Retailers hike COVID-19 test prices after White House deal expires

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

U.S.-based retailers are increasing prices on some of their more popular at-home COVID-19 tests after a deal with the Biden administration to sell them at a lower cost expired last month.

Walmart announced this week that it is raising its COVID-19 testing kits’ prices to $19.98 a box,
and Kroger Co. is now selling their testing kits for $23.99 a box.

The two retail giants, along with software giant Amazon Inc., agreed with the White House last year to apply discounts to the BinaxNOW tests, which
usually cost more than $24 for a box containing two tests.

Under the agreement, the BinaxNOW test
previously sold for $14 a boxset, the Journal reported.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/public-global-health/588209-retailers-increasing-prices-for-at-home-covid-19-tests

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The Biden administration announced last month it will start delivering at-home COVID tests in January and added that tests will become available to residents free of charge by mail through a new website.

Spokespeople for Walmart and Kroger told the Journal that they are committed to selling COVID-19 tests at cost for three months and are taking steps to make tests more available.

[dem4decades]

1. I paid 29.99 from both Amazon and Walmart before Christmas, I would like to get some at less cost.

[DURHAM D]

2. I never saw any for sale at the cheaper price.

Kroger, Walgreens and Walmart never had any at the lower price.

[Rebl2]

4. Me either

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. This is the worst time to hike the price of tests

Fuck capitalism,and fuck the billionares.

Keep the tests cheap so people on ssi and social security can afford them.

[C Moon]

12. I'm with you, Underground--fuck the rich. This is a god damned pandemic, and they are raising prices

when they should be LOWERING prices.

[MichMan]

5. Without knowing wholesale, distribution and sales costs, impossible to say if they are overcharging

[monkeyman1]

7. called U.S. corporate cartel ! get use to it !

[NullTuples]

6. Regarding the shortage...

President Biden had to have bought up his half-billion tests before the holidays.
At least a third of those mailed out are likely to be thown away by deniers.

Massive numbers of school districts here in California are sending a test home with each student, to prove they can return in person.

Perhaps production is limited and there is no backstock & close to nothing in the retail supply chain, thus the high prices.

[JI7]

8. Are they just giving them to everyone or it will be available

for those that request it ?

[DENVERPOPS]

9. LOL

Just like the price of Insulin is a "shortage" problem????? A month's supply a year ago was 14 bucks, now 100 dollars...............or better yet, epinephrine costing 150 bucks for two. I used to buy them for 2 bucks apiece...... Same with Narcan............AND almost every drug on the market.........

AND, of course, what they sell the drugs for in every other country in the world...........

[monkeyman1]

10. real simple -don't buy 'm & stay the hell home !

[TheBlackAdder]

11. Yep. I was just on the Wal*Mart site yesterday and the BinaxNOW test were $14. Now they're $19.88

.

They were out of stock for 2 weeks now. Mind you, this is for the 2-test kits.

CVS was ranging from $23.99 to $28.99 on the store for the same ones and they are also out of stock.


Scam sites are charging $99 for 3 single test kits, or $33 per test, versus Wal*Mart's prior $7/test or now $10/test price.

.

[yaesu]

13. Lets see, a covid test or food on the table, now that's a tough choice

yeah, they can stick their test where the sun don't shine. I don't shop at corporate welfaremart anyway.

[MissMillie]

14. price-gouging during a pandemic. Why am I not surprised?

These tests should be completely FREE for everyone.

There's no tracing or isolating without testing.

[2naSalit]

15. Fuck Walmart.

It will be far too late to be of help the day they decide to do something decent for humanity.