Changes to COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing and Treatment

Recommendations, Availability and Cost

The American Lung Association is monitoring changes to COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment coverage and availability and has developed this easy-to-use website to provide updated information.

Changes to Your Healthcare Coverage

Do you or a family member currently have health coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)? If so, you may soon need to take steps to renew or change your coverage. The Lung Association has information and resources to help you keep or find quality, affordable coverage.
Learn more and get resources

COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are recommended and available for the 2023-24 fall and winter season. 

You may choose to get a vaccination:

  • At your doctor, pharmacist, or community health center
  • At your state or local health department or
  • By using the COVID-19 vaccine locator

How to Access COVID-19 Testing

Access to COVID-19 testing including at-home, PCR and rapid tests has changed.

Where to get tested for COVID-19:

  • COVID-19 tests can be purchased online, in pharmacies and in retail stores.
  • Visit a community-based testing location such as a pharmacy or health center.
  • Contact your local health department or healthcare provider.
  • If you are uninsured, you can search for a no-cost testing location site using CDC's COVID-19 Testing Locator.

How to Access COVID-19 Treatment

Talk to your healthcare provider to learn whether treatment for COVID-19 is an option for you. Healthcare providers can test for COVID-19 and prescribe treatment.

If you don’t have a healthcare provider, there are Test to Treat locations available nationwide or you can connect with your local health department or community health center.

COVID-19 treatments purchased by the federal government will continue to be free to the public, regardless of insurance coverage. Any treatments not purchased by the federal government may require out of pocket costs.

Insurance Coverage

If you have health insurance, most plans will cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. People who do not have health insurance or have an insurance plan that doesn’t cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines, can get a free vaccine from a local community health center, local health department or pharmacy that is participating in the CDC’s Bridge Access Program. You can search for a participating Bridge Access Program provider using Vaccines.gov. You can also learn more about coverage of respiratory vaccines including coverage using our Respiratory Immunization Coverage factsheet.

Requirements that Medicare and private health insurance plans cover up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month at no cost will end with the public health emergency. Medicare will still cover laboratory COVID-19 tests (like PCR tests) at no cost. For individuals with private health insurance, coverage and costs for both laboratory and at-home testing will depend on your individual plan. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will continue to cover COVID-19 testing (including at-home testing) through September 2024.

Treatment for COVID-19 could include doctors’ visits, hospitalizations, prescription medications and other medical services. Coverage for and the cost of these services will depend on your individual health insurance plan. State Medicaid and CHIP plans must cover COVID-19 treatments without cost-sharing through September 2024. If you are uninsured, you will have to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The virus that causes COVID-19 is still circulating and infecting hundreds of thousands of Americans weekly. Public health emergencies are temporary, and expiration does not mean all policies will end immediately. CDC, state and local health departments will continue to provide updated guidance.

The American Lung Association and CDC recommends:

  • everyone be up to date on their recommended COVID-19 vaccination
  • get tested right away if you are experiencing symptoms
  • seek treatment if you are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness and test positive
  • stay home if you are sick

Yes. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available and recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. You learn read more about the updated COVID-19 vaccination recommendations on our preventing COVID-19 page. The updated COVID-19 vaccines were created to target the circulating strains of the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccination helps to prevent severe illness, complications and hospitalization from COVID-19.

Talk to an expert

Our Lung HelpLine is staffed by registered nurses and respiratory therapists ready to help answer your questions about COVID-19. Connect with us by phone, email or live chat.

Page last updated: November 13, 2023

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