HSA/FSA - HSA/FSA Eligibility

HSA/FSA   - May be HSA/FSA eligible?

Is your Purchase/Subscription HSA/FSA eligible?

According to hsastore.com, "...if a medical professional recommends probiotic supplements as a means of treating a specific medical condition, a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is required to reimburse the amount under an FSA, HSA, or HRA."

From the IRS Publication 502:

"You can't include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, "natural medicines," etc. unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician. Otherwise, these items are taken to maintain your ordinary good health, and aren't for medical care."

Bottomline Check Directly with your HealthCare Provider.

One should be aware:

Millions of Americans rely on vitamins & other dietary supplements to support their health and believe that "natural medicines" should have FSA/HSA eligibility, and do away with the not so easy to acquire LMN.

Let me Explain...

In general, over-the-counter vitamins and dietary supplements are not eligible for reimbursement through an HSA unless they meet specific criteria.

For example, if your healthcare provider recommends you take a supplement to treat or prevent a specific health condition, it would be considered an eligible expense.

You should know, "Nutritional supplements" is an umbrella term for a wide range of meal replacements, vitamins and special foods that contain a nutritional ingredients meant to add further nutritional value to an individuals diet. These supplements can be found in numerous forms, including tablets, soft-gels, liquids, powders and capsules. Nutritional supplements can also include any number of additives: including vitamins, minerals, herbs/botanicals, extracts, concentrates, amino acids and much more. 

(National Institute of Health)

The important distinction to keep in mind about HSA/FSA eligibility is, if products are not designed to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure diseases, (the classification that is essential in determining a product or service's eligibility with consumer-directed healthcare accounts.) they will not be covered.

One could rationale that nutritional supplements, in most cases are natural, varied in their organic states and are for the most part grown in the earth in someway.  They have limited or no additives, and many times may not have a Pharmaceutical stamp of approval. These nutrients are basically in their natural state - designed by nature to provide individuals with the vital substances that the body needs to function properly, which could in turn help to reduce the likelihood of certain diseases.

With this information one will quickly recognize, that the vast majority of nutritional supplements will require a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) for claim reimbursement. Since everyone has individualized plans, situations, financing, etc... It is always best to reach out and speak with a benefits administrator for details about nutritional supplement reimbursement.

When you require a supplement not covered by the consumer-directed healthcare accounts. Do your do-diligence, know what and why you are requesting the supplement, providing reasoning and understanding for that LMN to be issued by your doctor.   The goal is to obtain that LMN and be fully reimbursed for supplements that are included in your medical treatment plan or because you just want to be healthy...

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information may not include the very latest research. We encourage you to do your own research and discuss your findings with a qualified health practitioner who can help you validate the outcomes in the context of your specific & individual health situation.

 

Reference:

https://hsastore.com/hsa-eligibility-list/n/nutritional-supplements

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-502 

https://fsastore.com/fsa-eligibility-list

https://www.healthequity.com/fsa-qme

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326132#minerals

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326132#:~:text=The%20six%20essential%20nutrients%20are,%2C%20good%20health%2C%20and%20growth.