DHHS promotes free COVID test program, offers additional testing options

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is encouraging residents to take advantage of the federal government’s free at-home COVID-19 test program, and is providing information about testing options in the state. 

As of Monday, all U.S. residents can sign up to receive up to four free at-home COVID-19 tests per household by visiting COVIDTests.gov.

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For Michiganders who are considering onsite COVID-19 testing, Michigan.gov/COVIDTest offers information to help locate a testing site.

DHHS will continue to partner with libraries across the state to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests to Michigan residents. Participating libraries can be found at the state’s coronavirus website under resources for testing. 

While private health insurers are no longer required to cover at-home COVID-19 tests, further information is available for individuals with private insurance and Medicare. Medicare and Medicaid recipients can obtain free at-home and laboratory COVID-19 tests until Sept. 30, 2024. The department advises individuals to check with their insurer for the most up-to-date information on their insurance plan. 

“Testing continues to be a critical tool in managing the spread of COVID-19 and we encourage Michigan families to take advantage of the available free COVID tests to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to our loved ones and neighbors,” said Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive.

“It is important to test for COVID but to also consider other respiratory diseases, like RSV and influenza, as we head into fall and winter when these respiratory diseases spread most easily. Please stay home if you are sick, even if you have a negative COVID test,” Bagdasarian said. 

DHHS encourages families to have a COVID plan, which may include keeping a supply of masks and at-home tests, receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine, or speaking to a health care provider about eligibility for therapeutics that reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 disease for people who test positive. 

More information on DHHS-sponsored COVID-19 testing can be found at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.