The government will again be sending out free COVID test to American households this fall, following a rise in cases this summer and an expected seasonal rise into wintertime.
While, of course, the peak of the coronavirus pandemic is behind us, cases are continuing to bubble across the country, causing illness and deaths. There was a wave of cases that built up at the tail-end of this summer, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show, and while it's significantly better than in previous years, we've learned we have to stay vigilant to keep the virus away.
We've also learned in the past few years that it's easier to spread COVID during the winter, when people gather more, for the holidays, and spend more time indoors in enclosed spaces, due to the cold. It's with that trend in mind that the government will be sending out free COVID-19 tests this fall.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"As families start to move indoors this fall and begin spending time with their loved ones, both very old and very young, they will once again have the opportunity to order up to four new COVID-19 tests free of charge and have them sent directly to their homes," Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told reporters, according to ABC News.
Households will be able to get four free COVID at-home tests, which will be able to detect current variants and can be used through the end of the year, the HHS says. You can order them through COVIDTests.gov.
However, you'll have to wait till "the end of September" to order them, and the government still has not announced an exact date when ordering will be live on the site. Please note, the COVID Tests site from the government can have trouble loading if it's getting too much traffic.
A COVID test costs as little as $10, so this amounts to savings of about $40. It's not a lot of cash, but you could feel better about putting it towards, say, a few Pumpkin Spice Lattes this fall. If you also consider the savings of not having to go to a doctor's office for a test, you just scored yourself a couple more lattes.
Other COVID precautions this fall
If testing is a way to keep others safe from COVID-19, keeping up with vaccines is a way to keep yourself safe. Updated vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer were approved by the FDA in August and are available around the country.
These vaccines are specifically updated to address a variant of COVID that caused the majority of infections this summer, according to Andy Pekosz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The CDC recommends COVID vaccines for everyone 6 months and older, and Pekosz says the best time to get vaccinated, if you haven't had COVID in the past few months, is in mid-October, to tackle an expected rise in cases around the holidays. You can get a flu vaccine at the same time.
Health is wealth, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Related content
-
Don't Let a "Clunker" Fund Drag Down Your 401(k)401(k) lineups are loaded with overpriced, underperforming fund options. Here's how you can dump the clunkers.
-
Do You Need Flood Insurance? I'm an Insurance Expert, and Here's Where You Can Get ItStandard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so you might need separate flood insurance, which you can get either through FEMA or private companies. Here are the details.
-
Do You Need Flood Insurance? I'm an Insurance Expert, and Here's Where You Can Get It
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so you might need separate flood insurance, which you can get either through FEMA or private companies. Here are the details.
-
I'm an Investment Professional: These Are the Three Money Tips I'm Giving My College GradCollege grads can help set themselves up for financial independence by focusing on emergency savings, opting into a 401(k) at work (if it's offered) and disciplined, long-term investing.
-
3 Things Dave Ramsey Says to Stop Buying — and 2 That Are Worth ItDebt-free living starts with smart choices. Here's what Ramsey says to avoid and where your money is well spent.
-
Five Big Beautiful Bill Changes and How Wealthy Retirees Can BenefitHere's how wealthy retirees can plan for the changes in the new tax legislation, including what it means for tax rates, the SALT cap, charitable giving, estate taxes and other deductions and credits.
-
This is the Best CD to Get Amid Rate UncertaintyThis CD helps you earn more than 4%, with quick access to your cash if you need it.
-
Is It Time to Cut the Cord on Your Landline?With rising costs and evolving technology, many are rethinking their home phone service. Here's how to decide if it's time to let go.
-
Can AI Help With Your Finances?ChatGPT and other artificial-intelligence tools will streamline certain tasks, but don't count on them to get everything right.
-
Neglecting Car Maintenance Could Cost You More Than a Repair, Especially in the SummerWorn, underinflated tires and other degraded car parts can fail in extreme heat, causing accidents. If your employer is ignoring needed repairs on company cars, there's something employees can do.
