The IRS has established a number of qualifying medical expenses for which a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) could be *used. If you're looking for ways to use your tax-free money or are just curious, here is a list of the most commonly-used medical expenses:
- Acupuncture
- Alcoholism – inpatient treatment (including meals and lodging); also transportation to and from Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
- Ambulance service
- Artificial Limbs
- Artificial Teeth
- Bandages and medical supplies
- Birth Control Pills (prescribed by a doctor)
- Body Scan
- Braille Books and Magazines for visually impaired persons
- Breast Pumps and Supplies
- Chiropractor
- Christian Science Practitioner
- Contact Lenses and associated materials (saline solution, enzyme cleaner, etc)
- Crutches
- Dental Treatment, including X-rays, fillings, braces, extractions, dentures, and other dental ailments.
- Diagnostic Devices such as blood sugar test kit for diabetes
- Drug Addiction, inpatient treatment
- Eye Exam
- Eyeglasses
- Eye Surgery (laser eye surgery or radial keratotomy)
- Fertility Enhancement (in vitro and reversal of prior surgeries preventing fertility)
- Guide Dog or Other Service Animal
- Hearing Aids, including batteries, repairs, and maintenance
- Hospital Services, including meals and lodging
- Laboratory Fees
- Lead-Based Paint Removal
- Legal Fees necessary to authorize mental illness treatment
- Osteopath
- Oxygen and oxygen equipment
- Pregnancy Test Kit
- Psychiatric Care
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychologist
- Sterilization (including vasectomy)
- Stop-Smoking Programs
- Therapy
- Transplants – you can include amounts paid for medical care you receive because you are a donor or a possible donor of a kidney or other organ, including transportation
- Weight-Loss Program as a treatment for a diagnosed disease (obesity, hypertension, or heart disease)
- Wheelchair
- Wig for the mental health of a patient who has lost all of his or her hair from disease
- X-rays
All of these (and more) medical procedures can be paid for with tax-free FSA or HSA contributions and can be expenses for you, your spouse, child, or a “qualifying relative.” To learn what a “qualifying relative” is or to see the full IRS list of medical expenses, please click here.
*If you happen to have both an FSA and an HSA, you may only use your FSA funds to pay for health-related expenses that fall outside of your health plan coverage, such as dental or vision expenses. Please contact us for more information.
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