The US government _especially_ should be handling out tests for free, even if other countries or places in the worth charge a nominal amount. The US though is

The US government _especially_ should be handling out tests for free, even if other countries or places in the worth charge a nominal amount. The US though is has two main problems that make any sort of charge ridiculous: First, there is a larger-than-normal section of the population that apparently believes the entire pandemic is a "giant hoax", and _most likely_ won't get tested anyways. Any charge at all would be s further hinderence Second, and most importantly, the US medical system has lost all trust when there is any charge whatsoever (such as in the related article), but more to the point, the system has lost all trust when there is any possible way that they could actually bill you. In the US I don't care if you tell me that something is going to be $5, or $50; if there is _any cost at all_, which means that _they have some way of billing me_, I have to operate on the assumption that I will at some point get mailed a bill for X thousands of dollars.