Covid-19: When will free testing end and how much will tests cost?
On Monday, Boris Johnson announced the governments ‘Living with Covid’ plan. On top of an end to isolation, the prime minister said that PCR and lateral flow tests will no longer be free for most people.
This is part of the government’s plan to encourage individuals to take more responsibility for their personal risk and build confidence within the general public to get life back to normal.
From April 1st, only people who are over 70 and people over 12-years-old with weakened immune systems will be eligible for free tests. More information about who will be able to access free tests is set to be released next month.
Two days after the news was announced, the pharmacy Boots started to sell lateral flow tests for £5.99 each or £17 for a pack of four. The first retailer to make the move, it says that cheaper tests will be available from the beginning of March.
Hold on, will lateral flows and PCRs end up costing the same as ‘Fit to fly’ or ‘Test and trace’ tests (which cost around £70 when you go via the NHS)?
At this point, the government has not set out guidelines for price limits on covid tests, which could mean that prices might fluctuate depending on the competition. Other countries across Europe have introduced caps. In Spain, you have to pay a maximum of £2.45 for each test and in France, the highest price has fallen to £5.
The high street is already at war over prices, cashing in on trying to be the cheapest testing available to the general public. Earlier this week Superdrug announced that it would be offering packs of five tests for £9.79. Then, LloydsPharmacy came off on top, promising to offer single swabs for £1.89 each.
Free testing remains in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales at the moment, however, the Prime Minister has confirmed that the devolved nations will not receive extra money for this.
Social care workers with symptoms will still be able to access free covid tests after April 1st, with conversations about other NHS workers still ongoing. It is thought that the cost of tests for healthcare workers will have to be covered by existing budgets.
After the announcement, the general public started to stock up on free tests. So much so that the government has chosen to cap the number of tests available to each household. Instead of being able to order a new pack of tests every 24 hours, now you are only able to get a box delivered every three days.
At the moment, free testing is thought to cost around £2bn a month to run.
To make sure that people remain protected against bad cases of Covid-19, it has been announced that if you have severe symptoms of Covid-19 after April 1st, you’ll be able to get a free test at A&E after your health has been reviewed.
Information contained in this Articles page has been written by talkhealth based on available medical evidence. The content however should never be considered a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek medical advice before changing your treatment routine. talkhealth does not endorse any specific products, brands or treatments.
Information written by the talkhealth team
Last revised: 25 February 2022
Next review: 25 February 2025
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