I just don’t think that’s fair. It puts the onus on stressed out people who are low income to request aid and to even know they can.
I think the government providing PPE across the board during a pandemic is good. There will still be people left out (homeless folx etc) but i just don’t see how the net positive (more people having access) doesn’t out weigh the net negative (some people won’t use them)
Edited for clarity.
For other US-based folks with health insurance, has anyone else put the time into figuring out how to get free or reimbursed tests through insurance? It is so cumbersome, and I am a savvy person with nothing but time on my hands. It’s almost like they’re setting it up this way on purpose!!
We have United Healthcare, which has generally been solid.
I put about 10 mins into looking around my insurance company’s website and then I gave up. Managed to find the bike helmet reimbursement form though. 
I have United too and it seems impossible. Like first I have to find a test to buy, so, welp.
The governor of Colorado announced a plan to provide them and listed the library where I work as a distribution site. Except we don’t have any. Whole system has been fielding calls all morning about it. No, we don’t have any to give out. It’s like the eclipse glasses all over again.
Cigna made it easy to find at least - big obvious link on their homepage. You have to fill out a big form though and then mail it in.
IMO there are many many other areas the US government is wasteful that I’d rather they focus on before worrying about masks getting thrown away.
My workplace provides unlimited surgical grade masks to everyone every day and requires people take a new one whether they want one or not, and unlimited N95s to anyone who knows how to open a door. The garbages are full of used masks but also plenty of unused masks. I certainly don’t want my workplace to stop giving them out or to start rationing or to force me to go fill out a form and request a mask.
I also struggle with the idea of making anyone have to jump through hoops to get something that could be freely and easily given by government, that can help someone’s quality of life.
I still don’t understand why we didn’t, months ago, make it possible to walk into any pharmacy medical office library government office etc and get free Biden-supplied masks and tests.
Right now, yes, I am glad we are mailing them to everyone - I just wish we had done this last year.
Have you (or other CO-based folks) been able to order the free masks through the mail order plan the governor was talking about? I know my mom submitted an order as soon as it opened and hasn’t heard anything. I haven’t tried it.
The thing is, the government knows who is low income. They were able to target certain people with payments, while leaving others out. They can target them with masks as well. Still a lot of wasted masks in that scenario.
N95s also don’t work if they don’t fit well. Are they sending my husband a large, me a small, my preschooler and toddler appropriately sized ones? If not, it’s just theater. The government knows approximately how many people live in a household, and their approximate ages.
And they need distribution to people who are unhoused. They could also set up distribution to people in need.
I think there will be people who benefit from this, but I really think it’s theater for the most part.
I haven’t tried it. I had just bought a bunch.
no, USPS did.
Solidarity from another state in a similar situation.
I understood the program as having masks available for folks to pick up at pharmacies. Are they getting mailed out?
So sad.
Czech singer Hana Horka dies after catching COVID-19 intentionally and avoiding vaccine (msn.com)
The article I read actually now has a correction. It previously said they were sending 3 per person to homes. But now it’s just that 3 per person are available at community locations, with a correction note. This makes a lot more sense to me. People who don’t want masks won’t get them. There are still some access issues, but hopefully fewer.
So here’s the new question: How does this prevent someone from collecting across many locations and hoarding?
I have Blue Cross, and I was able to find a reimbursement form pretty easily today. They don’t say anything about partnering with any retail outlets to provide tests without having to pay and be reimbursed, so I don’t think that’s happening (or at least it’s not set up yet). The challenge will be finding tests to buy, now.
I don’t know if there will be even fewer now with the free ones being sent out, but my mom asked at her Walmart. They said they always come in between 7-8am each day but they go fast. She did get me two boxes to keep on hand. My sister ordered hers online from Walmart but that was a couple of weeks ago.
I ordered some BinaxNow ones online from Walmart in December, but they are sold out now. CVS.com had the QuickVue ones in stock online, so I ordered 4 boxes (8 tests) of those and we’ll see how it goes. My reimbursement form is filled out and I’ll mail it tonight. (You have to mail a paper form in and will get a paper check back. They said it could take up to 60 days.)
I still have most of the ones that I ordered in December and I filled out the form to request the 4 free federal ones, so it’s not an urgent need. With a little bit of emotional distance now I just feel more interested in how this whole process will go. (And very glad I’m not the one coordinating it.)
I was able to get these ones and they are still in stock: https://store.optum.com/shop/products/ongo-10-minute-covid19-antigen-selftest/
Not my favorite brand, but you don’t actually have to get the app. I think they came in about a week; it wasn’t too long at any rate.