Can I pay for over-the-counter medications with my HSA?
Asked by: Mr. Louisa King DDS | Last update: September 25, 2023Score: 4.5/5 (18 votes)
Thanks to the CARES Act, you can use your HSA funds to buy over-the-counter medications without a prescription. Prior to the passage of the act, these items were only eligible for reimbursement with a prescription.
Can I use my HSA to buy over-the-counter meds?
Yes. You can buy OTC medicine like Tylenol and Tums with your FSA or HSA. But this hasn't always been the case. OTC drugs did not count as a qualified medical expense for HSAs unless you had a prescription.
Can I buy Tylenol with HSA?
Acetaminophen, the primary ingredient found in Tylenol, is an eligible OTC item. Acetaminophen reimbursement is eligible with an FSA account, HSA or HRA.
Can you use your HSA to buy ibuprofen?
Can HSA be used for OTC drugs? Yes, you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) to purchase over-the-counter drugs without a prescription from your physician. Use your HSA for all Advil products.
How do I buy medicine with HSA?
Many HSAs come with a debit card, so you can use that to pay for your prescription. If you don't have an HSA debit card or choose not to use it, you can pay as you usually would — just remember to save the receipt as a record for your self-reimbursement from your HSA.
Should I Pay for Medical Expenses Now or Later With My HSA?
Can I buy vitamins with HSA?
With this IRS definition in mind, while daily multivitamins are not FSA/HSA eligible, there are some types of vitamins that are eligible with consumer-directed healthcare accounts and others that may be eligible with proper documentation from a physician.
Can you use HSA at Costco?
Costco accepts a limited number of cards at the main checkout lanes, but they'll let you pay for eligible items with your HSA/FSA card at the Pharmacy or Optical counters. So to use your FSA or HSA cards at Costco, just bypass the regular checkout lines and visit the Pharmacy or Optical department instead.
Can you buy vitamin C with HSA?
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 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?
Is cough medicine HSA-eligible?
The CARES Act has expanded the list of HSA-eligible items to include over-the-counter purchases such as allergy, cough, and cold medicines.
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 you buy caffeine pills with HSA?
Caffeine pills 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).
Is Benadryl HSA eligible?
Benadryl is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) and a health reimbursement arrangement.
Can I buy shampoo with HSA?
While some exceptions may vary, shampoo is generally 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).
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.
How do I spend my HSA money?
You can use it just like a regular debit card for transactions in-store, online, at the doctor, and at other medical merchants. Digital Wallet - Use your card through your preferred mobile wallet: Apple Pay®, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay™.
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.
Can toothbrush go on HSA?
While it seems like they would fit under the dental care umbrella, general self-care items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss are not FSA or HSA eligible. Same goes for specialized or medicated toothpastes. Here's a short (and not exhaustive list) of items that are not eligible for reimbursement: Braces wax.
What can I not use my HSA card to buy?
Examples of no-nos from the IRS include vacations and vitamins. Other items that aren't eligible include maternity clothes, funeral costs, child care for healthy babies, toiletries, over-the-counter medicine, swimming lessons and elective cosmetic procedures.
What supplements can be bought on HSA?
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.
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).
Is vitamin D covered by HSA?
FSA and HSAs won't cover a vitamin supplement geared toward general health and wellness. A vitamin is eligible for coverage by an FSA or HSA only if that vitamin has been recommended by a medical professional for the treatment or prevention of a specific disease or condition.
Is my gym membership HSA eligible?
General fitness expenses are not eligible but if your doctor or nurse specifically gives you an exercise regimen to carry out, the costs of the gym can be taken care of as part of your plan.
Can you claim gym membership on HSA?
You may have wondered if your HSA or FSA could be used to fund it. 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.
What if I use my HSA card for groceries?
No, you can't use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for straight food purchases like meat, produce and dairy. But you can use them for some nutrition-related products and services. To review, tax-advantaged accounts have regulatory restrictions on eligible products and services.