Will Medical Insurance Pay for my Cellphone?

That's not such a far-fetched question, given the increased use of cellphone cameras and apps by patients.

The simple camera phone is epochal in that it puts the power—literally—into the hands of patients. The photographic possibilities extend far beyond the skin. In the pediatric gastroenterology clinic, many concerned parents bring in photos of their kids' dirty diapers, which all parties agree is vastly preferable to bringing in the real thing. Some neurologists recommend that parents make videos of children who have a known history of seizures to help the team fine-tune medication doses. In developmental and behavioral clinics, parents can show videos of their children at home demonstrating milestones like a mature pincer grasp or pulling to stand.

If the insurance company won't pay, perhaps one can still claim an itemized deduction for "medical equipment." The expense shouldn't be hard to corroborate, since the IRS will have copies of all your medical records and photos.... © 2013 Stephen Yuen