What expenses are not covered by FSA?
Asked by: Olen Terry | Last update: November 24, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (49 votes)
What are not eligible expenses for FSA?
Please Note: The IRS does not allow Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicines or drugs to be purchased with Health Care FSA funds unless accompanied by a prescription and the prescription is filled by a pharmacist. If you have an OTC prescription, you can use your benefits card for these purchases.
What does an FSA not cover?
Please note, a limited purpose Healthcare FSA only allows dental and vision expenses. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and drugs, except for insulin, require a prescription from your physician to be reimbursable. The prescription will need to be included with each request for reimbursement.
Can FSA 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 FSA to buy toothpaste?
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 is toothpaste?
FSA Covers What Expenses? - InsuranceGuide360.com
Can you buy deodorant with FSA?
For example, daily care products, like Vaseline, toothpaste, and deodorant, are not FSA-eligible expenses. Gym memberships and health insurance premiums aren't eligible either. It's possible that you may accidentally purchase a nonqualifying expense with your FSA funds.
Can I use FSA for glasses?
You can use your FSA funds for eye exams and prescription glasses. You can also use them for prescription contact lenses. And prescription sunglasses are FSA-eligible, too.
Can you use FSA for vitamins?
Are vitamins FSA/HSA eligible? You want to be careful when trying to buy vitamins with your FSA or HSA. They are not always deemed a qualified expense. If your vitamins are not prescribed by a healthcare professional or used to treat a specific condition, your purchase most likely won't be FSA or HSA eligible.
Can FSA pay for massage?
Massage Therapy may be eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRA).
What are major disadvantages of FSA?
While FSAs offer several benefits, they also have limitations. The 'use-it-or-lose-it' rule can lead to the loss of unspent funds. Additionally, there are restrictions regarding eligible expenses and contribution limits, which are determined by the IRS and can change annually.
Is toilet paper FSA eligible?
Here are examples of items and expenses that are not FSA-eligible for 2024: General health items: toiletries like toothpaste, toilet paper, or shampoo, cosmetic products, vitamins and supplements (without a prescription) Non-medical equipment: car seats, strollers, non-medical exercise equipment.
Is ChapStick FSA eligible?
You can use your FSA tax-preferred savings account to purchase OTC products including ChapStick® without a prescription. HSA/FSA eligibility is not applicable to products sold on the online ChapStick® store.
Is body wash covered by FSA?
Medicated body or face wash is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
What can I spend my FSA on?
You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums. You can spend FSA funds on prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medicines with a doctor's prescription. Reimbursements for insulin are allowed without a prescription.
Are toothbrushes FSA eligible?
Brush-Up on FSAs and HSAs
However, current law does not recognize certain oral healthcare products — such as manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrushes, water flossers, mouthwash, or OTC anti-cavity toothpaste — as “qualified medical expenses.”
Can I use FSA to pay for gym membership?
Can you use flexible spending account (FSA) funds to pay for a gym membership or exercise classes? Typically, no. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) usually doesn't allow funds from an FSA to pay for membership dues at health clubs or gyms.
Is Tylenol FSA eligible?
Can I buy OTC medicine such as Tylenol and Tums with my FSA or HSA? Yes. You can buy OTC medicine such as Tylenol and Tums with your FSA or HSA.
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.
Is sunscreen FSA eligible?
You can use your flexible spending account (FSA) to buy broad-spectrum sunscreens with a minimum SPF of 15 using pretax dollars. A variety of items that offer sun protection, including lip balms, lotions, and moisturizers, might also qualify for these funds. Many FSA plans offer debit cards to make using funds easier.
Is exercise equipment FSA eligible?
The majority of fitness equipment and gym memberships and fitness classes can be covered by your FSA/HSA funds, but you'll need your doctor to fill out a Letter of Medical Necessity to use the funds to purchase them.
Is an HSA or FSA better?
Bottom line: Both HSAs and FSAs provide financial benefits for managing health care expenses. HSAs offer more flexibility and long-term growth potential, making them a valuable tool for future financial planning. Learn about HSA options from Aetna.
Are massages FSA eligible?
If you have a Flex Spending Account (FSA), you may not be aware that Massage Therapy can qualify as a medical expense. If massage therapy services are prescribed by your physician then you can use your FSA account to pay for these services.
Does FSA cover teeth whitening?
Elective cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening, for example, are not eligible for FSA funds. Here are examples of medically necessary procedures that are typically covered by FSA funds. 2) Fillings are typically covered. 3) Major Oral Surgery: dental reconstruction, root canals, implants, and tooth removal.
Are diapers FSA eligible?
Regular diapers for newborns and infants are not FSA eligible because they do not treat a medical condition, but rather aid a healthy function of the body. There are some ways to save, however, including sales, coupons, buying in bulk or joining rewards programs.