Can I use HSA for Advil Cold and Sinus?

Asked by: Jarrod Langworth  |  Last update: March 28, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (67 votes)

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.

Can I use my HSA to pay for cold medicine?

Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, you can use your FSA or HSA funds to buy OTC medications. Those types of medications include: Cold, cough, and flu medicine.

Is sinus medicine HSA-eligible?

Sinus medicines are eligible over-the-counter (OTC) medicines with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Can I use HSA for cold sore medicine?

You can also use your health savings account (HSA) to purchase cold sore cream like Abreva® without a prescription.

Can you use an HSA to pay for medications?

Along with prescription drugs, your HSA covers eligible medical expenses as defined by the IRS, including: medical care. vision and dental care expenses, plus hearing aids.

What expenses can I use my HSA for?

16 related questions found

Is Advil HSA-eligible?

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.

Can HSA pay for gym membership?

Gym memberships. While some companies and private insurers may offer discounts on gym memberships, you generally can't use your FSA or HSA account to pay for gym or health club memberships. An exception to that rule would be if your doctor deems fitness medically necessary for your recovery or treatment.

Is Tylenol Cold and Flu HSA-eligible?

Yes. You can buy OTC medicine such as Tylenol and Tums with your FSA or HSA.

What happens if I accidentally used my HSA card for groceries?

You can repay the incorrect distribution before filing your federal taxes for that tax year. However, if you do not correct the mistake, the unqualified amount will be subject to income tax, and you may also face an additional 20% tax penalty.

Can I use my HSA on Nyquil?

A: Yes, you can. The rules on this have changed over time. As of 2011, the ACA prohibited the purchase of over-the-counter medications with health savings account (HSA) funds, unless a doctor wrote a prescription for them. But Section 4402 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act changed that.

Is the Apple Watch HSA-eligible?

Why other fitness trackers don't qualify. Even though Fitbits and Apple Watches measure important health data, they currently do not qualify for HSA reimbursement, as they are considered for general health use and not intended to treat or manage a specific medical condition.

Is toilet paper HSA-eligible?

Toiletries used for everyday personal use aren't FSA and HSA eligible items. Items like shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cosmetics and toilet paper are considered personal hygiene products, not medical aids.

Are tampons HSA-eligible?

With the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020, tampons and other menstrual care products are now fully FSA-/HSA-eligible. According to the text of the bill, menstrual care products include, “tampon, pad, liner, cup, sponge, or similar product used by individuals with respect to menstruation…”

Can I buy decongestant with HSA?

Decongestants are over-the-counter (OTC) medicines eligible for reimbursement through a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Can I use my HSA for vitamins?

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.

Can HSA pay for cough drops?

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

How does IRS know what you spend HSA on?

Verification of expenses is not required for HSAs. However, total withdrawals from your HSA are reported to the IRS on Form 1099-SA. You are responsible for reporting qualified and non-qualified withdrawals when completing your taxes.

Can I buy deodorant with HSA?

Deodorant 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).

What if I never use the money in my HSA?

Myth #2: If I don't spend all my funds this year, I lose it. Reality: HSA funds never expire. When it comes to the HSA, there's no use-it-or-lose-it rule. Unlike Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds, you keep your HSA dollars forever, even if you change employers, health plans, or retire.

Is gym membership HSA-eligible?

Health club dues 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).

Can I buy Emergen C with my HSA?

Currently, the only way to use a consumer-directed healthcare account to pay for most vitamins and supplements is if a specific vitamin or supplement is recommended by a medical professional to treat or mitigate a medical condition with a letter of medical necessity.

Can you buy over-the-counter cold medicine with HSA?

Earlier this year, the CARES Act was passed, which made over-the-counter medication HSA-eligible medical expenses. These include things like pain relievers, fever reducers, cough meds, antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, nasal rinses, humidifiers, and more.

Can I use HSA to buy Apple Watch?

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 I use HSA for glasses?

Yes! You can definitely use funds from your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to purchase prescription glasses. (FSAs and HSAs can be used for many other vision- and eye health-related expenses, too, but we'll discuss that more in a bit.)