Scale for Food or Weight: FSA Eligibility

What is a scale for food or weight?

A scale for food or weight is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) product that measures the weight of a substance or person. Food scales are calibrated to weigh in grams or ounces due to the refined units of measurement required for accurate food accounting. Weight scale typically measure in pounds and have a higher capacity to account for individuals of a variety of body weights.

Scales must be deemed medically necessary by a medical professional, who provides a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), in order for the expense of purchasing a scale to be considered eligible for reimbursement with a consumer-directed healthcare account. A scale for food or weight is generally purchased for medical reasons in order to help an individual treat, prevent or alleviate a disease that requires careful weight monitoring or food consumption monitoring. An example of this would be a person with a medical condition that requires they eat enough protein or restrict their intake of certain minerals or nutrients. In that case, the food scale would allow the individual to accurately weigh the ingredients in their meals to ensure their diet complies with the medical requirements of their condition (Everyday Health).

Another example of an individual who needs a food or weight scale would be an individual with a metabolic condition that is at risk of health issues due to low bodyweight. A weight scale might be considered medically necessary for that individual to monitor their health.