HSA-FSA Qualifying Medical Expenses

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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