What expenses are covered?

Pay for a wide range of expenses using your accounts

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are all potentially tax-advantaged, so the IRS defines the types of expenses that you can pay for with these accounts. Generally, qualified expenses include doctor visits, medications, medical equipment, and dental and vision care for you, your spouse and any dependents.

Examples of qualified medical expenses

Medical

  • Acupuncture
  • Acid controllers
  • Alcoholism treatment
  • Allergy and sinus medicine
  • Ambulance
  • Anti-diarrheals
  • Anti-gas products
  • Anti-itch and insect bite
  • Anti-parasitic treatments
  • Baby rash ointments/creams
  • Birth control
  • Body scans
  • Braille books and magazines
  • Breast pumps and lactation supplies
  • Chiropractor
  • Co-insurance (medical, dental or vision)
  • Co-payments
  • Cold sore remedies
  • Cough, cold and flu
  • Crutches or canes
  • Deductibles
  • Diabetic supplies
  • Diagnostic services
  • Digestive aids
  • Drug addiction treatment
  • Feminine anti-fungal/anti-itch
  • Fertility enhancements
  • Flu shots
  • Guide dogs or other service animals
  • Hearing aids and batteries
  • Hemorrhoidal preps
  • Hospital services
  • Insulin
  • Laboratory fees
  • Lamaze classes
  • Laxatives
  • Learning disability treatments
  • Menstrual care products
  • Mastectomy-related special bras
  • Medical equipment and repairs
  • Medical monitoring and testing devices
  • Medical supplies
  • Motion sickness
  • Nursing services
  • OB/GYN
  • Office visits
  • Oxygen
  • Pain relievers (for example, aspirin)
  • Physical exams
  • Physical therapy
  • Pregnancy tests (over-the-counter)
  • Prescription drugs
  • Prosthesis
  • Psychiatric care
  • Reconstructive surgery following
  • Respiratory treatments
  • Mastectomy
  • Sleep aids and sedatives
  • Smoking cessation (programs/drugs)
  • Speech therapy
  • Sterilization
  • Stomach remedies
  • Surgery
  • Transportation, parking and related
  • Travel expenses
  • (essential to receive medical care; subject to IRS limits)
  • Vaccinations
  • Vasectomy
  • Weight loss program and/or drugs
  • (if prescribed by a physician to treat a specific medical condition)
  • Wheelchair
  • X-ray fees

Dental

  • Braces
  • Dentures
  • Exams
  • Extractions
  • Fillings
  • Teeth cleaning
  • X-rays

Vision

  • Contact lenses
  • Examinations and glasses
  • Laser eye surgery
  • Reading glasses (over-the-counter)

Eligible expense scanner on the MyHealth app1

Our new barcode scanner takes the guesswork out of what items the IRS considers qualified expenses.

 

Just open the MyHealth app, select "Eligible Expense Scanner" from the menu, then simply scan the item barcode to find out if it can be paid for using your health account.

 
Image of iPhone screen showing eligible expense scanner screen

For a complete list of qualified medical expenses see IRS Publication 502.

The app is populated with items that correspond to IRS Publication 502 and is updated periodically for legislative updates. However, there is no guarantee the list of items that constitute qualified medical expenses in the app is comprehensive of all products and accurately captures whether or not a product is a qualified medical expense for purposes of the tax code. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisor if you have any questions.

 

1 Data connection required. Wireless carrier fees may apply. Mobile app not available on all devices.