What items can I use my FSA for?

Asked by: Mr. Llewellyn O'Conner  |  Last update: June 18, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (25 votes)

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.

What can I spend my FSA money on?

If you need some inspiration to use up your FSA dollars, consider these ideas:
  • Healthcare visits. ...
  • Prescription medications. ...
  • Vision care. ...
  • Dental care. ...
  • Hearing aids. ...
  • Over-the-counter medications. ...
  • First aid supplies. ...
  • Skin care products.

What items are eligible for FSA?

Allowed expenses include insurance copayments and deductibles, qualified prescription drugs, insulin, and medical devices. You decide how much to put in an FSA, up to a limit set by your employer. You aren't taxed on this money.

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 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.

Creative ways to use your Flexible Spending Account before the year-end deadline

33 related questions found

Can you buy shampoo with FSA?

While some exceptions may vary, shampoo is generally 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 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).

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 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.

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 electric toothbrushes FSA eligible?

Unfortunately, most products for oral health care are not currently eligible medical expenses for FSA and HSA spending.

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 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.

Where does my FSA money go if I don't spend it?

For employees, the main downside to an FSA is the use-it-or-lose-it rule. If the employee fails to incur enough qualified expenses to drain his or her FSA each year, any leftover balance generally reverts back to the employer.

Are air purifiers FSA eligible?

Air purifiers are generally not eligible for reimbursement. An air purifier may be eligible for FSA reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) only if you are using it to relieve or alleviate a specific medical condition and you would not otherwise have purchased it.

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.

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 ibuprofen FSA eligible?

Ibuprofen is eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Ibuprofen is not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).

Can I use FSA for dental?

You can use funds in your FSA to pay for certain medical and dental expenses for you, your spouse if you're married, and your dependents. You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums.

Can you use FSA for diapers?

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.

Can you use FSA for Peloton?

Yes. You can pay with a credit or debit card through Truemed and submit a reimbursement request to your HSA/FSA plan administrator for up to the amount you have available in your HSA/FSA account.

Does FSA cover teeth whitening?

Dental care can certainly be a part of those expenses, but teeth whitening is not considered to be an FSA eligible expense. Because it's considered cosmetic in nature, teeth whitening will not be reimbursed with your FSA.

Can I use my FSA to buy a treadmill?

If you have a letter from a medical professional stating that exercise equipment is a medical necessity, your FSA can cover it.

Is Gatorade FSA eligible?

You can grab a pack of ORS using your HSA or FSA funds without a prescription. However, rehydration sports drinks (think Gatorade) and electrolyte solutions containing additional additives (such as caffeine, immunity boosters, or the like) are not eligible.