As winter approaches, kids have started bringing home coughs and sneezes from school and lots of folks are feeling a little off, maybe with a nagging tickle in their throats or an irritating cough. Could be the drier air as we start firing up our wood stoves. Or it could be a cold or some other virus, like the flu.
If you want to know whether you have a cold, the flu or Covid-19, you can order four free at-home Covid-19 tests from the federal government at COVIDTests.gov. Shipping is free and you’ll only need to give your name and shipping address. You may share your email if you want shipping updates, but you need not share any other information.
If you don’t have tests on hand and need to be tested right away, contact your Primary Care Provider—your health insurance plan should cover a test given by an in-network provider—or buy tests at your local pharmacy.
It’s also a good time of year to get the vaccines you need. Look, no one likes getting poked with a needle, but a quick shot could lower the chance that you’ll get sick. And even if you do catch a bug, you may have much milder symptoms.
Ask your doctor about to whether you’re up to date with vaccinations, whether for Covid-19, pneumonia, the flu, shingles, RSV or other viruses. When it comes to Covid-19, you may have seen recent news from the Centers for Disease Control about changes in who should get the vaccine, but your doctor will be the best guide when it comes to your personal health.
Community Health Options Members won’t pay anything out of pocket for Covid vaccinations or Covid tests administered by an in-network provider, like a doctor or pharmacy. Community Health Options also provides full coverage for flu vaccines from in-network providers.
You can learn more about immunizations at Healthwise, a nonprofit service Community Health Options offers to provide unbiased, evidence-based and research-driven answers to your questions. You can also find information about a range of vaccines, check symptoms and search tons of topics to support your health.
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Maine has extended its review to determine who’s eligible for MaineCare until the end of October with a renewed effort to reach those who may have missed out in 2023—even if they didn’t respond to earlier requests to provide the information needed to confirm their eligibility.
The state began reviewing eligibility in 2023 following the end of the federal public health emergency and successfully renewed coverage for 300,000 Mainers. About 9% lost their MaineCare coverage last year, but the state says it expects a higher percentage of the remaining 55,000 people will lose coverage, either thanks to higher wages or because some have moved out of state. Those folks are scheduled for renewal in August, September or October, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
