No-Cost, At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits

Beginning, January 18, 2022, no-cost, at-home test kits can be ordered through the federal government and will be delivered through the mail.

• You can request 4 rapid antigen tests per residential address by going to https://www.covidtests.gov/.
  • Each box includes 2 tests so you will receive a total of 8 tests.
• Your kits will be delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) at no cost, starting in late January.
  • USPS will only send one set of 4 tests to each valid residential address.
  • USPS is unable to process duplicate orders for the same address.

It says on the covidtests.gov  website that orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

• If you live in an apartment or other multiple-family residence and you’re getting this message, it’s probably because the USPS system doesn’t recognize your unit’s address as one of several in a multi-unit building.
• In these cases, the USPS recommends filing a service request at https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry or calling its help desk at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

At-home tests are available in all Rhode Island communities. To find out where to go in your community, you can call your City or Town Hall.

Neighborhood also encourages members to access free testing at one of the State Run test sites.  Neighborhood will cover the cost of the test. You will not need to pay any copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing.

All State testing sites require an appointment. To schedule an appointment for yourself or a dependent visit portal.ri.gov.

To learn more about the types of testing, testing locations and testing events, please visit the RIDOH website.

Starting January 15, 2022, and throughout the public health emergency:

• Neighborhood will cover the cost of up to 8 over-the-counter, FDA-approved, at-home COVID-19 tests, without a prescription for Neighborhood members.
• Each member on a Neighborhood plan is covered for up to 8 home self-test kits every 30 days.

• To get an at-home COVID-19 test kit, you must make your purchase in-store at a participating pharmacy counter. Be sure to bring your member ID card with you.
• Please note that pharmacies may limit the number of tests obtained in one transaction, depending on the supply.

• With your Neighborhood ID card, you can get at-home test kits at the pharmacy at no cost.
• If you do pay for your at-home test kits, you will not be reimbursed.

For Neighborhood members, the following at-home COVID-19 rapid test kits are covered:

*This list is subject to change. 

**At-home COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits must be purchased for personal use. You will not be reimbursed for tests purchased for work, school, other requirements or resale. An attestation is required.

COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work by looking for the presence of specific proteins associated with the coronavirus. They are sometimes referred to as rapid COVID-19 tests because it can take less than an hour to get the test results. Read about more about testing on the CDC’s website.

Read the complete manufacturer’s instructions for use before using the test. Talk to a health care provider if you have questions about the test or your results. Refer to CDC’s videos on How to Use a Self-Test and How to Interpret Self-Test Results.

Self-tests may be used if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed or potentially exposed to an individual with COVID-19.

Even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering indoors with others can give you information about the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Read more on the CDC’s website.

No. PCR home collection kits that are sent to a lab are not eligible for reimbursement at this time.