Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional four free tests from COVIDTests.gov as of November 20, 2023. If you have not ordered any tests yet this fall, you may place two orders for a total of eight tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping.

Medicaid renewals and other resources on the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency:

We've compiled information about the end of Medicaid continuous coverage and other changes connected to the end of the public health emergency and the major disaster declaration on one page.

Find the latest:

• Vaccination information, including guidance on boosters and additional doses
• Information on tests, including how to get at-home tests, what insurance is required to cover, and in-person options

Need help with vaccination, boosters or testing?

Trained staff are standing by to help you find vaccine and testing locations, make appointments, order free at-home test kits, and connect to local services and supports if you need them to get vaccinated or tested. 

• For people with disabilities: The Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) can be reached by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org at any time.

• For older adults:  Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 or visit the website to chat live or browse resources. 

Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern). (Use this infographic and this video to help spread the word about DIAL.) 

What's New

Here are the latest additions to this page. Sign up for ACL Updates to receive these and other updates via e-mail.

• At-home COVID-19 tests are again available at no cost through a partnership between the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the United States Postal Service. People who are blind or who have low vision can order Ellume COVID Home Tests, which are more accessible than other options. Supplies of the more accessible tests are limited, so people are asked to order them only if they do not have a way to use the other types of tests, such as assistive technology or a trusted family member or friend who can assist (in person or via video call).  

• In a blog post, ACL's Alison Barkoff encouraged the aging and disability networks to help get the word out to people enrolled in Medicaid that they may have to take action to remain covered and that there are steps they can take if they lose Medicaid. Here are some key messages:

  • UPDATE your contact information with your state Medicaid agency NOW.

  • RESPOND to the Medicaid renewal form when it comes in the mail. If you don't, you may lose your coverage even if you are still eligible.

  • PARENTS should respond even if they are not eligible or are enrolled in other coverage. Your children could still be eligible for coverage.

  • CONNECT WITH RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP: If you lose Medicaid coverage and think you may still be eligible, there are programs that may be able to help you appeal the denial of Medicaid coverage or find other insurance. State protection and advocacy systems and legal advocacy organizations funded under the Older Americans Act may be able to help with appeals. Disabled people of all ages can also contact the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) for assistance, and older adults can contact the Eldercare Locator to find local assistance.

  • CHECK OTHER OPTIONS: If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, you should check to see if you can get coverage through your employer or through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace at healthcare.gov. Older adults and people with disabilities who are eligible for Medicare can also find assistance through their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP is a national program that offers one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages, their families, and caregivers to help them make informed decisions about their care and benefits.

• CDC has updated its guidance on air ventilation in buildings. The guidance now includes a recommendation to get at least 5 air changes per hour of clean air in occupied spaces.

• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a number of updates to its COVID-19 technical assistance, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” including adding a new question and answer about the end of the federal declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Because the protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine fades much more quickly for people 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to allow an additional an dose of the updated (bivalent) vaccine for these populations. CDC also simplified its vaccination recommendations for everyone else. Everyone six and older should to get one shot of the updated bivalent vaccine, regardless of whether they completed the original vaccination series. Not sure if you need one?

  • No matter how older you are, if you have not gotten a shot since September, you definitely need one!
  • If you are 65 or older or if you are moderately or severely immunocompromised, it may be a good idea for you to get an extra dose of the bivalent vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to decide whether it makes sense for you.

Resources for people with COVID-related disabilities

On July 26, 2022, the White House published this comprehensive package of resources for people with disabilities, including people with COVID-related disabilities. We've created a page for these and other resources for people with COVID-related disabilities -- we'll add to it as more resources are available.
 

National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

The National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness provides detailed information about the seven goals of Biden Administration's coordinated pandemic response. The 198-page strategy document begins with an overview of the goals, followed by details on a variety of topics, many of which intersect the core missions of the aging and disability networks. Among the topics covered are home and community based services, vaccination communication, impact on at-risk groups, equitable access to PPE, and community-based, multi-sector efforts to align health and social interventions. The strategy reflects the White House's priorities for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.