I thought the COVID-19 chapter was closed, but turns out, it’s still hanging around. Dealing with it has been tougher than expected. After some online searching on Google and Reddit,” I stumbled upon a program called Home Test to Treat and was able to access Paxlovid without any cost.
This program is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is pretty straightforward. It’s all online through a website called Home Test to Treat, hosted by eMed. You can sign up, report how you’re feeling, and even get virtual doctor visits and medicine delivered right to your door—all for free. The idea is to help out in specific communities with things like at-home tests and treatments.
According to this article, Paxlovid is used for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and it usually costs $530-$700 per person. The U.S. Department of Health says the federal government is still in charge of giving out Paxlovid, and it’s supposed to be free for everyone, even if you don’t have insurance. But there’s a plan to stop this program by the end of the year.
My own encounter with COVID-19 started with a trip to the mall with my mom. Despite being careful, I got hit with a nasty throat infection. Weirdly enough, my husband, who was sick too, didn’t catch it.
Also, the fact that this happened during Christmas meant we had plenty of food at home from my mom, luckily. Bonus: I got to be in charge of the post-feast dish duty.
From Sore Throat to Garlic Bread Adventures
Day 1: The Sore throat surprise
I’m not sure if this is Day 1, but it’s when the first sign hit – a terrible sore throat in the morning.
Day 1 – Evening: the longest night
Confirmation hit at night with unbearable muscle pain. Sleep was impossible. Overnight, my temperature went up from 99 to 100.6 F. I braved a snack run, returning to a sleep interrupted by the lingering metallic taste of Paxlovid for a good 3-4 hours – quite a challenge for my taste buds.
Day 2: False hope
Feeling a bit better, I thought the worst was over. I stayed up until 1 am watching “Devil in Ohio,” still faithfully taking Paxlovid twice a day.
Day 3: Sudden soreness
A sudden return of sore throat had me thinking it was just sleep deprivation. An earlier bedtime was my solution.
Day 4: Seeking urgent care
My sore throat escalated to unbearable levels, and I felt like swallowing glass. Urgent care prescribed amoxicillin.
Day 5: Garlic bread wisdom
Sore throat persisted; attempts with garlic and ginger tea fell short. I discovered a hidden talent – making garlic bread.
Day 6: Battle continues
My throat was still painful. Juggling antibiotics and Paxlovid for relief.
Day 7: Noticing the journey
Slow progress noted, sticking to the antibiotic and Paxlovid routine.
Day 8: The cold milk incident
Accidentally sipped cold chocolate milk and for some reason, this triggered me a cough storm. Sleep became a challenge.
Day 9: The persistent cough
Started coughing incessantly. Mucinex brought relief but drowsiness. Testing positive, impatience kicking in.
Day 10: Still positive
Tested again, still positive. Sleep troubles persist.
Day 11-12: The unwanted guests
Cough, COVID and sniffles refuse to leave, still in the positive lane. The waiting game continues, and patience is not my strong suit.
My Experience with the Home Test Program
Creating an account was my first step, and I must say, I love their website design. The website is a breeze to navigate. I filled out some questions in the morning, and they shot back a text within 3-4 hours. There is an option to be contacted by phone and video call, and I chose the phone. No credit card or payment information is required.
Later, they sent a prescription, and I picked it up for free. They prescribed me 300 mg nirmatrelvir with 100 mg ritonavir, taken twice daily for 5 days. Interestingly, I see the claim for Paxlovid was made in my health insurance account, although it costs 0 on the claim. So, I’d strongly suggest double-checking with the pharmacy, and confirming the cost if you decide to try the program.
There was a tad of confusion with the pharmacy lady initially. She said I could only grab it the next day, and I needed insurance. But, after consulting her supervisor, it turned out the state covered it, and I could pick it up on the same day.
But, heads up! From creating an account to getting a reply, it took me 3 hours. I started in the morning, around 9:30 ish and they replied at around 11 am. If you fill out the request at night, maybe hold off until the next day. So, if you want to get quicker access, maybe some paid services is better.
Before picking a pharmacy, make sure they have the prescription you need. Not all pharmacies carry every medication, and checking beforehand can save you a lot of time.
My experience trying other low-cost medical resources.
On my fourth day, my throat was incredibly painful.
I tried to get amoxicillin (I remembered it helped when I was little), but it wasn’t available.
I gave K-Health a shot, but even after paying for the subscription, I faced technical issues. I wouldn’t really recommend it. I had to call to get my money back.
Next, I tried 98point6 app, but they don’t take new subscribers anymore, even though I had a good experience with them before.
I took a chance and asked the doctor from the home test program if he could prescribe it, but obviously he couldn’t.
In the end, I went to an urgent care 25 minutes from my home. The closest one had a 4-hour wait after I called to check. Seeing the doctor cost $115, and amoxicillin was $3.66 which surprised me because I have deductible health insurance. Thankfully, the wait was only an hour.
This experience reminded me how expensive and somewhat hard to access healthcare is in the US. In my hometown, there are plenty of walk-in clinics with varying prices, providing options. But I’m glad there’s at least an urgent care nearby.
My experience with Paxlovid
Honestly, I don’t like this medicine much. The bitter taste doesn’t bother some people, but it bothers me. It stays for hours and didn’t help me sleep, kind of made me feel really sick. But, I think it did work because my muscle pain was gone the next day.
I hope sharing my experience has been helpful to you. I wouldn’t wish COVID-19 on anyone because it was truly awful. Thanks a bunch for taking the time to read my story. Stay safe!
Vi, a software engineer with a keen interest in personal finance, had planned to retire once she reached her lean FI/RE (Financial Independence/Retire Early) goal. However, after achieving the goal, she took few months of a mini-retirement filled with travel and adventure and decided to continue her career.
For the past five years, Vi has been using Personal Capital (Empower), a free financial tool. Her favorite features include the dashboard for net worth, allocation, and planning, which help track her FI/RE goal and keep those investment fees in check.