Poll: 62 percent who tried to find at-home COVID-19 test had difficulty

A new poll finds that more than 60 percent of U.S. adults who tried to get an at-home COVID-19 test reported difficulty doing so, underscoring problems with testing access.  

The survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 62 percent of U.S. adults who tried to get an at-home coronavirus test in the past month had difficulty, compared to 38 percent who found it easy.  

The results were better for in-person tests, with 65 percent saying it was easy and 35 percent difficult. But experts have pointed to the value of at-home tests for their ease of use and rapid results, avoiding the need to wait days for a reading.  

The poll, which was conducted Jan. 11-23, adds some statistical rigor to anecdotal reports across the country of retailers sold out of at-home tests.  

Overall, 23 percent of adults said they tried to get either an in-person or at-home test in the past month and had difficulty, the poll found, with 24 percent trying and not having difficulty, but a majority, 52 percent, not trying at all.

The Biden administration this month has taken some steps to try to make rapid at-home tests more available. A website launched this month to allow people to order free tests shipped to their home, but there is a limit of four tests per residence. Insurers are also now required to cover the cost of eight at-home tests per month, but the reimbursement process can be cumbersome, posing an obstacle.  

Asked about responsibility for limited test availability, 49 percent put a lot or a fair amount of blame on the Food and Drug Administration, while 44 percent placed a lot or a fair amount of blame on President BidenJoe BidenCourt nixes offshore drilling leases auctioned by Biden administration Laquan McDonald’s family pushes for federal charges against officer ahead of early release Biden speaks with Ukrainian president amid Russian threat MORE.  

The poll also signaled some resignation with the state of the pandemic: 77 percent said it is inevitable that most people in the U.S. will eventually get COVID-19.  

The poll surveyed 1,536 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.