FSA: Health Care FSA

In general, qualified medical expenses are those specified in the plan. Plans can permit reimbursement for any service or product that is purchased in order to treat or mitigate an imminent or current medical condition and is not reimbursed by insurance or other means.

According to the IRS, it is also permissible to use money in a FSA to pay for nonprescription medications such as pain relievers and cold and allergy remedies and products such as fiber supplements and glucosamine provided that they are prescribed by a doctor. For safety, ask the doctor for the same type of prescription he or she would write for a drug that requires a prescription. 

Following are some items you may be able to pay for from an IRS point of view with FSA funds that you may not think can be paid from an FSA. Whether you can pay for them with an FSA depends on your particular plan.

• Doctor prescribed nonprescription medicines. 
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Fertility treatments.
• Chiropractic care.
• Doctor recommended weight loss programs.
• Dental work, including teeth cleaning (to schedule at year end).
• Prescription sunglasses.
• A bonus to your caregiver.
• A doctor's written recommended testing or tutoring for a child with learning disabilities.
• Infertility treatments.
• Lasik eye surgery.
• Herbal remedies recommended by a doctor to treat a specific medical condition.
• Orthodontia.
• All the expenses listed as Medical Expenses for federal income tax purposes.

You cannot use FSA funds to pay for:

• Health insurance premiums.
• Premiums for long term care insurance.
• Amounts that are covered under another health plan.
• Vitamins and other dietary supplements.
• Cosmetics.
• Toiletries such as shampoo and toothpaste.

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