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About at-home COVID-19 Tests
- At-home COVID-19 tests are tests that you can take at home and get your results without sending a sample to a laboratory for testing. These tests are easy to use, produce rapid results, and can be bought over-the-counter if necessary. Learn more about self-tests at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html.
- You can take a test at home, even if you don’t have symptoms or are fully vaccinated, in order to make decisions that will help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others.
- Although at-home COVID-19 tests are available, you’re encouraged to request a laboratory test like PCR instead of an at-home test when possible.
- You should take an at-home test if:
- You begin to have symptoms of COVID-19
- You come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19
- You're gathering indoors with a group of people who are at risk of severe disease or not vaccinated.
How to get an at-home COVID-19 Test
- You can get a free, at-home test if you TRICARE-authorized provider or provider at a military hospital or clinic orders one for you. Your health care provider decides if you need a test based on your exposure risk, symptoms, and guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- You have other options to get a free, at-home COVID-19 test if your provider doesn't order one for you:
- Your military hospital or clinic may have free at-home tests available for distribution. Check the facility’s homepage or social media sites to see when and where your military hospital or clinic may be distributing tests.
- You may order four tests per household online at www.covidtests.gov. Some restrictions apply, so check the website for details.
- You may be able to get a free test from local governments, libraries, or other entities. Check local websites for test availability.
- If you have other private or employer-sponsored health insurance, you may be eligible for reimbursement for up to 8 at-home COVID-19 tests per month (per individual).
- If you request a free, at-home COVID-19 test from your local military hospital or clinic, you have to be a TRICARE-eligible ID card holder to pick up your tests. You can't send someone else to pick up your tests for you
Test Results
Depending on your test results, take proper action.
- If you have a positive test result:
- The test detected the virus and you're likely to have a current infection.
- Follow public health guidelines for isolation and treatment, and inform close contacts. (Centers for Disease Control Quarantine and Isolation Guidance).
- If you have a negative test result:
- The test didn’t detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule out infection.
- Repeat the test within a few days, leaving at least 24 hours in between tests, to make sure you aren’t infected.
- If you have an indeterminate result or a test error:
- The test didn't work properly.
- If this happens, check the instructions for use in the package insert and contact the manufacturer for help.
Adding Results to Electronic Health Record
You should report your positive at-home test results to your health care provider, who will record the test result in your electronic health record. Your health care team will help you with questions about potential and current COVID-19 symptoms, what self-care you can provide at home, and when to seek health care if symptoms worsen.
If you usually get care at a military hospital or clinic, you may report your positive results by:
- Contacting your health care team through secure messaging, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the TRICARE Online Patient Portal (TOLPP) or the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. This is the preferred reporting method for your positive test results. Your health care team will respond to you with any medical instructions within 24 hours.
- Contacting your health care team directly via a phone call during duty hours.
- Calling your military hospital or clinic appointment line and asking to speak with your team nurse. The appointment line will leave a phone consult with your team nurse, who will call you back within 24-72 hours.
- Scheduling a virtual appointment with your primary care manager using the TOLPP or MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. Many civilian providers offer virtual telehealth appointments, too.
- Contacting your military hospital or clinic hotline or information line. Telephone numbers are available on the facility’s homepage and social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
If you usually get care in the TRICARE civilian health care network, please contact your primary care provider or your TRICARE Regional Contractor (Humana, HealthNet or International SOS). Your provider may give you instructions over the phone or schedule you for a virtual health care visit, if available.