Can you use your HSA for cold medicine?
Asked by: Mrs. Euna Heaney Sr. | Last update: September 24, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (44 votes)
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.
Can I use my HSA 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).
What OTC medications are HSA-eligible for?
- Cold, cough, and flu medicine.
- Heartburn medications.
- Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Allergy and sinus medicine.
- Digestive aids and laxatives.
- Baby rash ointments and creams.
- Baby electrolytes.
- Sleep aids.
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.
DWYM: Last two days to buy over the counter meds with HSA
Does my HSA cover cold medicine?
Your HSA can help you cover qualified emergency, dental, vision, and family medical expenses. The CARES Act has expanded the list of HSA-eligible items to include over-the-counter (OTC) purchases such as allergy, cough, and cold medications.
Can I use HSA 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 buy tampons with HSA?
Yes! Thanks to the CARES Act, tampons are now considered a “medical expense.” That means you can use pre-tax income to pay for them through your HSA. More questions about tampons?
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 you 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).
What can I not spend HSA on?
For example, nutritional supplements that aren't prescribed by your doctor aren't covered. Health club memberships and lactose intolerance medications typically aren't covered either. Here are some examples of non-qualified HSA expenses: Babysitting or child care (a dependent care FSA can help with child care)
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 buy a toothbrush with HSA?
Unfortunately, most products for oral health care are not currently eligible medical expenses for FSA and HSA spending.
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.
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 buy shampoo with HSA?
Over-the-counter toiletries or personal hygiene items which may include, but are not limited to shampoo, toothpaste, conditioners, hand creams, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, dental floss, body powders, hair gels/sprays, make-up, nail polish accessories, soap, mouthwash, etc., are not reimbursable.
Can I use HSA for OTC cold medicine?
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 HSA be used for dental?
Yes, you can use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) for dental expenses.
Are tampons FSA eligible?
Feminine hygiene products: Pads, liners, and tampons all qualify as FSA-eligible expenses. The end of the year is a good chance to stock up if you need to. Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain medications such as Aleve, Tylenol, and generic versions of the drugs are available for purchase through FSA funds.
Does HSA cover condoms?
The answer is yes! HSAs are designed to cover a wide range of qualified medical expenses, and contraceptives such as condoms are no exception. Just like other eligible healthcare expenses, you can use your HSA funds to purchase condoms, whether they are over-the-counter or prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Is ChapStick HSA eligible?
You can use your health savings account (HSA) to purchase OTC products including ChapStick® without a prescription.
Can skincare be purchased with HSA?
This means that any skin care costs that count towards your deductible, such as prescription medications or dermatologist visits, can be paid for using HSA funds.
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.)
Can HSA pay for massage?
Your HSA can pay for massage therapy, though you'll likely need a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your doctor. An LMN states what condition the treatment is for, how many sessions you need, and any other relevant details. An HSA may also be used on alternative or holistic treatments, such as: Massage therapy.