain up to eight (8) over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid antigen tests per month at no cost through pharmacies enrolled as Medi-Cal providers.

The most commonly collected specimen is a swab collected through your nose. If you have a wet cough, you may be asked to produce a sputum specimen into a jar for testing. This specimen will be sent to a pathology laboratory. The laboratory will test your specimen for genetic material from the new coronavirus.

If you do not have symptoms, proceed to work. If you do have symptoms, stay home from work until you meet the above criteria. If you do have symptoms, but have a known cause (asthma, COPD, chronic sinusitis, etc.) and HAVE NOT been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19, proceed to work.

There's still a chance you might catch coronavirus, or another respiratory infection, if you're vaccinated, and pass it on to other people. Most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test. You can still access testing if you have a health condition which means you're eligible for coronavirus treatments.

Most people with COVID-19 feel better within a few days or weeks of their first symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks. For some people, symptoms can last longer. This is called long COVID or post COVID-19 syndrome. Long COVID is a new condition which is still being studied.