By Stella Henretta

Health professionals at the University of Maryland are expressing concern following the federal government’s decision to stop the distribution of free COVID-19 test kits, citing the potential impacts on the campus community.

In 2020, UMD received free COVID-19 antigen self-test kits from the Maryland Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, allowing the University Health Center to distribute tests to the community at no cost. Since January 2022, the University Health Center has helped order, organize and distribute over 150,000 COVID-19 home tests to the campus community. 

However, the government-funded program that provided these tests to the health center ended in March 2025. As of Thursday, Sept. 18, the Health Center fully distributed its supply of free COVID-19 self-test kits, leaving many individuals concerned that this could affect health on campus. 

Due to the elimination of these free tests, students, faculty and staff must purchase a two-pack COVID-19 test kit, or a single COVID-19/Flu combo test kit, from the health center pharmacy for $7 if they want to be evaluated. 

“I feel like a lot of people that have symptoms will just want to brush it off as a simple cold because they’re not going to want to spend the money, time and effort to purchase a COVID-19 test,” freshman biology major Sam Cuneo said. “Because of this I’m worried that the number of COVID-19 cases on campus could rise.”

According to Associate Director of Administrative Services and Health Center Operations Jessica Perez, on May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended. As a result, health insurance plans are no longer required to cover at-home COVID-19 tests. 

“This means that most private insurance plans do not cover the cost of these tests,” Perez said.

Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos, director of the University Health Center, said that the increased difficulty in obtaining a COVID-19 test could deter individuals from getting tested. It could also influence the likelihood of taking further precautions, like quarantining. 

Marinopoulos also reported that there is the possibility that without access to free COVID-19 tests, case numbers could rise. However, he stressed that COVID-19 is currently managed like any other upper respiratory virus, so the threat of this is lessened.

In general, federal funding cuts could influence access to medical help and make it more challenging to seek a professional’s attention.

“It is plausible that reducing government funding for healthcare can impact our students’ ability to receive the care they need,” Clinical Director of the University Health Center Heather Teitelbaum said. “However, we always do our absolute best to minimize the impact of funding cuts on our students to the extent possible.”

Although free COVID-19 tests are no longer available at no cost, students can still visit the health center to purchase a test. For more information, visit the HEAL Line and COVID-19 Information webpage.

Featured Image: The University Health Center, located on the UMD campus across from the Stamp Student Union. Photo by Ella Buchanan