Where to Get At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Recent changes have affected how people get free at-home COVID-19 tests. This page explains your current options for getting tests for yourself, local health department or other organization.

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No. The federal program that sent free at-home COVID-19 tests to states and partners ended in June 2025. Because that program ended, the NCDHHS Community Access Point (CAP) program also ended at that time. The CAP program provided free tests for pick-up through participating community organizations.

  • NCDHHS does not know of any programs that are currently giving out free at-home COVID tests.  
  • You can check with your doctor, local health department or community health center, but free tests may be limited or no longer available.

  • No. As of June 3, 2025, the federal government stopped offering free COVID-19 tests through the Health Partner Order Portal (HPOP).
  • NCDHHS also no longer has a supply of free tests because all tests from the federal program have now expired.
  • Local health departments and other organizations that want to keep tests on hand will need to buy them from a trusted retailer (for small orders) or medical supplier (for large or bulk orders). See Where can I buy new COVID-19 test kits? for more details. 
     

Maybe. Some tests are still good after the date on the box, depending on the brand and lot number.

Check if a test has an extended expiration date   

Please remember: 

  • The FDA is no longer extending expiration dates for COVID-19 tests.
  • Do not use your test and throw it away in your regular trash if:
    • The test is past both the printed date and the extended date.
    • The test brand does not appear on the FDA’s extension list and the printed date has passed.

You can buy at-home tests from most major stores, including Walmart, Target or local pharmacies.

For health departments and other organizations:

  • Small orders: Buy from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target or a local pharmacy.
  • Large or bulk orders: Order from medical suppliers such as McKesson, Cardinal Health, Fisher Scientific or Cencora.
    • When ordering in bulk, ask for the expiration date to make sure you get tests that last the longest.

Before buying, check that the test is on the FDA’s authorized COVID-19 test list, which shows all approved test and compares them side by side.

You may be able to buy rapid tests from a local or online pharmacy using insurance or get reimbursed.

If you have private insurance

Some health plans reimbursed the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests during the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE). Since the PHE ended in May 2023, private insurance companies are no longer required to cover the full cost of tests.

Check your insurance's policy on at-home test reimbursement:

Don't see your health insurance provider listed? Please check their website.

If you have Medicare coverage

You can access testing through your health care provider or local pharmacist. Or pick up free at-home rapid tests at Medicare-certified health clinics.

Currently, original Medicare does not pay for at-home tests for individuals’ purchases. However, Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage and payment for at-home COVID-19 tests. If you're covered by Medicare Advantage, be sure to check your plan.