Can I use my HSA for over-the-counter cold medicine?
Asked by: Mr. Jennings Boyer Jr. | Last update: October 27, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (5 votes)
Are cold meds covered by HSA?
Stock up on over the counter (OTC) remedies
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 my HSA for cold sore medicine?
You can also use your health savings account (HSA) to purchase cold sore cream like Abreva® without a prescription.
Are over-the-counter medications covered by HSA?
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. Heartburn medications.
Can you use a HSA card 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).
DWYM: Last two days to buy over the counter meds with HSA
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 HSA for Vicks Vaporub?
Vapor rub is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Vapor rub is not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
Can I use HSA for Tylenol?
Yes. You can buy OTC medicine such as Tylenol and Tums with your FSA or HSA. But this hasn't always been the case. OTC medications previously did not count as qualified medical expenses for HSAs unless you had a prescription.
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.
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 I use HSA for Advil cold and sinus?
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 for flu shot?
Most healthcare insurance plans cover at least part of flu vaccination cost. If you do have to pay part of it, your FSA or HSA lets you do it with pre-tax funds.
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.
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.
Can I buy toothpaste with HSA?
Toothpaste is 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).
Does HSA cover emergen C?
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 pay for Peloton with HSA?
The partnership will make it easier for qualified US-based Peloton customers to use pre-tax Health Savings Account (HSA)/Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars to purchase applicable Peloton products, saving customers up to 40% off their purchase.
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.)
Can I use HSA for tampons?
With the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020, tampons and other menstrual care products are now fully FSA-/HSA-eligible.
Can I use HSA for cough drops?
Over-the-counter medicines and drugs - Effective January 1, 2020, expenses are generally reimbursable unless used for general well-being or for purely cosmetic purposes. Over-the-counter medicine and drug expenses that are incurred after January 1, 2020, are generally reimbursable.
Can I buy Claritin with my HSA?
The short answer: yes! Because of recent legislation, you can use your HSA or FSA account to purchase over-the-counter medicines without a prescription.
Can I use HSA to buy chapstick?
Lip balm with an SPF of 15 or greater is an eligible over-the-counter (OTC) product with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
Is a vasectomy covered by HSA?
#11 Vasectomy
Your HSA can cover the costs associated with a vasectomy. Your HSA can also pay to reverse a previous vasectomy procedure.
Is Metamucil HSA-eligible?
Metamucil is FSA/HSA eligible because it is specifically designed to address medical conditions like occasional constipation and irregular bowel movements. Its active ingredient, psyllium husk, works by absorbing water in the digestive system, creating bulk, and promoting regularity.