Help with Ordering Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

On January 14, the White House announced a new initiative to help ensure Americans have COVID-19 tests on hand in case they are needed. The website to order at-home testing kits—at no cost—is now live and accepting orders. People who do not have internet access or who need additional assistance with ordering can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to place their orders. 

Older adults and people with disabilities who live in King County can request assistance navigating and accessing options by contacting Community Living Connections (toll-free 844-348-5464).

The Eldercare Locator and the Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) also can assist older adults and people with disabilities with placing orders if they need additional help, connect people to accessible instructions,  and help with administering the tests. Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific). 

• Older adults can call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 Monday-Friday or visit the website to chat live or browse resources.  
• People with disabilities can contact DIAL by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org. The DIAL information specialists are trained to work with people of various communications abilities, including spending as much time as needed to understand callers. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can reach DIAL using the 711/Video Relay Service (VRS). To use this free service, simply dial 711 to be connected via text with a communications assistant. (For people who do not communicate through speech, sign language or VRS, email is the best option to communicate with DIAL.)

Two important notes:

• There are enough kits to fill orders for every residential address in the country. 
• Orders began shipping at the end of January, for both people who placed their orders via the online form in the days when only the online form was available and those who began ordering when the phone lines became available.

This article originally appeared as a media release on the Administration for Community Living (ACL.gov) website in January 2022. The antigen test photo at top may not resemble the test kits distributed in our area. For up-to-date information about free COVID-19 tests, call the resource numbers listed above or visit COVIDtests.gov.