What is an At-Home COVID-19 Test?

At-Home COVID-19 tests, sometimes called “self tests” or “over-the-counter tests”, are those that can be performed on yourself at home or anywhere. Currently, at-home tests only detect current infection by testing for SARS- CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. No self-tests are available to detect antibodies, which would suggest past infection (CDC). At-home tests may be used when you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in close contact with an individual infected with COVID-19 (CDC). Specifically, the CDC recommends using an At-Home COVID-19 test in the following scenarios: * If you have COVID-19 symptoms, use a self-test immediately * If you were a close contact of someone with COVID-19, self-test after at least 5 days, plus a second test in 1 or 2 days if your first test is negative (See Serial Testing, below) * If you are testing before a gathering, test immediately before the gathering (or as close in time to the event as possible) At-Home COVID-19 Test Eligibility At-Home COVID-19 tests are a qualified medical expense and are FSA/HSA eligible. However, many health plans cover these tests at no cost to the participant. If the cost of the test has already been covered by the health plan, a participant cannot also request reimbursement from a tax-advantaged benefit such as an FSA or HSA. As always, be sure to check with your plan administrator.