Home Diagnostic Kits, Tests, Devices: FSA Eligibility

What are home diagnostic kits, tests, devices?

Diagnostic products make up a diverse selection of medical products used to determine the presence of a disease or dysfunction in the body, or items that are used to monitor these medical issues over time. Diagnostic equipment is typically found in hospitals and doctors' offices in the form of x-ray machines, ultrasound and MRI machines, CT scanners and others, but many products that were once relegated to medical settings have home-based variants that patients can use to perform a wide range of functions related to their overall health (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

What are home diagnostic kits, tests, devices used for?

Home diagnostic kits, tests, devices encompass a wide range of products that are used to both monitor an individual's state of health, as well as to better manage the symptoms of a medical condition. For instance, individuals and families will utilize diagnostic products like thermometers, stethoscopes and peak flow meters in the event of a cold or respiratory illness, and closely monitoring the patient's symptoms with these home diagnostic products can make it much easier to share information with a doctor and formulate a diagnosis. Additionally, at-home tests for one-time use, such as HIV, urinalysis and STD tests also fall into this category. More recently, home testing for COVID-19 has become widespread and is an eligible medical expense.

Additionally, there are a wealth of home diagnostic kits, tests and devices used for long-term healthcare purposes to manage the symptoms of a disease or closely follow factors related to the condition so it will not worsen over time. These can include devices such as blood pressure monitors, oximeters , cholesterol meters and more that will provide the user with additional information about his/her underlying state of health.