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Defense Department Announces Distribution of COVID-19 Tests for Military Beneficiaries

Image of A Soldier assigned to the Connecticut National Guard helps load a shipment of at-home COVID-19 testing kits into a truck at a regional distribution point in North Haven, Connecticut, Jan. 3, 2022. These kits were picked up by representatives from local towns and municipalities to be handed out to their communities. A Soldier assigned to the Connecticut National Guard helps load a shipment of at-home COVID-19 testing kits into a truck at a regional distribution point in North Haven, Connecticut, Jan. 3, 2022. These kits were picked up by representatives from local towns and municipalities to be handed out to their communities.

The Department of Defense will offer at-home COVID-19 tests for military beneficiaries at military hospitals or clinics, on a supply available basis, in the coming weeks. Supplies may be limited, as the Department must use its limited allotment of at-home tests to first meet clinical and operational testing requirements.

Beneficiaries are encouraged to first contact their provider if they have a known COVID-19 exposure or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. A provider may recommend beneficiaries get a medical appointment or prescribe a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test based on the patient’s condition.

As local medical treatment facilities receive at-home tests for distribution, they will communicate with their beneficiaries about processes to pick up these tests. Beneficiaries can obtain up to eight tests per month, subject to availability. Beneficiaries are encouraged to check their military hospital or clinic’s homepage or social media sites to see when and where your military hospital or clinic may be distributing tests.

While the Military Health System increases its supply of at-home tests, beneficiaries are reminded that they can go to www.covidtests.gov to order up to four at-home tests free of charge from the federal government or go to their local pharmacy to purchase tests as needed.”

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Last Updated: July 31, 2023
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