MAKING ENDS MEET: At-home health tests available to assist with financial burden | Local News

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MAKING ENDS MEET: At-home health tests available to assist with financial burden | Local News

A study from Stanford University shows that 40% of adults postpone doctor visits because of the financial cost. But some alternatives can help you save money without needing to visit the doctor’s office.

If you are in need of a medical test but can’t afford to go to the doctor’s office, at-home health tests could be a convenient and affordable solution.

With a wide variety of options available, you can find one that meets your specific needs.

“As far as at-home testing by yourself, you can do Covid, you can do HIV testing, other sexually transmitted disease testing, colon cancer testing, hepatitis c testing, of course, you can test for blood sugar, cholesterol,” Phil Smith said.

Phil Smith is a pharmacist at Access Pharmacy.

The majority of the at-home tests that Smith listed are a hundred dollars or less.

“Blood sugar testing $30 for a 30-day supply, genetic testing you can do all kinds of genetic testing for under $100, hepatitis c $70, HIV $40,” Smith said.

While some at-home tests could save you from paying a doctor’s bill, positive results may mean that treatment is needed. 

Smith said treatment options at the pharmacy are reasonably priced.

“Flu testing, strep testing, Covid testing if you want treatment. Those things are better done either at the doctor’s office or walk-in pharmacy. They are pretty quick, in and out 20 to 25 minutes with treatment,” Smith added.

Dr. Jeremy Hogstrom, an Internal Medicine Doctor for CHI Memorial, offers a different perspective.

He believes it is best to always see a doctor, no matter how serious or minor your medical needs may be. 

“Interpretation of results can be left kind of vague at times, and also you won’t be able to get the immediate care once you do come to the doctor for that and oftentimes, we will reconfirm the test for you too,” Hogstrom said.

Hogstrom explains how an at-home test may detect the baseline of an illness and not inform you of anything else.

“At home test, you may oftentimes get up to a 92 to 94 percent detection rate of colon cancer. However, only about a 42 percent detection rate of those pre-cancerous polyps or tumors that may be present,” Hogstrom said.

Testing at a doctor’s office is going to give you better results.

“Colonoscopy has a 95 percent success rate at detecting pre-cancerous polyps,” Hogstrom said.

If you do take the at-home test route, Hogstrom said make sure the test is legitimate.

“If you are going to do an at-home test, be sure that they are FDA-approved for validity and accuracy compared to hospital labs,” Hogstrom said.

“Samples can oftentimes be contaminated, so number one the method of testing is going to be very important as well as sample integrity too,” Hogstrom added.


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