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For comparison: In the UK (which has lower per capita healthcare spending than the US), you can pick up 7 or 14 tests from your local library or local pharmacy

For comparison: In the UK (which has lower per capita healthcare spending than the US), you can pick up 7 or 14 tests from your local library or local pharmacy, without any appointment, pre-booking or ID. Just go here and enter your postcode: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/ https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

xur17 5y ago
My local libraries did that, they just couldn't keep them instock.
- rahimnathwani 5y ago
  AFAIK there was a week around Christmas when the whole country was low on stock, but the situation improved rapidly after that. What's the situation now?
  - adhesive_wombat 5y ago
    No issues, you can just go online and order a free box of 7 tests every 24 hours and they'll be delivered, also for free. You don't even need an account: all you need is an email to receive a verification link.
- maccard 5y ago
  I live in Edinburgh and there was a _really_ small window (between christmas and new year) where they were hard to get, I had to visit 3 pharmacies. Other than that they've been available every time me or anyone I know has wanted one.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
kcb 5y ago
We've also got programs at the State and Local levels.
- jermaustin1 5y ago
  At SOME states and SOME local levels. My town in the Houston TX Metro area offers nothing of the sort.
kilroy123 5y ago
Aren't they often out of stock?
- iso1631 5y ago
  They were around christmas as there was a sudden surge in demand. I believe that they're back to normal now. You can also get them posted, usually arriving next day, for free, which is what I do
- dabeeeenster 5y ago
  There was a couple of weeks over Christmas where it was tricky but has been fine before and after
odiroot 5y ago
That's really awesome and responsible. I regularly have to pay 5-10€ for a single test at my local pharmacist's. No "family size" bundles either.
deleted 5y ago
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jonwinstanley 5y ago
You can get them delivered to your door for free, next day delivery too
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djrogers 5y ago
In the US you also get 8 tests per person per month covered by insurance. It's not ideal, since you have to buy them and fill out a reimbursement form, but it's not like this is the only way we can get tests.
- ghaff 5y ago
  And while I haven't tried it personally, apparently our insurance company requires you to either fax or physically mail the reimbursement form :-/
- rahimnathwani 5y ago
  This was mandated by the federal government less than a week ago. My health insurer sent me an email: "Following guidance from the Biden administration, Kaiser Permanente will now reimburse members for FDA-approved rapid antigen home tests. Submit a reimbursement claim here for tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022" Yes, there are other ways to get tests. But, lately, booking a drive-through or walk-up test (via Kaiser or one of the 'community sites') is more challenging now than it was in December. You may have to book more than 3 days in advance.

xur17 5y ago

My local libraries did that, they just couldn't keep them instock.

rahimnathwani 5y ago
AFAIK there was a week around Christmas when the whole country was low on stock, but the situation improved rapidly after that. What's the situation now?
- adhesive_wombat 5y ago
  No issues, you can just go online and order a free box of 7 tests every 24 hours and they'll be delivered, also for free. You don't even need an account: all you need is an email to receive a verification link.
maccard 5y ago
I live in Edinburgh and there was a _really_ small window (between christmas and new year) where they were hard to get, I had to visit 3 pharmacies. Other than that they've been available every time me or anyone I know has wanted one.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

kcb 5y ago

We've also got programs at the State and Local levels.

jermaustin1 5y ago
At SOME states and SOME local levels. My town in the Houston TX Metro area offers nothing of the sort.

kilroy123 5y ago

Aren't they often out of stock?

iso1631 5y ago
They were around christmas as there was a sudden surge in demand. I believe that they're back to normal now. You can also get them posted, usually arriving next day, for free, which is what I do
dabeeeenster 5y ago
There was a couple of weeks over Christmas where it was tricky but has been fine before and after

odiroot 5y ago

That's really awesome and responsible. I regularly have to pay 5-10€ for a single test at my local pharmacist's. No "family size" bundles either.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

jonwinstanley 5y ago

You can get them delivered to your door for free, next day delivery too

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

djrogers 5y ago

In the US you also get 8 tests per person per month covered by insurance. It's not ideal, since you have to buy them and fill out a reimbursement form, but it's not like this is the only way we can get tests.

ghaff 5y ago
And while I haven't tried it personally, apparently our insurance company requires you to either fax or physically mail the reimbursement form :-/
rahimnathwani 5y ago
This was mandated by the federal government less than a week ago. My health insurer sent me an email: "Following guidance from the Biden administration, Kaiser Permanente will now reimburse members for FDA-approved rapid antigen home tests. Submit a reimbursement claim here for tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022" Yes, there are other ways to get tests. But, lately, booking a drive-through or walk-up test (via Kaiser or one of the 'community sites') is more challenging now than it was in December. You may have to book more than 3 days in advance.