What items are approved for flexible spending account?
Asked by: Marta Walter | Last update: December 23, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (71 votes)
What can be claimed on a flexible spending account?
Facts about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
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.
Can I 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. If you do, don't panic.
Can FSA be used 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.
Can you buy a toothbrush with FSA?
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.”
How to use your FSA money - My 6 best buys
What hygiene products are 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 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.
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.
What is an FSA eligible items?
An arrangement through your employer that lets you pay for many out-of-pocket medical expenses with tax-free dollars. Allowed expenses include insurance copayments and deductibles, qualified prescription drugs, insulin, and medical devices.
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.
Can I buy vitamins with FSA?
Vitamins and supplements bought over the counter for general health reasons are typically not a qualified medical expense under IRS rules. You may be eligible to buy certain vitamins with your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), if used to treat a medical condition.
What happens to unused FSA funds?
The IRS created the ""use or lose"" rule, which states that all money left in your FSA is forfeited after the benefit period ends . If you don't use all of your FSA funds during the benefit period, you risk losing money.
What is not covered by a flexible spending account?
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.
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).
Are glasses FSA eligible?
Yes! 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.
Is Planet fitness FSA eligible?
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.
Can I use FSA for massage?
Pay with Your FSA or HSA: Once you have the prescription, you can pay for your massage therapy directly with your FSA or HSA debit card. If your provider doesn't accept these cards, you can pay out of pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement.
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 tampons FSA eligible?
Are Tampons FSA Eligible? Yes! Tampons are now classified as a “medical expense,” making them FSA eligible.
Are Tums FSA eligible?
You can use your FSA tax-preferred savings account to purchase antacid products including TUMS without a prescription.
Is toothpaste FSA eligible?
Toothpaste is considered to be a “general health” item by the IRS, and items that are used to maintain general good health do not qualify. (Dental Health Foundation).
Can I buy bandaids with FSA?
Bandages are over-the-counter (OTC) items that are eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
Can I buy an electric toothbrush with my FSA?
Electric toothbrushes are not eligible for reimbursement with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), dependent care flexible spending accounts, and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSA) because they are general health products.
Are vitamins covered by FSA?
However, when it comes to FSA/HSA eligibility, most vitamins and nutritional supplements are not eligible, with a few notable exceptions.