Are vitamins a qualified HSA expense?

Asked by: Melisa Dach  |  Last update: December 10, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (56 votes)

According to the IRS, you cannot use your HSA to pay for vitamins or supplements that are taken for general health. However, you can use your HSA to pay for vitamins or supplements that have been recommended by a health professional to treat or prevent a specific condition.

Can I use HSA to pay for vitamins?

You may be eligible to buy certain vitamins with your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), if used to treat a medical condition. You may need a letter of medical necessity (LOMN) to purchase vitamins with a tax-advantaged account.

Are any supplements HSA eligible?

Certain vitamins, such as glucosamine, chondroitin and prenatal vitamins are eligible for FSA, HSA and HRA reimbursement. From the IRS Publication 502: "You can't include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, "natural medicines," etc.

What is not a qualified HSA expense?

Generally, you can't use your HSA to pay for expenses that don't meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. Nutritional supplements and weight loss programs not prescribed by a physician are examples of expenses that would not be covered by your HSA.

Are protein shakes HSA eligible?

Protein bars/powders/shakes reimbursement is not eligible with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA) or a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA).

Are vitamins an HSA expense?

17 related questions found

Can you use HSA for probiotics?

The good news is that many probiotic supplements are eligible for purchase with HSA funds. This is because they are considered to be a "qualified medical expense" under IRS guidelines. However, it is important to note that not all probiotic supplements will be covered by your HSA.

Can I use HSA for massage?

Massages with a doctor's note of necessity

In certain cases, the massage is deemed medically necessary, and can be classified as a qualified medical expense. In a case like this, accountholders can use their HSA to pay for the massage.

Is Apple Watch HSA eligible?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is usually no. This is because according to the IRS, fitness trackers are used to promote what the IRS terms “general health”. Expenses under this general health definition are not considered HSA eligible expenses.

What common items are HSA eligible?

The following 18 items are examples of now-qualified medical expenses:
  • Acne treatments.
  • Allergy medication.
  • Aspirin.
  • Band-Aids.
  • Breathing strips.
  • Cold and cough medicine.
  • COVID-19 tests.
  • Eye drops.

Is melatonin HSA eligible?

Melatonin is not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA). What is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone in your body associated with sleep. During the day, less melatonin is produced and during the night, more melatonin is produced.

Are zinc supplements HSA eligible?

Zinc supplements are not eligible for reimbursement with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), dependent care flexible spending accounts and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSA).

Can I buy a treadmill with my HSA?

A treadmill may be eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) and health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Can I use HSA for cold medicine?

Cold medicine is an eligible over-the-counter (OTC) drug with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Why are vitamins not HSA eligible?

They are not always deemed a qualified expense. If your vitamins are not prescribed by a doctor or used to treat a specific condition, your purchase most likely won't be FSA or HSA eligible.

Can you buy toothpaste with HSA?

You can't use your HSA for common items such as toothpaste, dental floss, or over-the-counter mouthwash. Cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening, also aren't covered.

Can I use my HSA card on Amazon for supplements?

Your HSA/FSA funds can be used to buy everything from traditional medical supplies to personal care items, including blood pressure monitors, condoms, contact lens solution, wet wipes, air purifiers, multivitamins, antacids, band-aids, supplements, and more.

Can you buy toilet paper with HSA?

Toiletries are not eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA) or a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA). What are toiletries?

What happens if you use your HSA card for something else?

If you use your HSA for an expense other than eligible medical expenses you can subject yourself to significant IRS penalties. Inappropriate use of your HSA funds may also leave you without money to pay for your eligible medical expenses in the future.

Can I use my HSA for a home gym?

Yes, it could — if you prove the expense is medically necessary. General fitness expenses don't qualify for HSA/FSA use, but things change when a physician or nurse practitioner prescribes an exercise regimen.

Can I buy sunscreen with HSA?

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Saving Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), you can use it to pay for a wide variety of health care products and services. The IRS determines which expenses can be reimbursed. Sunscreen is considered one of those eligible expenses.

Can you use HSA at Sephora?

No, Sephora does not accept FSA or HSA cards in-store or online at Sephora.com. However, if you happened to buy FSA eligible sunscreen from Sephora, save your receipt and reimburse yourself!

Do you have to provide receipts for HSA?

Always save your receipts and supporting documentation for your records. While Benefit Resource will not ask you to provide a receipt for an HSA expense, you are responsible for maintaining documentation of account use in the event that you are ever audited by the IRS.

Can I use my HSA for Botox?

Botox: HSA Eligibility

Botox injections are not eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).

Can you use HSA for Lasik?

You can use an HSA for LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures. Like the FSA, the IRS sets limits on what procedures can be covered by an HSA. Laser vision correction procedures including LASIK, SMILE, and PRK are eligible expenses.