SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Free coronavirus test kits courtesy of the federal government are set to be available for order on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at covidtests.gov.
California and local county testing resources are also more accessible now after weeks of health care staff trying to keep up with increased testing demands.
Here's how you can get a free, or reimbursed, COVID-19 test in-person or straight to your door.
Free Federal Government Testing Kits
Because of expected high demand, each household can only have four tests shipped to their residence. People can sign up at covidtests.gov.
The White House says “tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering” through the U.S. Postal Service.
People will need to request the tests well before they meet the guidelines for requiring them since USPS shipping times are at least 1-3 days. The tests should be ordered and kept until somebody in the household starts to feel sick with COVID-like symptoms.
California Testing Information
California testing locations can be found at the state's coronavirus resource page HERE.
People can also get tested by appointment with OptumServe. Tests can be registered HERE or by calling 1-888-634-1123. The state encourages people to get tested if they are in underserved communities or at high risk. This includes the uninsured, undocumented and people who are experiencing homelessness.
Testing Insurance Reimbursement
Private insurers are now be required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home rapid tests per month per insured person, according to a new Biden administration rule.
People have the option of buying tests at a store or online, then seeking reimbursement from their health insurance provider.
Those with public health insurance through Medicare, or without insurance, will be directed to covidtests.gov to order tests or to community health centers in their area offering free testing.
Insurers are not expected to retroactively reimburse the cost of tests purchased earlier.
► Testing News In Your Inbox: Sign up now for the Daily Blend Newsletter for the latest on local testing, weather, tips and even something to make you smile.
► ABC10 On Demand: Get access to our local news, live programming and weather with the free ABC10 app for Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
Sacramento County
A range of in-person testing sites are available countywide.
For a list of Curative Walk-Up COVID-19 testing sites with no out-of-pocket insurance costs, click HERE. The Cal Expo site is open Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are at least 15 free walk-up COVID-19 PCR and antigen testing sites spotlighted by Sacramento County. Here is the full list, along with other community testing sites:
Monday:
- Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Must be in line by 1:00 p.m.) - La Familia Maple Neighborhood Center - 3301 37th Ave., Room 7 | 916-990-1311
(Park on 36th Ave.) 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Closed 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Tuesday:
- Cordova Neighborhood Church - 10600 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova | 916-361-8684
10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Closed 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Marsha P. Johnson Center South - 7725 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Natomas Unified School District - 1931 Arena Blvd. | 916-561-5253
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Only PCR Testing) - 3990 Branch Center Rd.
11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Must be in line by 7:30 p.m.) (Closed 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) (Only PCR Testing)
Wednesday:
- Asian Resources, Inc. (ARI) - 6270 Elder Creek Rd. | 916-454-1892
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Must be in line by 3:30 p.m.) - Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Oak Hills Church - 1100 Blue Ravine Rd., Folsom | 916-983-0181
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (No walk-ins available 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and after 3:30 p.m.) - Sacramento LGBT Community Center - 1015 20th St.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - South Sacramento Christian Center - 7710 Stockton Blvd. | 916-681-6791
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Must be in line 30 minutes before closing) (Closed 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Thursday:
- Albiani Recreation Center - 8830 Sharkey Ave., Elk Grove
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Chabolla Community Center - 600 Chabolla Ave., Galt | 209-366-7180
7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Lines may be cut at 11:30 a.m. if supplies are limited) - Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - River Delta - Walnut Grove Elementary - 14181 Grove St., Walnut Grove | 916-417-1121
1:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Robertsons Community Center - 3525 Norwood Ave. | 916-567-9567
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Must be in line by 4:30 p.m.) (Closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.) - Sacramento Assessment Center - 3990 Branch Center Rd.
11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Must be in line by 7:30 p.m.) (Closed 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) (Only PCR Testing)
Friday:
- Cordova Neighborhood Church - 10600 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova | 916-361-8684
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Only PCR Testing) - Galt Parks & Recreation Office - 610 Chabolla Ave., Galt | 209-366-7180
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church - 3996 14th Ave. | 916-573-3555
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Closed 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) (Must be in line by 10:30 a.m. / 2:30 p.m. to ensure processing by the end of the respective shift) - Tetteh Pediatric Health at the Fruitridge Community Collaborative, 4625 44th St.
9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Closed 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
Saturday:
- Galt Parks & Recreation Office - 600 Chabolla Ave., Galt | 209-366-7180
7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Liberty Towers Church - 5131 Elkhorn Blvd. | 916-583-8877
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Sacramento Native American Health Center - 2020 J St. | 916-394-5101
8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. (Closed 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. and walk-Ins end at 2:45 p.m.) (*Testing requires an appointment; walk-ins will be accepted based on availability but not guaranteed a spot)
Sunday:
- As of now, no sites are open on Sundays.
Placer County
Free COVID-19 testing is available in Truckee, according to the Tahoe Forest Health System, through Curative at the Old Gateway Center at 10990 Donner Pass Road.
Pre-registration can be done here, or by calling 888-634-1123.
Through the same above link, COVID-19 testing appointments can be scheduled at the Maidu Activity Center in Roseville, 1960 Johnson Ranch Dr.
San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County has more than a dozen COVID-19 testing sites across the county. Cities with sites include Stockton, Manteca, Lodi, Tracy and Escalon.
Major testing sites around the county include the Manteca Transit Center, Delta College, San Joaquin General Hospital and County Clinics.
Here is a full list of the testing sites countywide:
Stanislaus County
Through OptumServe, Stanislaus County is offering in-office and drive-thru PCR testing in Turlock, Ceres and Salida. Testing will be open at three locations between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., with two breaks between 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Rube Boesch Center at 275 North Orange St., Turlock. | Sunday - Friday
- Ceres Unified School District offices at 2491 Lawrence St., Ceres in Annex Meeting Room 2. | Saturday - Thursday (Behind Walter White Elementary School).
- Salida Library parking lot at 4835 Sisk Rd., Salida. | Monday - Saturday
(Both drive-thru and in-person patients) (Do not enter library for testing).
Here is a full list of testing sites in the county through Curative mobile testing vans and in-person PCR tests:
Yolo County
A Yolo County spokesperson said starting Jan. 10, the county will begin distributing free at-home antigen test kits to residents and workers looking to shorten their isolation period to less than 10 days.
The drive-thru antigen test distribution events will be hosted every Monday and Friday from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on 137 N. Cottonwood St., Woodland. Distributions will be hosted continuously until supplies run out.
Free testing through Healthy Davis Together is is available in Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland. The schedule is at healthydavistogether.org/testing/#schedule.
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Need Help?
- San Joaquin County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Yolo County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Stanislaus County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
- Sacramento County Help: A Resource Guide for Struggling Families and Individuals
WATCH MORE: If you test positive for COVID can you be forced back to work?