Are Free COVID Test Kits Still Available for Seniors? (2026 Update)

If you searched for this because you remember getting free COVID-19 tests through Medicare or the mail, that program is gone now. This page used to point readers to two federal programs that no longer exist. Here is what actually happened to them, and what is available to seniors and caregivers looking for a test today.

Reviewed and updated September 2026.

The Two Free Programs This Page Used to Recommend Have Ended

Medicare’s free over-the-counter COVID-19 test benefit ended on May 12, 2023. That benefit let Medicare Part B enrollees pick up to 8 free tests a month at participating pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Kroger. It ended the day after the federal COVID-19 public health emergency was declared over, and Medicare has not reinstated it since.

The federal COVID.gov mail-order program, which let any household order up to 2 sets of 4 free tests by mail, was suspended on March 9, 2025. The COVID.gov and COVIDtests.gov websites no longer handle test orders at all. As of this update, both addresses redirect to an unrelated White House webpage that has nothing to do with ordering tests.

Neither program has been brought back in any form as of September 2026. If a friend, family member, or another website tells you to order tests through Medicare or covid.gov, that information is out of date.

What Is Actually Available for Seniors Now

There is no single federal free-test program left to replace the two above. What is left is a mix of options, and how much a test costs you depends on how you get it.

Doctor-Ordered Tests Are Still Covered by Medicare

Original Medicare Part B still covers COVID-19 tests at no cost to you when a doctor or other authorized health care provider orders one, such as a lab-based PCR test. Your deductible, coinsurance, and copayment do not apply to this specific test. This coverage did not change when the OTC benefit ended. It only applies to tests ordered by a provider, not to test kits you pick up yourself off a pharmacy shelf.

Check Your Medicare Advantage Plan for an OTC Benefit

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare, some plans still offer an over-the-counter allowance as a supplemental perk, separate from anything Original Medicare covers. Roughly two-thirds of individual Medicare Advantage plans include some kind of OTC allowance in 2026, and this share is even higher on Special Needs Plans.

Whether that allowance covers COVID-19 test kits specifically, and how much it covers, varies by plan. Call the member services number on the back of your Medicare Advantage card and ask directly whether at-home COVID test kits qualify under your plan’s OTC benefit this year.

Buying a Test Kit at a Pharmacy

At-home rapid antigen tests are still sold at pharmacies and retailers. Without insurance or an OTC benefit covering the purchase, expect to pay roughly $10 to $20 per test, depending on the brand and where you buy it. Some private insurance plans will still reimburse for over-the-counter tests, so it is worth checking your plan’s policy before assuming the full cost is out of pocket.

Community Health Centers and Local Health Departments

Community health centers, including federally qualified health centers, can help you figure out what a test will cost based on your insurance and, in some cases, offer sliding-scale pricing. Coverage and pricing are not standardized nationally, so this depends on the specific center.

Your local or state health department is worth a direct check as well. Some health departments still run their own free or reduced-cost testing at certain times, though this is no longer a nationwide program and varies widely by location. Call your local health department or search its website before assuming a free option exists near you.

One federal program that used to fund no-cost testing at CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacies for uninsured people, called ICATT, lost its funding in May 2025 and is no longer running. If you were relying on that route, it is no longer an option either.

Why Testing Still Matters for Seniors

Older adults remain at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than younger adults. Testing early after symptoms start, or after a known exposure, still helps you and your doctor decide on next steps, including whether an antiviral treatment makes sense for you.

If you test positive, call your doctor promptly rather than waiting to see if symptoms worsen. Treatment options are most effective when started within the first few days of symptoms.

Additional Resources for Seniors and Caregivers

These organizations can help connect you to local services, including health care navigation, even though they are not COVID-test-specific programs on their own.

• Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116. A public service that connects seniors and caregivers to local aging services, including your local Area Agency on Aging.
• Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL): 1-888-677-1199. Connects people with disabilities to local resources and services.

If you are unsure whether a specific testing option is still active in your area, your Area Agency on Aging or local health department is a more reliable source than a general web search, since local programs change without much national coverage.